How the Miami Dolphins are Building the Future of Cloud-Managed Security at Hard Rock Stadium
On a typical weekday, Hard Rock Stadium may appear quiet from the outside. Inside, teams are already preparing for the next Dolphins game, international sporting event, concert, or race weekend. When the gates open, activity surges, the Security Operations Center expands, and internal teams work alongside law enforcement and other public safety agencies.
Supporting that shift requires infrastructure that can scale without slowing teams down.
Join Sameer Istafa, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium, for a behind-the-scenes look at the organization’s physical security modernization strategy. Sameer will share how the Dolphins built the business case for moving toward a unified, cloud-managed platform designed for both everyday operations and major event days.
The conversation will explore how the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium think about infrastructure that must support both everyday operations and major event days—and what IT and security leaders should consider when evaluating reliability, scalability, manageability, and long-term fit.
We’ll also examine how hybrid cloud architecture can simplify deployment, centralized management, and future expansion; how to build a total cost of ownership analysis that accounts for maintenance, support, refresh cycles, and internal resources; and how organizations can modernize in phases around existing infrastructure, operational priorities, and budgets.
You’ll learn
How major venues plan technology infrastructure for both everyday operations and high-demand event days
How to build a modernization business case for CFOs and other executives by accounting for hardware, storage, maintenance, support, refresh cycles, and internal resources
What IT and security leaders should consider when evaluating reliability, scalability, manageability, and long-term fit
How hybrid cloud architecture can simplify deployment, remote access, centralized management, and future expansion
How a unified platform can create value across IT, security, operations, facilities, compliance, and leadership
How to modernize in phases around existing infrastructure, operational priorities, and budget cycle
SAMEER ISTAFA first joined the Miami Dolphins in 2019 and was named Vice President and Chief Technology Officer in 2023. He oversees technology and broadcast for the organization and its properties, including the Miami Open and Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, with a focus on technology infrastructure, cybersecurity, and information systems.
Istafa returned to the Dolphins in 2023 after serving as Vice President of Information and Network Security for the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena. During his earlier tenure with the Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium, he directed cybersecurity efforts for Super Bowl LIV, supported the migration to the newly constructed Baptist Health Training Complex, and expanded infrastructure resources for the inaugural Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix.
Before joining the Dolphins, Istafa spent 15 years with AmericasMart Atlanta in technology roles overseeing the organization’s IT infrastructure. He earned his bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from Georgia State University.
CONNOR OSBORNE works with sports and entertainment organizations at Verkada to modernize physical security across large, high-traffic environments. He has spent more than five years at Verkada supporting customers across South Florida and the broader sports and entertainment industry. Connor earned his bachelor’s degree in communication studies from Texas Christian University, where he was also a member of the football team.
To receive a gift for attendance, you must have been invited by Verkada to participate in a webinar promotional offer. Limit one gift per person, across all demos and webinars. Terms apply.
Information you submit will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
On a typical weekday, Hard Rock Stadium may appear quiet from the outside. Inside, teams are already preparing for the next Dolphins game, international sporting event, concert, or race weekend. When the gates open, activity surges, the Security Operations Center expands, and internal teams work alongside law enforcement and other public safety agencies.
Supporting that shift requires infrastructure that can scale without slowing teams down.
Join Sameer Istafa, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium, for a behind-the-scenes look at the organization’s physical security modernization strategy. Sameer will share how the Dolphins built the business case for moving toward a unified, cloud-managed platform designed for both everyday operations and major event days.
The conversation will explore how the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium think about infrastructure that must support both everyday operations and major event days—and what IT and security leaders should consider when evaluating reliability, scalability, manageability, and long-term fit.
We’ll also examine how hybrid cloud architecture can simplify deployment, centralized management, and future expansion; how to build a total cost of ownership analysis that accounts for maintenance, support, refresh cycles, and internal resources; and how organizations can modernize in phases around existing infrastructure, operational priorities, and budgets.
You’ll learn
How major venues plan technology infrastructure for both everyday operations and high-demand event days
How to build a modernization business case for CFOs and other executives by accounting for hardware, storage, maintenance, support, refresh cycles, and internal resources
What IT and security leaders should consider when evaluating reliability, scalability, manageability, and long-term fit
How hybrid cloud architecture can simplify deployment, remote access, centralized management, and future expansion
How a unified platform can create value across IT, security, operations, facilities, compliance, and leadership
How to modernize in phases around existing infrastructure, operational priorities, and budget cycle
SAMEER ISTAFA first joined the Miami Dolphins in 2019 and was named Vice President and Chief Technology Officer in 2023. He oversees technology and broadcast for the organization and its properties, including the Miami Open and Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, with a focus on technology infrastructure, cybersecurity, and information systems.
Istafa returned to the Dolphins in 2023 after serving as Vice President of Information and Network Security for the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena. During his earlier tenure with the Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium, he directed cybersecurity efforts for Super Bowl LIV, supported the migration to the newly constructed Baptist Health Training Complex, and expanded infrastructure resources for the inaugural Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix.
Before joining the Dolphins, Istafa spent 15 years with AmericasMart Atlanta in technology roles overseeing the organization’s IT infrastructure. He earned his bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from Georgia State University.
CONNOR OSBORNE works with sports and entertainment organizations at Verkada to modernize physical security across large, high-traffic environments. He has spent more than five years at Verkada supporting customers across South Florida and the broader sports and entertainment industry. Connor earned his bachelor’s degree in communication studies from Texas Christian University, where he was also a member of the football team.
To receive a gift for attendance, you must have been invited by Verkada to participate in a webinar promotional offer. Limit one gift per person, across all demos and webinars. Terms apply.
Information you submit will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy.