In this week’s episode of The Future of Security Operations podcast, Thomas is joined by George Griesler. George has been working in cybersecurity since 1997, when he assumed the role of Senior Network administrator at the United States Golf Association (USGA), eventually advancing to Director of Information Security. He currently serves as the Senior Director of Cybersecurity at the National Football League (NFL), where he works to secure events like the Super Bowl, which in 2024 was the most-watched telecast ever.
George and Thomas discuss:
- What security operations looked like in 1997
- Protecting the secrets of regulation golf equipment at the USGA
- The shift in security and privacy needs at live sports events
- Securing scents, flavors, and other chemical formulations at IFF
- Preparing for Super Bowl LXXVIII in the wake of the MGM Resorts cyber attack
- The Super Bowl threat profile, from scoreboard hacking to stadium credentials
- Collaborating with cybersecurity experts from CISA, the FBI, Caesars Palace, and the MGM Grand.
- Aligning security operations with physical security
- The reality of working on high-pressure events
- The benefits of knowledge sharing with other teams working on live sports events
- The importance of relationship building across internal security teams:
- The potential of automation, orchestration, and AI in incident response