The iGaming and online sports betting industry is facing unprecedented cyber attacks as it seeks to protect business operations, safeguard personal data and uphold public trust.
On April 14, 2024, Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) released the first gaming information security standard, “ GLI Gaming Security Framework Module 1 (GLI-GSF-1): Gaming Information Security (GIS) Common Controls Audit“, and on July 30, re-released the module for public comment.
It’s important that operators and suppliers understand what this means. Therefore, in this blog, we will explore the released framework, how a cybersecurity framework can assist the iGaming industry and its role within the online gaming industry.
The GLI-GSF-1 is the first cybersecurity framework explicitly tailored for the gaming industry. It was developed to address the sector’s unique security challenges by providing a set of controls to safeguard critical system components, transaction processing, and sensitive data.
This framework provides common controls for auditing a gaming organisation’s Gaming Information Security Management System (GISMS). The structured framework ensures that gaming operations can function securely, similar to eCommerce operations, within safe and stable environments.
GISMS protects sensitive data and systems within a Gaming Production Environment (GPE). It addresses evolving threats and compliance requirements by maintaining policies, controls, risk management and continuous improvement.
Industry experts highlight recent attacks on major casino and hospitality businesses as a wake-up call for the industry to enhance cybersecurity in the iGaming industry. Two of the more high-profile cases involved MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment:
“Cyber attacks have become the new normal in the iGaming and online sports betting industry,” said Patrick Gardner, VP & CSO at C8 Secure, a Continent 8 Technologies company. “The persistent and escalating occurrence of security breaches highlights the urgent requirement for organisations to effectively manage cyber incidents. Unfortunately, many organisations are ill-prepared for such situations, emphasising the need for an industry-specific cybersecurity framework approach.”
Cybersecurity frameworks are not a new concept. The financial sector, with its mature cybersecurity practices, can offer valuable insights for the iGaming industry.
For instance, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) cybersecurity framework is designed to create a secure environment and protect card transactions against data theft and fraud. Compliance with PCI DSS is, in fact, mandatory for any company that processes credit card information, regardless of industry. The latest PCI DSS v4.0 standard emphasises Web Application Firewalls (WAF) for securing online platforms, which is critical for iGaming sites handling sensitive user data.
Another cybersecurity framework is the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework (CSF). This cybersecurity framework, used in the financial sector but also across a wide range of business verticals, is developed based on industry standards and best practices to help organisations manage critical infrastructure cybersecurity risks. It consists of five core functions – identify, protect, detect, respond and recover – and offers guidance for developing organisational profiles.
The iGaming market can adopt the best, proven principles from existing cybersecurity frameworks but create one that is tailored to the industry’s unique cybersecurity challenges and requirements. iGaming and online sports betting operators and suppliers deal with complex, interconnected infrastructure and IT environments that offers attackers a vast surface attack area. With so many potential attack vectors and vulnerability endpoints, a proactive, layered threat prevention, detection and response approach ensures optimal protection – from the edge to the data centre to endpoint and the cloud. Key implementations should include:
“Another important consideration is that iGaming operators and suppliers are faced with the challenging task of maintaining the highest security standards and managing how cybersecurity interacts within their hosting, connectivity, cloud and regulatory ecosystem. This places a significant investment and resource burden on many of these organisations, and we’re observing an increase in operators and suppliers seeking to outsource these responsibilities. Managed security service providers that can support all of these requirements should offer the simplest path to integration for smooth deployment with minimal to no downtime,” said Patrick.
Industry standards embody the collective goals, values, duties and long-term success of an entire industry. Continent 8 has consistently championed and advocated for these standards, engaging and collaborating with fellow industry members through various industry bodies and organisations. Recently, Continent 8 was welcomed into the International Gaming Standards Association (IGSA). With this new role, Continent 8 joins the IGSA Cyber Resiliency Committee, contributing to the development and implementation of industry-recognised cybersecurity standards aimed at enhancing regulatory and cybersecurity quality, innovation and performance throughout the iGaming and online sports betting industry.
The introduction of a common framework is a critical and necessary milestone to bring parity to Gaming security standards with other highly regulated industries. By embracing these additional controls, we are not only protecting the integrity of our industry but also prioritising the privacy and protection of our customers’ data. If adopted, Continent 8 stands ready to assist operators achieve compliance with all aspects of the proposed standards with comprehensive and cost-effective solutions.
As the online gaming industry continues to grow, and the risks that come along with it, cybersecurity frameworks will continue to play an essential role. Continuous monitoring, enhancements and technical advancements will be required to maintain the security and integrity of gaming operations while ensuring standardised protection for all stakeholders.
To learn more about Continent 8’s cybersecurity approaches, best practices and recommendations for the iGaming and online sports betting industry, contact sales@continent8.com.
Craig Lusher from our Secure team takes a deep dive into the latest DDoS stats from the second quarter of the year
As was the case in the first quarter of 2024, Continent 8 continues to see a decline in DDoS attacks against its customers with just 32 incidents reported across customers in the second quarter of the year. This marks a 45% decrease from the 58 attacks recorded in the previous quarter and is a mere fraction of the 1,106 DDoS attacks successfully thwarted during the corresponding period in 2023.
The quarter’s fluctuation in the number of attacks per month, with 8 in April, 5 in May and 19 in June, indicates varying attack campaigns or possibly enhanced defensive strategies.
The intensity of attacks in the second quarter of 2024 escalated significantly than in the previous quarter in terms of peak attack size:
This quarter’s surge in peak attack intensity, particularly in June, indicates a concerning trend towards more powerful DDoS attempts, despite their decreased frequency.
The highest number of attacks a single customer faced was 7, a significant reduction from the peak of 25 attacks in the first quarter. This data indicates a shift towards a more distributed pattern of attacks in the second quarter compared to the first quarter.
The timing and frequency of attacks in the second quarter of 2024 reveal some interesting trends:
These figures indicate that while there were fewer attacks overall, they tended to last longer on average, with some attacks being significantly more persistent than in the previous quarter. Prolonged attacks can strain resources for unprotected customers, potentially leading to substantial disruptions if critical systems or services are compromised by malicious activity.
The second quarter of 2024 witnessed a significant reduction in overall DDoS activity compared to the first quarter. However, there has been a concerning uptick in the intensity of attacks, particularly in June, posing a greater risk of potential damage. The fluctuations observed throughout the quarter, peaking with a spike in June, suggest evolving DDoS attack strategies. Employing an advanced DDoS mitigation system and solution is essential to safeguard against potential threats.
Our best-in-class DDoS solution continues to evolve and in recent months we have amplified our scrubbing capacity to 2.5+ Tbps, as well as increased our scrubbing centres geographically deployed across multiple continents. Locations include Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Miami, London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Singapore, Hong Kong and Sao Paulo.
Key features of our mitigation solution:
DDoS protection should also form part of a wider, multi-layered approach to cybersecurity. A 360-degree, end-to-end protection strategy should include DDoS mitigation solution as well as WAF/WAAP protection, MDR/EDR services, SIEM and SOC resources, VAPT assessments, backup solutions, and mobile device and phishing defence services.
This is the only way to have multiple protections in place for each attack type and to ensure the greatest level of resilience.
To learn more about how Continent 8 can help protect your organisation, contact a member of the team via sales@continent8.com or our Contact Us form.
Explore the critical cybersecurity measures and considerations necessary for safeguarding tribal casino gaming enterprises in an increasingly digital world.
In this blog, Jerad Swimmer, Regional Sales Director at Continent 8 Technologies, discusses the range cyber threats confronting tribal casinos, highlights the most recent cyber attacks on these establishments, outlines the unique specific cybersecurity requirements of tribal gaming and recommends best practices for establishing robust cybersecurity measures to improve their overall cybersecurity posture.
Tribal casinos are increasingly becoming targets for cyber attacks, with hackers constantly looking for vulnerabilities to exploit. Some of the current cyber threats facing tribal casinos include:
To protect against these threats, tribal casinos need to implement robust cybersecurity measures and stay up to date with the latest security practices.
There have been several tribal casino incidents recently where casinos have been forced to close following a cyber attack.
Cyber attacks are on the rise and tribal casinos must take these threats seriously to properly safeguard their operations.
Tribal gaming operations have unique cybersecurity needs that must be addressed to ensure data protection and operational continuity. These needs include:
By understanding these unique cybersecurity needs, tribal casinos can develop effective strategies to mitigate risks and safeguard their operations.
To enhance cybersecurity in tribal gaming operations, the following best practices should be implemented:
By implementing these best practices, tribal casinos can significantly enhance their cybersecurity posture and protect against a wide range of threats.
As cyber threats continue to evolve, tribal casinos can leverage innovative technologies and solutions to enhance their cybersecurity posture. Some key technologies and solutions include:
By embracing these innovative technologies and solutions, tribal casinos can stay ahead of cyber threats and enhance their overall cybersecurity posture.
