Avaya keeps mum on World Cup formation

The network operator's tactics should strengthen Fifa's defences

Avaya, the network provider for Fifa’s World Cup tournament, has a new policy to protect the system by releasing less information.

The enterprise connectivity giant said there had been no significant threats to security so far, thanks partly to a decision to reduce publicity for its system.

“Before we issued detailed network plans,” said Doug Gardner, managing director of Avaya’s Fifa World Cup programme. “In the 2002 and 2005 Confederations Cup we let out too much information. We don’t want to wave a red flag to a bull. The marketers were getting ahead of the engineers. [Hackers with knowledge of how the network was set up] could wreak havoc. We’ve learned lessons and been a bit quieter this time. I’m pleased to say we’ve had no surprise issues at all.”

Avaya plans to issue a white paper after the event is over.