n the world of Formula 1 , technology and data are essential for maintaining a competitive advantage . Williams Racing , one of the oldest and most renowned F1 teams , faces an immense challenge in protecting its valuable intellectual property .
Password management practices : With hundreds of team members accessing critical data on race strategies , car designs and performance metrics around the globe , this increased the risk of unauthorised access to sensitive information and led to limited visibility and access control .
With a globally distributed workforce utilising hundreds of devices during races around the globe , as well as sophisticated dayto-day operations , the team must ensure that its sensitive information remains secure from cyberthreats while maintaining seamless workflows .
Formula 1 cars are high-tech assets for the team , refined by constant engineering . Vehicle development is driven by data , and teams collect an increasingly large amount of new data with each race , including telemetry data and video footage .
Williams Racing gathers terabytes of data each race weekend , which is then transferred , stored and analysed by the team to be leveraged to refine strategies for upcoming races and the years to come . With the increased reliance on data , along with the sheer volume , storing and accessing it in a secure way is crucial to ensure all highly confidential intellectual property is protected .
Equally important is the security of financial and commercial data , including the allocation of cost-cap budgets , which are directly linked to performance . This sensitive information plays a critical role in maintaining a competitive edge , ensuring compliance with regulations and protecting strategic decisions .
The mobile nature of Formula 1 , in which teams travel to 21 different countries over the 10-month season – some of which are prone to heightened cybersecurity threats – adds another layer of complexity . Securing a distributed workforce while ensuring uninterrupted access to essential data is a non-negotiable priority for Williams Racing .
James Vowles , Team Principal , Williams Racing , said : “ Cybersecurity , your threats and how you protect yourself is of fundamental importance . And it ’ s not spoken about often enough at all .”
Without a robust password management solution in place , the team risked exposing its systems to data breaches , which could paralyse operations or see sensitive information fall into the wrong hands . The challenges with previous password management methods included :
Limited visibility and access control : The IT team struggled to maintain control over password access and usage , particularly when it came to managing access for a large number of remote workers . Decommissioning users and transferring credentials securely when team members left the organisation was especially difficult and timeconsuming , resulting in gaps in security along with wasted resources .
Inconsistent security across devices : As the team travelled to races around the world , including high-risk cybersecurity regions , the lack of a unified password management solution created inconsistencies in how devices were protected . This exposed the team to potential breaches while operating from a variety of different countries .
Harry Wilson , Head of Information Security , Williams Racing , said : “ We need an infrastructure that works across every location , whether it ’ s the UK or countries with elevated cybersecurity risks .
“ Keeper allows us to confidently give the team access to critical systems , no matter where they are .”
The Keeper Solution
Williams Racing turned to Keeper Security for a reliable and secure password management solution . Keeper ’ s zero trust and zero-knowledge architecture ensured the highest level of security for the team ’ s data , allowing Williams to safeguard its sensitive records . The solution delivered key benefits in several areas , including :
Centralised password management : Keeper provided Williams Racing with a single , secure platform for storing and managing passwords . This eliminated the need for risky practices and ensured that all credentials were protected with Keeper ’ s zero-trust and zero-knowledge architecture .
Seamless integration with existing systems : Keeper integrated easily with Williams Racing ’ s existing Identity Provider ( IdP ), allowing for automated provisioning and deprovisioning of user accounts . This integration ensures that credentials are securely transferred when staff leave or join
Cybersecurity , your threats and how you protect yourself is of fundamental importance .
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