Learn more about Continent 8’s multi-layered cybersecurity solutions at the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (OIGA) Conference and Trade Show in Oklahoma City ‘the biggest little show in Indian Gaming’, from August 12-14.
Continent 8’s Regional Sales Directors, Jerad Swimmer and Jamie Garcia, and Principal Solutions Architect, Tony Engel, will be in attendance at Continent 8 stand 1033.
To set up a meeting, visit here.
In the most recent instalment of our Cultiv8 Employee Series, Jordan Holmes, Director of Talent Operations at Continent 8, engaged in a captivating conversation with Tej Pillay, our new South African-based Cloud Technical Specialist. Tej’s passion for the latest cloud advancements, coupled with his current projects and enthusiasm for the Continent 8 journey, promises an innovative and dynamic approach to our cloud initiatives.
Absolutely! I am deeply passionate about everything cloud and open source. My intrinsic drive lies in fostering innovation and streamlining processes through automation, which fuels my enthusiasm for each workday.
As a Cloud Technical Specialist, my primary objective is to harness my expertise and experience to enhance team efficiency through automation strategies. Additionally, I am dedicated to championing the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and refined processes within Continent 8, thereby contributing to the organisation’s growth and success.
My career journey has been a blend of software development and a deep dive into system design and operations within the IT sector. Initially, I honed my skills in software development, gaining insights into the end-to-end process of developing, maintaining and deploying enterprise software solutions. Transitioning to the latter half of my career, I delved into infrastructure and operations roles across diverse industries, including the dynamic field of iGaming.
During this phase, I had the privilege of collaborating with multifaceted business units, spanning infrastructure, platforms, monitoring, networking and security. By advocating for and implementing DevOps principles, I facilitated seamless coordination between these teams, fostering a culture of efficiency and innovation. Drawing from this rich tapestry of experiences, I am well-equipped to bring a holistic perspective to my role as a Cloud Technical Specialist at Continent 8, driving operational excellence and technological advancement within the organisation.
The allure of collaborating with diverse teams and empowering them to achieve their objectives through automation stands out as the most rewarding aspect of my role.
When it comes to what drew me to Continent 8, it was undoubtedly the people. The genuine sense of camaraderie and strong work ethic within the team resonated with me, creating a familial atmosphere that fosters collaboration and success. Moreover, Continent 8’s unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction played a pivotal role in my decision to join the organisation.
What I find most gratifying about my job is the opportunity to work alongside dedicated professionals who share a common goal of delivering excellence to our customers. The supportive environment at Continent 8 not only encourages innovation but also nurtures personal and professional growth, making each day a fulfilling journey of learning and achievement.
As a Cloud Technical Specialist, one of the primary challenges I face is navigating the rapid evolution of the IT industry. With the landscape constantly changing, selecting the most suitable tools, processes and designs can be a daunting task. To address this challenge, I prioritise staying informed about the latest developments in cloud technology.
I employ a multifaceted approach to stay up to date, which includes regularly engaging with whitepapers, technology blogs, webinars and forums. These resources provide valuable insights into emerging trends, best practices and innovative solutions within the cloud domain. Additionally, active participation in the open-source community enables me to collaborate with industry experts and gain first-hand knowledge of what strategies and technologies are proving effective in the ever-expanding tech landscape.
By consistently immersing myself in these learning opportunities and leveraging the collective wisdom of the tech community, I ensure that I am well-equipped to address the challenges of my role and deliver optimal cloud solutions to meet the evolving needs of our customers.
In my role, I find that my approach to automation and innovation naturally aligns with the company’s values of Active Ownership, Purposeful Creativity and Genuine Care.
I take pride in taking ownership of driving progress and efficiency within my team by actively working on automation solutions and collaborating with diverse teams to help them achieve their goals. This sense of Active Ownership resonates with Continent 8’s culture of taking responsibility and driving positive change within the organisation.
One of the significant initiatives I am currently focusing on is our partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to provide our customers with a platform that leverages a hyperscale cloud environment that is both secure and compliant within the betting and gaming industry. This initiative is particularly exciting as it involves integrating cutting-edge cloud technologies to enhance our services and offer our clients a robust and regulated platform for their operations.
By collaborating with AWS, we aim to leverage their advanced cloud infrastructure and security capabilities to create a secure and scalable environment tailored to the specific needs of the betting and gaming industry.
