Darktrace Finds More Than 80% of Professional Sports Organizations Impacted by Cyber Incidents in the last 12 Months as AI Raises the Cybersecurity Stakes

Cybersecurity firm Darktrace has released new research revealing that 84% of professional sports organizations experienced at least one cyber incident within the past 12 months, with more than half (57%) facing multiple attacks during that timeframe. The study highlights the growing cybersecurity vulnerabilities facing the sports industry as digital transformation accelerates and AI-powered threats become more sophisticated. Sports organizations have become increasingly attractive targets for cybercriminals due to their high-profile nature, valuable fan data, and often limited cybersecurity infrastructure compared to other industries. The research underscores how the sports sector's rapid adoption of digital technologies for fan engagement, ticketing systems, and operational management has expanded their attack surface while many organizations lack adequate security measures to protect against modern threat actors.