World-famous soccer club FC Barcelona recently announced Fortinet as its official cybersecurity partner for the next three seasons, adopting its Security Fabric platform. The security vendor’s consolidation and platform approach was one of the main drivers behind this partnership.

“The primary driver behind the decision to deploy the Fortinet Security Fabric was the ability to integrate multiple security products and solutions into a single platform, streamlining management and reducing operational complexity,” FC Barcelona Chief Commercial Officer Sergi Ricart told SDxCentral.

“This centralized visibility across both IT and OT networks improves the ability to identify and respond to threats more efficiently and effectively,” he added. “Additionally, the vendor's comprehensive support services, which facilitate incident resolution, were also critical.”

The adoption is part of the Espai Barça project, which aims to transform FC Barcelona’s facilities, including the renowned Spotify Camp Nou stadium with a capacity of more than 100,000 fans, into a global reference for technological innovation in sport and entertainment.

Benefits of a unified security platform

Fortinet Security Fabric is the vendor’s security mesh platform powered by FortiOS, including its network security, security operations and secure access service edge (SASE) capabilities.

The vendor first rolled out the platform in 2016. Since then, the company has been adding capabilities to the platform. For example, Fortinet recently announced plans to acquire Lacework, adding the cloud security startup's capabilities to the Security Fabric.

Opting for a unified security platform like Fortinet Security Fabric, as opposed to a mix of tools from different vendors, was a deliberate strategy to streamline cybersecurity management, Ricart explained.

“Managing multiple tools from different vendors can be complex and time-consuming,” he said.

“A unified platform ensures that all security tools and services are fully integrated and compatible with each other, eliminating the interoperability issues that can arise when using products from multiple vendors.”

Additionally, “a unified platform simplifies security operations by reducing the need to train staff on multiple systems and reconcile disparate interfaces and security policies,” Ricart added. This streamlined approach simplifies the learning curve for the IT staff, enabling them to focus on strategy and incident response rather than juggling multiple tools.

This approach will also automate and orchestrate incident responses across different security tools, which enhance the speed and efficiency of threat management, he said.

FC Barcelona partners with Fortinet to enhance user and visitor experience

FC Barcelona plans to implement Fortinet’s Security Fabric platform to integrate with the clud’s existing IT investments.

The platform will offer FortiGate next-generation firewall (NGFX) to secure stadium Wi-Fi, OT infrastructure and the data center; zero-trust network access (ZTNA) and endpoint security to protect users and devices accessing applications from any location; centralized management with artificial intelligence (AI) -powered security analytics to offer network visibility.

Transition challenges and strategies

Transitioning to a security platform, particularly shifting from traditional VPN to ZTNA, presents several challenges.

Ricart highlighted the primary obstacles, including user migration, compatibility with legacy applications and adapting existing infrastructure. “This includes implementing new security policies, authentication methods, access procedures and more.”

However, fostering a “never trust, always verify” security culture is critical, he added, which represents a significant shift from an implicit trust model of traditional VPNs.

“Establishing a robust identity and access management system capable of supporting ZTNA is essential to ensure that users only have access to the resources they need,” Ricart said. “In addition, it is important to train the IT team to effectively implement these policies within the organization.”

To ensure a smooth transition to the Security Fabric platform, FC Barcelona and Fortinet will consider several strategies, including phased implementation, pilot testing, comprehensive training, user communication, support and resources and feedback mechanisms, according to Ricart.