I’m thrilled to have joined the Continent 8 team and am eager to immerse myself in the iGaming industry. I see this opportunity as a platform for continuous learning, personal growth and professional development. I am excited about the prospect of contributing to Continent 8’s success and being part of a team that is dedicated to delivering excellence to our customers.
On May 2, 2024, the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) and the Ministry of Finance (MF) issued Ordinance No. 722 (link here in Portuguese). This set of regulations outlines the essential technical and security criteria that iGaming and online sports betting operators must adhere to within six months of obtaining their gaming licenses.
In a series of blogs over the coming months, Luana Monje, Sales Executive at Continent 8 Technologies, will examine the various requirements for regulated iGaming in Brazil. First up, she examines the penetration testing requirement, along with other cybersecurity considerations, in more detail.
Ordinance 722, Annex IV, section 41 – Penetration testing: The purpose of penetration testing is to exploit any weaknesses discovered during the vulnerability assessment in any publicly exposed applications or systems that host applications that process, transmit and/or store sensitive information.
Executing thorough penetration testing is a testament to an organisation’s dedication to safeguarding user data. Ordinance 722 defines penetration testing as systematically challenging the strength of network and application layers so that operators and suppliers can identify and rectify vulnerabilities.
Our Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) services provide comprehensive security assessments for a customer’s infrastructure and applications. The VAPT solution enables organisations to achieve regulatory compliance and understand their attack surface area, providing a strong foundation for strengthening security posture.
Key benefits include:
VAPT use case: Read how Continent 8 Technologies supports ODDSworks with cybersecurity audit and vulnerability assessment penetration test services. |
Ordinance 722 offers a set of ground rules from which iGaming and online sports betting operators and suppliers should start. Beyond the suggested checklist, operators and suppliers should also consider a holistic approach that ensures end-to-end protection against any security and cyber threat. A 360-degree defense strategy includes:
By referencing the SPA and MF’s Ordinance 722 policies and partnering with an experienced and trusted solutions provider like Continent 8, operators and suppliers can deploy multi-defense, multi-layer security protection strategies for their iGaming and online sports betting platform. This approach enables them to comply with Brazil’s latest technical and security regulations while demonstrating their commitment to providing secure and trustworthy gaming environments and experiences.
Continent 8 Technologies, the trusted managed hosting, connectivity, cloud and cybersecurity partner to the global iGaming and online sports betting industry for over 25 years, is live in every major regulated Latin American (LATAM) jurisdiction, including Brazil.
Operating out of the LATAM region since 2020, we offer operators and suppliers access to state-of-the-art data centers, connectivity to a global private network featuring 100+ locations across four continents and best-in-class managed and professional services to support the most demanding iGaming and online sports betting requirements.
Discover why Continent 8 is the go-to infrastructure and cybersecurity provider for leading LATAM operators and suppliers such as Betcris, Boldt, Bplay and Vibra Gaming, and learn how we ensure the seamless implementation of compliant and secure infrastructures so that your Brazilian gaming operations are live from day one.
For more information on how Continent 8 can support your organisation’s regulatory and cybersecurity requirements, contact Luana at luana.monje@continent8.com.
Em 2 de maio de 2024, a Secretaria de Prêmios e Apostas (SPA) e o Ministério da Fazenda (MF) emitiram a Portaria nº 722. Este conjunto de regulamentos define os critérios técnicos e de segurança essenciais que os operadores de iGaming e de apostas desportivas online devem cumprir no prazo de seis meses após a obtenção das suas licenças de jogo.
Em uma série de blogs nos próximos meses, Luana Monje, Executiva de Vendas da Continent 8 Technologies, examinará os vários requisitos para o iGaming regulamentado no Brasil. Em primeiro lugar, ela examina o requisito de teste de penetração, juntamente com outras considerações de segurança cibernética, em mais detalhes.
Portaria 722, Anexo IV, secção 41 – Testes de penetração: O objetivo dos testes de penetração é explorar quaisquer pontos fracos descobertos durante a avaliação de vulnerabilidades em quaisquer aplicações ou sistemas expostos publicamente que alojem aplicações que processem, transmitam e/ou armazenem informações sensíveis.
A realização de testes de penetração completos é uma prova da dedicação de uma organização à proteção dos dados dos utilizadores. A Portaria 722 define os testes de penetração como um desafio sistemático à força das camadas de rede e de aplicação para que os operadores e fornecedores possam identificar e retificar vulnerabilidades.
