Porter Novelli And AIM Sports Reputation Management Launch Cybersecurity Offering For Collegiate And Professional Sports

ATLANTA, May 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AIM Sports Reputation Management, a specialty offering from global public relations agency Porter Novelli, announced today that it will offer clients PNProtect—a full-service cybersecurity solution from Porter Novelli and Rook Security, a recognized leader in outcome-focused cybersecurity.

As part of the $145 billion global sports industry[1], universities, professional franchises, conferences and leagues hold valuable and sensitive information about players, fans and partners. This pool of data is a target-rich environment for hackers. Whether it's gamblers seeking insider information on player health status, rivals looking for a competitor's coaching strategy or criminal hackers stealing season ticket holder credit card information, sports organizations need to ensure they are protected and prepared in the case of breach.

"PNProtect brings the technical support and insight that every team, front office and university athletic department needs, combined with the expert reputation management counsel that is essential in a crisis," said Jeff Battcher, cofounder and president, AIM Sports Reputation Management. "This offering puts our clients in the best possible position to respond to and recover from an attack—or even prevent it from happening in the first place."

"Given its overall size and highly visible nature, as well as the widespread financial resources at stake, we view the sports industry as a significant target for nefarious activities of hackers. The result can be significant damage of both a fiscal and reputational nature," said J.J. Thompson, CEO, Rook Security. "This offering provides critical protection for sports organizations at all levels, and we're proud of what we've worked hard to develop with Porter Novelli in order to bring PNProtect to sports organizations.

Porter Novelli, AIM and Rook Security work together to provide cybersecurity support for clients in three distinct stages:

Predict, Prevent & Prepare

In an ideal world, organizations are able to identify and address cyber threats before they become full-blown attacks. The offering begins with a reputation audit and analysis of a client's "threat score." This score is determined using a proprietary system and in-depth monitoring of the "deep web," where hackers often operate under the radar. Crisis experts also develop a crisis playbook to guide the company's response in the event that there is an attack.

Manage & Protect

In the event of an attempted attack or data breach, the offering quickly identifies the source and engages with clients to address the situation in real-time. AIM's Mobile Crisis Response Platform - an app that includes the playbook and other crisis management tools - support clients who are on the go. Rook's technical incident responders are also available to augment client IT teams, bringing a wealth of experience in mitigating breach incidents.

Recover & Restore

Porter Novelli and Rook have helped clients manage through a wide variety of complex crises and cybersecurity incidents. Through best-in-class media monitoring and online listening capabilities, PNProtect helps assess an escalating, negative narrative and recommends a strategy for recovery and comeback. In doing so, the potential for long-term reputational harm is minimized.

For more information, visit http://www.aimsportsrep.com.

About AIM Sports Reputation Management

AIM Sports Reputation Management is a specialty service dedicated to providing collegiate athletic programs and professional sports organizations with assistance in leadership, ethics and brand management. Porter Novelli partners with Bill Curry, former NFL player, NCAA coach and ESPN analyst to design and deliver the new standard for sports ethics and crisis communications. For additional information, please visit www.AIMSportsRep.com.

About Rook Security

Rook Security is a provider of global IT security solutions protecting sensitive data against dynamic, emerging threats. Rook's advisory and managed security services deliver visibility, intelligence, and response® in security operations to overcome the complex problems that continue to plague most organizations. As an integrated extension of their internal team, Rook helps organizations achieve a mature security and risk management program. Rook's advisory and managed security services have helped to improve the way organizations from start-ups to Fortune 100 firms protect their data and manage their risk. For more information, join us on Twitter @RookSecurity, Facebook or www.rooksecurity.com.

About Porter Novelli

Porter Novelli is a global public relations agency built on a rich heritage of marketing for social good. We've been motivating people to change deeply ingrained behaviors rooted in cultural and social norms for more than 40 years. Porter Novelli is a different kind of agency—and we recognize, respect and champion companies with the spirit, drive and tenacity to do things differently. We like taking on big challenges, and even bigger challengers, and we seek out clients who feel the same way—clients who have the conviction to tell their own story, and the courage to innovate from who they have been into who they know they can be. For additional information, please visit www.porternovelli.com. Porter Novelli is a part of the DAS Group of Companies.

About the DAS Group of Companies

The DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com), is a global group of marketing services companies. DAS includes over 200 companies in the following marketing disciplines: specialty, PR, healthcare, CRM, events, promotional marketing, branding and research. Operating through a combination of networks and regional organizations, DAS serves international, regional, national and local clients through more than 700 offices in 71 countries.

[1] PriceWaterhouseCoopers, "Changing the Game: outlook for the global sports market to 2015" 

For more information, contact:
Harold Reid
404-995-4511
[email protected]

SOURCE Porter Novelli

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