Barcelona-Fortinet cybersecurity deal

Article posted by Coliseum, June 3^rd, 2024

Image: FC Barcelona

Spanish La Liga club FC Barcelona and global cybersecurity leader Fortinet have agreed a deal for Fortinet to become Espai Barça’s new Official Cybersecurity Partner for the next three seasons, until 30 June 2028.

FC Barcelona said that as part of the agreement, the club will enable a secure digital environment for its Spotify Camp Nou facilities leveraging Fortinet’s industry-leading Security Fabric platform, which will serve as a global reference for technological innovation in the world of sport and entertainment.

Espai Barça is a revolutionary project in the world of sport and entertainment that seeks to update and expand FC Barcelona’s facilities, including the emblematic Spotify Camp Nou, and transform it into the best sports complex in the centre of a major city.

Having the best cybersecurity solutions through a collaboration with Fortinet is key to achieving this goal by ensuring a secure digital environment and offering the best possible experience to all members and fans who visit the stadium, the club said.

The alliance between the club and Fortinet is part of the sponsorship programme associated with the future Spotify Camp Nou and has been made possible thanks to their shared goals of integrating the most innovative technological systems into the future Stadium.

Juli Guiu, vice-president of FC Barcelona’s Marketing Area said, “Espai Barça must be the catalyst for the club’s digital transformation, and cybersecurity is a fundamental pillar. Our alliance with Fortinet ensures that our facilities will have the most advanced protection and a secure digital environment for all those who visit the Stadium. This collaboration highlights our commitment to innovation and technology and the club’s commitment to offer the best experience.”

FC Barcelona is committed to turning Espai Barça into an international innovation hub, at the forefront of new technologies. In this sense, the alliance reaffirms the club’s commitment to partnering with leading companies and integrating the most innovative technology into the new stadium.

This partnership represents a new opportunity for the sponsorship programme, created specifically for one of the most important projects in the Club’s history.

It will open up new opportunities, both for companies that sell directly to consumers (B2C) and, as is the case for Fortinet, for companies focused on the business sector (B2B), taking advantage of the global visibility and prestige of FC Barcelona and the importance of what will be one of the world’s leading stadia.

As part of the agreement, FC Barcelona will implement Fortinet’s Security Fabric platform, including FortiGate next-generation firewalls, to secure stadium Wi-Fi, OT infrastructure, and the data center.

Fortinet’s Zero Trust Network Access and endpoint security will protect users and devices accessing applications from any location.

Additionally, centralized management with AI-powered security analytics will offer comprehensive network visibility. These technologies will integrate seamlessly with FC Barcelona’s existing IT investments, enhancing security and efficiency across Spotify Camp Nou.

John Maddison, Chief Marketing Officer of Fortinet, said, “Building on Fortinet’s history of cybersecurity innovation spanning more than 20 years, we’re proud to support FC Barcelona’s ambitious vision to create an international innovation hub powered by industry-leading, cutting-edge technologies. Our shared goal of developing Spotify Camp Nou into one of the world’s leading stadiums is made possible by leveraging the Fortinet Security Fabric platform to secure its digital environment.”

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