Os nossos serviços de Avaliação de Vulnerabilidades e Testes de Penetração (VAPT) fornecem avaliações de segurança abrangentes para as infra-estruturas e aplicações de um cliente. A solução VAPT permite que as organizações atinjam a conformidade regulamentar e compreendam a sua área de superfície de ataque, fornecendo uma base sólida para reforçar a postura de segurança.
As principais vantagens incluem:
Caso de utilização VAPT (em inglês): Leia como a Continent 8 Technologies apoia a ODDSworks com serviços de auditoria de cibersegurança e teste de penetração de avaliação de vulnerabilidades.. |
A portaria 722 oferece um conjunto de regras básicas a partir das quais os operadores e fornecedores de iGaming e de apostas desportivas em linha devem começar. Para além da lista de verificação sugerida, os operadores e fornecedores devem também considerar uma abordagem holística que garanta uma proteção completa contra qualquer ameaça à segurança e à cibersegurança. Uma estratégia de defesa de 360 graus inclui (ligações de produtos em inglês):
Ao fazer referência às políticas da SPA e da Portaria 722 do MF e fazer parceria com um provedor de soluções experiente e confiável como o Continente 8, operadores e fornecedores podem implantar estratégias de proteção de segurança multi-defesa e multi-camadas para sua plataforma de apostas esportivas iGaming e online. Essa abordagem permite que eles cumpram as mais recentes regulamentações técnicas e de segurança do Brasil, ao mesmo tempo em que demonstram seu compromisso em fornecer ambientes e experiências de jogos seguros e confiáveis.
A Continent 8 Technologies, parceira confiável de hospedagem gerenciada, conetividade, nuvem e segurança cibernética para a indústria global de iGaming e apostas esportivas online há mais de 25 anos, está ao vivo em todas as principais jurisdições regulamentadas da América Latina (LATAM), incluindo o Brasil.
Operando a partir da região LATAM desde 2020, oferecemos aos operadores e fornecedores acesso a centros de dados de última geração, conetividade a uma rede privada global com mais de 100 locais em quatro continentes e os melhores serviços gerenciados e profissionais da categoria para apoiar os requisitos mais exigentes de iGaming e apostas desportivas online.
Descubra por que o Continente 8 é o provedor de infraestrutura e segurança cibernética para os principais operadores e fornecedores da LATAM, como Betcris, Boldt, Bplay e Vibra Gaming, e saiba como garantimos a implementação perfeita de infraestruturas compatíveis e seguras para que suas operações de jogos brasileiras estejam ao vivo desde o primeiro dia.
Para obter mais informações sobre como o Continente 8 pode apoiar os requisitos regulatórios e de segurança cibernética da sua organização, visite Continent8.com ou contactar Luana em luana.monje@continent8.com.
Our Senior Cloud Solutions Architect Matteo Gabrielli wrote a brief blog of Continent 8’s LATAM marketing and services.
The Latin American (LATAM) iGaming and online sports betting market is growing rapidly, presenting both opportunities and unique technical challenges. As operators and suppliers expand into this market, they face critical decisions about infrastructure, compliance, and scalability. At Continent 8 Technologies, we guide customers through this complex landscape, leveraging our deep expertise in AWS (Amazon Web Services) solutions, on-premises infrastructure, networking, cybersecurity, and iGaming-specific technologies.
One of the key characteristics of iGaming operations in the LATAM market is the approach many customers take to infrastructure deployment. While regulations vary across the region, many operators choose to serve the entire LATAM market from a single AWS location, such as US East (Virginia), US West (Oregon), or South America (São Paulo).
This centralized model, chosen by some of our customers, offers advantages in terms of operational simplicity and cost-effectiveness. However, it also requires careful planning to ensure performance, compliance, and scalability across diverse geographic and regulatory landscapes.
With over 25 years in the iGaming industry and a network spanning more than 100 locations across four continents, Continent 8 brings a unique blend of global reach and local knowledge to the table. Our presence in 30 US states, multiple Canadian provinces, and key locations across LATAM, Europe, and Asia allows us to offer comprehensive compliant solutions.
What sets us apart is our ability to be a single source provider for all regulated locations. Our team has a deep understanding of AWS architectures, on-premises infrastructure, networking intricacies, cybersecurity best practices, and hosting requirements specific to the iGaming industry. This expertise translates into consistent, high-quality implementations across your entire infrastructure stack.
