Revolutionizing sports data management

Imagine a world where every play, every pass, and every fan interaction is powered by intelligent data. Welcome to the National Football League (NFL), where the stakes are high, and the data flows even higher. With over 383 million fans worldwide, the NFL is more than just a game; it's a global phenomenon that thrives on innovation and excellence. However, managing the immense volume of data generated each game—from player performance metrics to high-definition video and fan engagement statistics—is no small feat.

Enter NetApp, the industry leader in intelligent data infrastructure. As the NFL's official intelligent data infrastructure partner, NetApp is transforming how the league manages its data, ensuring it remains secure, accessible, and primed for innovation. This partnership is not just about storage; it's about revolutionizing the sport, driving transformative solutions, and delivering unparalleled experiences to millions of fans around the globe.

The NFL generates billions of data points each game. Managing this vast amount of data has become increasingly complex due to several factors: 

1. Legacy systems: The NFL's existing infrastructure, while robust, needed to handle the growing data volume and complexity.
2. Siloed data repositories: Data stored in separate systems hindered real-time analytics and innovation.
3. Cybersecurity threats: The league faced sophisticated cyber threats that risked data loss and downtime.
4. Regulatory compliance: Ensuring compliance with data protection regulations added another layer of complexity.

These challenges threatened to impede the NFL's ability to innovate and deliver a consistent fan experience, especially during international games in new stadiums with varying technological infrastructure.

To address these challenges, the NFL appointed NetApp as its Official Intelligent Data Infrastructure partner. NetApp's solutions, including NetApp ONTAP^® Autonomous Ransomware Protection with AI (ARP/AI) and NetApp cyber vault, provide the NFL with a secure, silo-free storage strategy that enhances data management and cybersecurity.

NetApp ONTAP^® ARP/AI 

NetApp ONTAP^® ARP/AI leverages artificial intelligence to proactively detect and mitigate ransomware threats. By continuously monitoring data, it can identify anomalies and take immediate action to protect against potential attacks. This ensures the integrity and availability of the NFL's critical data.

NetApp Cyber Vault 

NetApp cyber vault offers advanced data protection by creating secure, isolated backups. In the event of a cyber attack, the NFL can quickly recover data from these secure backups, minimizing downtime and operational risk. This robust cybersecurity solution helps the league maintain long-term data fidelity.

The partnership with NetApp has delivered several key benefits to the NFL:

1. Enhanced data security: NetApp's AI-driven ransomware protection and cyber vault ensure the league's data is secure and recoverable, reducing the risk of data loss and downtime.
2. Silo-free storage: By eliminating data silos, NetApp enables real-time analytics and innovation, allowing the NFL to harness data more effectively. 
3. Operational efficiency: NetApp's intelligent data infrastructure streamlines technology operations, helping the NFL serve football fans worldwide more efficiently. 
4. Consistent fan experience: With NetApp's solutions, the NFL can deliver a seamless fan experience across different stadiums and international games, maintaining high standards regardless of location.

“Working with NetApp has helped us serve football fans worldwide by streamlining our technology operations and enabling us to be better custodians of our sport,” said Gary Brantley, chief information officer at the NFL. “We strive to innovate and excel in everything we do and work with partners that share those values. Over the years we have worked together, NetApp has earned our trust that they can meet those high standards. With an intelligent data infrastructure powered by NetApp technology, we have a secure data storage strategy that can carry us into the future.”

Looking forward, the NFL plans to leverage NetApp's technology to further elevate its data storage strategy in the era of intelligence. The league aims to: 

1. Expand AI capabilities: Integrate more AI-driven solutions to take advantage of NetApp’s advanced data storage capabilities. 
2. Enhance data storage security: Continuously improve data security measures to stay ahead of emerging threats. 
3. Innovate fan engagement: Use data insights to create more personalized and engaging experiences for fans.
4. Global expansion: Ensure a consistent and high-quality fan experience in new international markets, supported by NetApp's intelligent infrastructure.

The NFL and NetApp are not just partners; they are pioneers, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in sports data management. Together, they are crafting a future where intelligent data powers every play, every fan experience, and every strategic decision. With NetApp's cutting-edge solutions, the NFL is not only tackling today's challenges but also setting the stage for a future powered by innovation and excitement.

“The NFL has been a long-standing customer of NetApp, and it is gratifying to see their interest in expanding our relationship,” said Cesar Cernuda, president at NetApp. “By helping the NFL build an intelligent data infrastructure, we are elevating the sport for fans of football everywhere. Bringing intelligence to the league’s data storage allows them to modernize their infrastructure and gives them the tools they need to agilely adapt to the future.”