Doppel Locks Down AI-Native Defence for the New York Knicks

Slam dunking its way into the NBA, Doppel – an AI-native social engineering defence platform – has entered a partnership with Madison Square Garden Sports Corp that could signal a shift in how cyber firms position their technology in consumer-facing environments.

Doppel announced its collaboration with the New York Knicks, marking the firm's first partnership with a sports franchise.

The arrangement will see the social engineering defence platform's branding appear across Knicks home games at Madison Square Garden.

The partnership places a cybersecurity technology company in one of the most visible sports and entertainment venues in the US.

Doppel's presence will extend through in-arena contests, GardenVision features and the team's digital channels throughout the regular season.

"My co-founder Rahul and I came up with the concept of Doppel on a basketball court, so partnering with the New York Knicks feels like a full-circle moment," says Kevin Tian, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Doppel.

"In basketball, defence determines outcomes in the highest-pressure moments and in social engineering defence, the same is true."

Social engineering threats target visibility

Organisations operating in high-profile environments face persistent exposure to impersonation and phishing attacks.

Sports franchises and entertainment companies manage substantial digital ecosystems that present multiple attack vectors for social engineering threats.

Doppel's technology focuses on detecting and disrupting these threats before they reach their targets.

The platform addresses attacks including deepfakes and phishing attempts that target executives and organisations with public visibility.

"For impersonation and phishing attacks that target high-profile organisations and their executives daily, the best offence is a good social engineering defence," says Kevin.

"The Knicks operate in one of the most visible, high-stakes environments in sports and that is exactly where our technology is built to perform.

"This partnership puts our mission to protect the world from social engineering attacks on one of the biggest stages in the world."

Cybersecurity firms seek brand visibility

The collaboration extends beyond Madison Square Garden's arena operations.

Doppel will appear on exterior digital signage boards in one of New York's busiest entertainment districts, with thousands of daily passers-by exposed to the security firm's branding.

The company will also be integrated into the Knicks' social media platforms through a dedicated content series.

This represents a strategy by cybersecurity vendors to reach audiences beyond traditional enterprise marketing channels.

Madison Square Garden Sports Corp adds a security technology partner to a portfolio that spans entertainment, retail and technology sectors.

"We welcome Doppel to the Knicks family," says Doug Jossem, Executive Vice President Global Sports and Entertainment Partnerships at MSG Entertainment.

"Bringing them on board as a valued partner unlocks new ways to connect and engage with fans and deliver value across our platforms, both inside and outside of the arena."

Real-time detection for digital threats

Doppel positions its platform as an AI-native defence layer designed to operate in real time.

The technology aims to identify and disrupt social engineering attacks with what the company describes as precision and resilience.

"We built Doppel to be an AI-native platform that could identify and disrupt social engineering attacks, like deepfakes or phishing, before they ever reach their target," says Rahul Madduluri, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of Doppel.

"That requires operating in real-time with a high degree of precision and resilience."

"Those are the same standards that define elite organisations like the New York Knicks, where performance and discipline are non-negotiable. That shared mindset is what makes this partnership so natural."

The partnership portrays how cybersecurity firms may approach brand building in sectors outside traditional enterprise technology.

Sports and entertainment venues offer exposure to consumer audiences who may not typically encounter security technology marketing.

The arrangement between Doppel and Madison Square Garden Sports Corp places social engineering defence technology in an environment where decision-making speed and consistent performance are operational requirements.