In the fast-changing iGaming and online sports betting landscape, generic solutions often fall short. That’s why we approach each customer engagement with a fresh perspective, considering not just current needs but future growth trajectories.
Our solutions include:
Our cloud offering is purpose-built for iGaming, ensuring regulatory compliance while providing the flexibility and scalability needed in dynamic markets. It’s an ideal choice for operators looking for a fully managed, iGaming-specific solution.
Often, the best solution involves a strategic combination of Continent 8 and AWS resources, optimized for performance, compliance, and cost-effectiveness. This approach allows you to leverage the strengths of both platforms.
For those preferring an AWS-focused approach, we design and implement solutions that take full advantage of AWS capabilities, complemented by our industry-specific expertise.
Our goal is not to push one platform over another, but to architect the solution that best fits your unique needs and growth plans.
One of the most common pitfalls we see in global expansions is the tendency to replicate entire deployments across different jurisdictions. While this approach might seem straightforward, it often leads to high costs, maintenance challenges, and scalability issues down the line.
Instead, we advocate for a more strategic approach:
We break down your infrastructure into modular components, creating systems that can be easily replicated or scaled independently. Crucially, this design considers which components are subject to regulation and which are not, allowing for more efficient expansion into new markets without unnecessary duplication or compliance risks.
We design solutions that centralize core components while ensuring local regulatory compliance. This strikes the right balance between operational efficiency and legal requirements.
The iGaming regulatory landscape is constantly evolving. Our architectures are designed with flexibility in mind, allowing you to adapt quickly to new requirements or market opportunities.
At Continent 8, we offer more than just infrastructure. Our team provides comprehensive support throughout your journey:
Operating across the LATAM region presents unique performance challenges. Latency, data sovereignty, and varying regulatory requirements all come into play. Our approach combines strategic use of the Continent 8 purpose-built network, AWS services, custom content delivery solutions, and optimized network routing to ensure a seamless user experience across the region.
Navigating the regulatory landscape in LATAM requires a nuanced understanding of both regional and country-specific requirements. Our “Regul8 Guardrails” solution embeds compliance checks directly into your cloud infrastructure, ensuring that you maintain regulatory alignment even as you rapidly scale and expand.
Our regulatory affairs team’s proactive approach means you are not just compliant today, but well-positioned for the regulatory landscape of tomorrow. They work closely with our solution architects and account teams to ensure that compliance considerations are built into every aspect of your infrastructure.
The most critical aspect of our approach is the focus on long-term optimization. The infrastructure decisions you make today will have profound implications for your operational efficiency and competitiveness in the years to come.
Our team continuously monitors your systems, identifying opportunities for cost savings, performance enhancements, and architectural improvements. We have helped clients achieve significant cost reductions through strategic workload placement, rightsizing of resources, and implementation of scalable solutions tailored to the unique traffic patterns of iGaming applications.
As you plan your entry or expansion in the flourishing LATAM iGaming market, remember that the right infrastructure strategy can be a powerful competitive advantage. At Continent 8, we bring a unique combination of iGaming industry knowledge, AWS expertise, on-premises infrastructure experience, networking proficiency, and cybersecurity best practices to every engagement.
We are not just here to provide technology – we are here to be your strategic partner in navigating the complexities of global expansion. From initial architecture design to ongoing optimization and support, our team is committed to your long-term success in LATAM and beyond.
Ready to craft a future-proof strategy for your iGaming operations? Let’s start a conversation about how we can align cutting-edge technology with your business objectives. Contact our team of experts at sales@continent8.com, and let’s build the foundation for your success in the dynamic LATAM market.
Learn more about our AWS solutions here.
Francisco Santos, Cloud Operations Manager at Continent 8 Technologies, alongside several of his colleagues in the global Cloud team, recently attended Nutanix .NEXT 2024. The event featured a full agenda of keynote presentations, game-changing breakouts, and hands-on demos, with a focus on how hybrid cloud unlocks the full potential of on-prem, private and public clouds.
Here, Francisco shares his key takeaways from the event.
I was really impressed with the .NEXT event. I attended a smaller version last November, but this full version provided a lot more information about new products, features, and partnerships.
I had a great time meeting with the Nutanix team, checking out new features for the Nutanix AHV virtualisation and Nutanix NCM multi-cloud management platforms, and learning about how other companies are using Nutanix. It was also interesting to explore the services available from partners like RedHat, Suse and Parallel.
