Introduction
The Cannes Film Festival may be synonymous with luxury and media buzz—but for high-net-worth individuals, public figures, and executive teams, it also represents something else: a digital minefield.
Behind the scenes of every red carpet walk, real-time interview, or viral social post lies a complex web of exposure points. And while the paparazzi may aim their cameras at the stars, cyber threat actors are quietly aiming at their devices, their data, and their digital trails.
This post unpacks the real risks of elite visibility—and how The North Group protects its clients through intelligence-driven digital security. We’ve also illustrated these concepts in our Cannes digital risk carousel on LinkedIn.
The Red Carpet Isn’t the Only Thing Being Watched
High-profile events like Cannes create the perfect storm:
- Unsecured public WiFi
- Predictable media schedules
- Real-time social posting
- Location-based services left on by default
Add to that a crowd filled with celebrities, executives, and advisors carrying valuable devices—and you’ve got a target-rich environment for data compromise, social engineering, and surveillance.
Jason Lau, CISO at Crypto.com: “In high-profile environments, the perimeter doesn’t exist. Your digital footprint is the new attack surface.”
The Threat Isn’t Coming—It’s Already There
According to CrowdStrike’s 2025 Global Threat Report, cyberattacks targeting public-facing individuals at major events are up 43% this year alone. Threat actors don’t need to be inside your hotel—they just need access to:
- Your public schedule
- Your WiFi connection
- Your metadata
- Your careless tag on someone else’s story
These threats are preloaded, real-time, and often invisible until it’s too late.
Real Protection Is Intelligence-Driven
At The North Group, we don’t hand out “5 tips for safe travel.” We engineer discreet, integrated security environments for clients whose reputations—and assets—demand more. For more on how security leaders are evolving in today’s threat landscape, read our related post: The Evolution of Corporate Security Leadership.
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
Every login, device, and data request must be verified. Nothing is trusted by default. Learn more from Gartner.
Hardened Travel Devices + VMI
Clients use temporary devices that run in virtual environments. No sensitive data is stored locally. No endpoints left exposed.
Live Threat Monitoring
Our Protective Intelligence team monitors digital chatter and OSINT signals to detect risks before they escalate. Protection is adjusted in real time.
Secure Mobile Networks
We deploy encrypted comms with SIM rotation and private infrastructure—long before departure.
Visibility-Aware Protocols
TNG’s solutions support required public exposure (like brand obligations or media coverage) without sacrificing safety. We design proactive containment strategies when real-time posting is unavoidable.
Sandra Cavazos, Cyber Risk Analyst: “The line between physical and digital threats has disappeared. Threat actors know how to bridge both.”
You Won’t Know Who We’re Protecting—And That’s the Point
We won’t say who’s at Cannes this year—but we can confidently say this: our clients don’t walk into public events unprotected.
From red carpets to boardrooms, protection isn’t something they think about—it’s something we handle, proactively and invisibly.
We work with:
- Family offices
- Celebrity teams
- Executive security advisors
- C-Suite leadership and comms teams
And we do it without disruption, without spotlight, and without compromise.
The Next Event Is Already Being Planned
Whether it’s the next international summit, product launch, shareholder event, or gala premiere—what’s happening at Cannes is already a preview of what’s coming next.
These risks aren’t going away. They’re evolving. So should your security strategy.
Explore our Executive Protection Services or contact us today to prepare for your next public appearance.
