With the Super Bowl behind us, the next major sporting event on the horizon is March Madness, with an average total viewership of 19 million for the Women’s tournament and 21 million for the Men’s. Large-scale events like this rely on massive data processing for viewing and streaming, consuming between 100-200 megawatts of power during peak streaming times. Let’s take a deeper look into the IT infrastructure required to support one of the most-watched tournaments in the world.
The Multi-Channel Experience
Technology and data analytics have become central to the March Madness experience, shaping fan engagement and team strategies. Streaming platforms like NCAA March Madness Live, CBS Sports, and ESPN utilize cutting-edge streaming technology to deliver games across multiple devices, enhancing accessibility and viewership. Additionally, second-screen experiences offer real-time statistics, live updates, and interactive content on apps and social media, keeping fans engaged beyond the primary broadcast. As the number of connected devices grow, the demand of IT networks is also starting to strain. In recent years, 68% of internet users in the United States accessed the internet and used smartphones simultaneously while watching sports on TV. This number is projected to rise in the future.Â
These technological innovations have revolutionized the way audiences consume and interact with the tournament, providing more immersive and personalized experiences. Major brands like Pizza Hut are tapping into the second-screen trend. Pizza Hut, the sole pizza brand to sponsor college basketball, introduced Hutty, an AI companion offering real-time insights as well as exclusive pizza rewards to those who use the feature. Not surprising, though, to see the emergence of artificial intelligence impact various event aspects. One Google search and you can see hundreds of articles on how AI can predict the winning final 4 bracket.Â
Powering March Madness
The technology behind tracking data during March Madness is a highly intricate
 system of hardware, software, and data networks that work together to deliver real-time analytics for every game. Sensors, cloud computing, data analytics, and sophisticated network infrastructure process vast amounts of data, requiring powerful hardware to work together for a seamless performance during the tournament.
The sheer volume of data flow along with the need for uninterrupted streaming and analysis demands high-functioning IT systems to keep everything in line and secure for best possible viewing. IT pros say that some of this traffic could put networks at risk. Sixty percent say their networks will face an increased cybersecurity risk this March, up from 47 percent last year due to unsafe streaming websites. This brings data usage up and the chance for security risk to rise. Cybercriminals exploit the vast viewership and plan to launch phishing attacks, counterfeit apps, and push out unauthorized streaming services- all in which can put anyone at risk as a target. How can we keep out of their sights and stay on the defensive?Â
Sierra Data Centers in the Madness
For Sierra Experts, March Madness is the perfect opportunity to showcase its very own data center and the cybersecurity solutions it provides. With our 2 locations offering secure hosting, reliable connectivity and so many more services, Sierra Experts’ Data Centers delivers. A high level of cloud computing, ample bandwidth, and secure results from Sierra Experts are crucial to connectivity, much like large-scale events such as March Madness.
Let’s talk security. In our facilities, all systems are protected and monitored 24/7, with immediate notifications are sent to data center personnel as soon as any environmental, power, connectivity, or security warning threshold has been reached.Â
Bandwidth Requirements
Major events like March Madness demand steady bandwidth as millions of fans stream live game footage and interact with real-time data on a multitude of varying digital platforms. At Sierra Experts Data Center, our colocation solution enhances bandwidth and power, so your business stays fast and efficient without the hassle of managing it all yourself.
Sierra Experts and Sierra Data Centers’ high-capacity bandwidth solutions make sure that your network remains stable, providing an uninterrupted connection without sacrificing performance. With over 3,000 lines of fiber from over 10 major connectivity providers, our bandwidth management services optimize and monitor your connections, reducing latency 24/7, no matter which provider you choose.
Cloud Computing
Sierra’s cloud solutions allow businesses to easily scale up or down automatically based on demand. Whether you’re streaming live content or managing unexpected traffic surges, Sierra’s cloud infrastructure is always optimized and ready for you whenever you need it.Â
Cloud computing through Sierra Experts offers scalable, secure, and reliable IT solutions, including cloud hosting, virtualization, and remote desktop services. Sierra’s cloud infrastructure provides high performance, data security, and business continuity with disaster recovery and backup options. Ideal for large-scale events similar to March Madness, Sierra Experts can also deliver the bandwidth needed to handle heavy traffic surges.
Discover how Sierra Experts’ IT services and Data Centers can help your business thrive, with managed services including cloud computing, bandwidth solutions, and data center wide area network (WAN) services.
Contact us today to find out more about how we can help optimize your operations during peak demand, much like those times during the March Madness craze.
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