The session was fantastic! We had over 100 attendees, and many people reached out afterward to learn more about our approach to building the multi-tenancy offering with Nutanix. The session covered how tenant operations are performed with NCM Self-Service, how to provide isolation with Flow Virtual Networking and VPCs, and even how to plan a migration from VMware to Nutanix AHV.
I think the session was timely given the recent changes to the new licensing model used by VMware Broadcom – a topic of concern for some. As a premier partner in Broadcom’s Partner Program for VMware Cloud Service Providers (VCSPs), we not only help customers migrate from non-virtualized and existing VMware infrastructure to fully managed and compliant clouds but also provide cost savings through licensing scalability and 24/7 support capability.
During the event, I noticed that most of the topics revolved around containers, cybersecurity, AI and hybrid cloud as most of the companies are using public/private cloud to establish their environment and disaster recovery solutions. The use of containerised applications can assist customers in understanding how to decouple their applications and optimise their use of the public cloud.
Hybrid cloud and AI are consistently the main topics covered at most cloud events, and Nutanix has some intriguing solutions available.
Overall, this was certainly an informative event, with a lot of great takeaways and customer interest. I look forward to attending next year’s Nutanix .NEXT event.
Continent 8 offers a comprehensive cloud offering that can support any cloud-based iGaming and online sports betting environment, tailored to the customer’s specific project requirements.
Learn how our cloud team can help simplify, optimise and reimagine your hyperscale, hybrid, public multi-tenant and private single-tenant cloud infrastructure – contact us today!
Continent 8 Technologies has experienced significant growth in recent years, with a global private network now featuring over 100 data centre locations.
In the latest edition of the Cultiv8 Employee Series, Leslie Eisener, SVP of Supply Chain and Logistics, spoke with Jordan Holmes, Director of Talent Operations, about the exciting challenges of managing a growing network, the fundamental role her team plays on the broader company operations, current and upcoming initiatives, and much more.
This is a fairly new role at Continent 8, and its creation came off the back of consistent growth, bringing the business to a point where it needed to build a solid foundation for a supply chain that didn’t previously exist. That we have had to establish a supply chain function to match the pace of growth we are experiencing and to provide a platform for the future is a testament to the success Continent 8 has enjoyed in recent years, especially with the opening of North America, and the trajectory it is set to follow.
Our supply chain needs are similar to other services companies and include procurement, logistics, vendor management and inventory, as well as aspects of planning. With more than 100 data centre sites across four continents, we have inventory and assets that need to be purchased, shipped, tracked and stored in locations around the world, so my focus is to build a robust supply chain by engaging the right people, building or enhancing processes and deploying the necessary tools to support our goals.
I’ve been really fortunate to hold roles in the supply chain and digital technology spaces over the past 30 years. The first part of my career was spent in the high-tech industry as a systems administrator before progressing to data centre management. I then did an MBA, which allowed me to change direction and pursue a career in supply chain. This combination of experience with hardware/software and supply chain makes this role at Continent 8 the perfect fit for me.
The supply chain challenges faced by a technology company can be unique. I have experienced first-hand shortages like semiconductors during the pandemic and the impact that had, so I understand how even the smallest issue can significantly impact the supply chain but, more importantly, what needs to be done to ensure it’s business as usual.
The provisioning of secure data center hosting solutions to the iGaming industry is intriguing, exciting and new to me, so the opportunity to join a thriving global business and build something from scratch within the sector was one that I couldn’t turn down. Continent 8’s growing need for a supply chain solution and the chance to devise and deploy a solution to meet this demand presents a challenge that I know my experience will allow me to meet head-on and avoid the pitfalls I’ve seen companies fall into during my previous roles. Building something first-hand is always tough but I do love the challenge it brings.
So, approximately half of my team is new to the business, but the other half has invaluable experience that has fostered a nice blend of new eyes and energy mixed with wisdom and experience, and an understanding of Continent 8’s cultures and values. The team has had to embrace a great deal of change over the past year as we challenge the status quo, and they have done so enthusiastically. Everyone rolls up their sleeves and takes ownership to get things done while building better processes to work smarter and not just harder. This means taking an honest look at existing processes originally put in place when the company was smaller and then applying purposeful creativity to find better ways of doing things. We’ve spent many hours in whiteboarding sessions to develop new processes and streamline existing ones, but by doing this, we know that as we grow, we can continue to take active ownership of things we previously did not have the bandwidth or proper infrastructure to manage.
The supply chain is integral to the execution of our operations and the solutions and services we provide to our customers. We need to be able to find and onboard the best suppliers and ensure that products and services are flowing efficiently across our organisation in the most cost-effective way. As we continue to grow at speed, we must build strong partnerships with the suppliers that facilitate this growth while safeguarding against risks – of which there are many. With more than 100 data centres worldwide and counting, our logistics team has become a core and critical component in delivering the award-winning solutions we provide to operators and suppliers.
When I first joined Continent 8, the supply chain function consisted of a small but hard-working procurement team while logistics and inventory responsibilities were dispersed throughout the company. Relationships with our strategic suppliers fell mostly outside of that team, leaving the tactical purchasing work to be handled by procurement. Since joining, I have focused on several key areas while still trying to control the rate of change so that it’s manageable and achievable.
Some of these include building out a talented team of specialists, streamlining processes, implementing an inventory management system, and augmenting strategic relationships with our top suppliers by creating senior vendor manager roles.
This will be key to our success. Everything in the supply chain is new or changing, and this is why we need to gain buy-in from all stakeholders. To do this, we need to over-communicate these changes. If we can demonstrate the value of the changes we are making, we will have less resistance – and change always brings about plenty of this. The supply chain can add a lot of value to an organisation so long as it’s deployed and managed in an inclusive and collaborative environment. Luckily for me, the leadership team at Continent 8 is very open to change and has offered a great deal of support through the process – I regularly meet with members of the senior management team and have taken opportunities to present at meetings to show how the investment in the supply chain is evolving and the tremendous value it is bringing.
Join Craig Lusher from our Secure team as he takes a deep dive in the latest DDoS stat from the first quarter of the year
It’s been a quiet start to the year in terms of the number of DDoS attacks being launched against Continent 8 customers. In the first three months of 2024, we recorded just 58 attacks across 14 customers compared to the 184 recorded during the same period in 2023.
The year started with 17 attacks recorded in January, almost doubling to 30 in February before dropping back down to 15 in March – this compares with 116, 34 and 34 in January, February and March 2023 respectively.
The fluctuation in attack numbers over the first three months of the year suggests varying attack campaigns targeting different customers. Interestingly, the highest number of attacks were launched against customers based in Kahnawake.
The intensity of attacks was far less ferocious than in previous quarters where we registered attacks over 1Tbps – in 1Q24 it was a far more manageable 3Gbps. Throughout the quarter, the average size of attack was <1Gbps which is a record low for Continent 8 in recent years.
While the size of attacks is on the low side, the disparity between the largest and the average is significant and suggests that while most attacks were smaller there were some outliers (including the 3Gbps attack) that increased the average in February and March.
Of the customers attacked over the first three months of the year, one customer was subject to 25 attacks making it the most targeted. This indicates that specific customer was victim to a persistent targeted attack, which is why we recommend organisations deploy our DDoS Mitigation Service.
It also highlights that some organisations are at greater risk than others and may require additional protective measures depending on the products and services they offer and the markets they are active in.
While the scale of attacks was moderate by global standards, their frequency and duration are cause for concern. That total attack duration for Q1 amounted to 36.6 hours, with the longest attack lasting a total of 2.1 hours resulting in an average attack length of 38 minutes for the quarter.
Such durations can strain resources for unprotected customers and potentially lead to significant disruptions if critical systems or services are targeted.
Despite a drop in the number of DDoS attacks on our customers in the iGaming and sports betting industry, the need for DDoS protection is still paramount, especially for customers who are more susceptible and vulnerable to attack. This is certainly the case as we move toward a summer of major sports events including the Olympics and UEFA Euro 2024.
DDoS protection should form part of a wider, multi-layered approach to cybersecurity that also includes WAF/WAAP protection, backup solutions, MDR/EDR services, VAPT assessments, mobile device and phishing defence as well as SIEM and SOC resources.
This is the only way to have multiple protections in place for each attack type, including DDoS, and to ensure the greatest level of resilience.
Of course, our data and analysis should also be used to inform cybersecurity strategies moving forward and for resource allocation for DDoS mitigation efforts.
Our DDoS solution continues to evolve and in recent months we have amplified our scrubbing capacity to 2.5+Tbps, as well as increased our scrubbing centres geographically deployed across multiple continents. Locations include Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Miami, London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Singapore, Hong Kong and Sao Paulo.
Key features of our mitigation solution:
To learn more about how Continent 8 can help defend your organisation against DDoS attacks, contact a member of the team via sales@continent8.com or fill out the form on our Contact Us page