How VfB Stuttgart Built a Secure Digital Future

TL;DR

VfB Stuttgart, one of Germany's leading football clubs, needed full visibility and control over a digital environment built on AI and cloud systems. XM Cyber now runs continuously across the club's infrastructure, identifying exposures in real time and giving the IT team clear, prioritized remediation guidance across every system.

“We can make informed decisions because we can identify potential security risks at an early stage and take targeted countermeasures.”

Alexander Wehrle, Chairman of the Board, VfB Stuttgart

The Challenge

VfB Stuttgart is one of Germany’s leading football clubs – a brand with a deep sense of tradition. Under Chairman of the Board Alexander Wehrle, the club has strategically focused on growth through technology, data, and modern infrastructure. Wehrle’s goal is to combine performance on the pitch with excellence behind the scenes.

Innovation is now part of the club’s core identity. VfB Stuttgart applies artificial intelligence and advanced cloud systems to improve operations and secure its information. As Alexander Wehrle said, “With the creation of a strong digital infrastructure, we now have the flexibility and efficiency to drive forward holistic digitalization at VfB – not as an end in itself, but as the key to decisively developing top-class sport, the stadium experience, fan services and internal processes.”

The team’s leadership required a reliable way to manage data and ensure complete control of its digital environment. The club defined clear priorities: transparency, scalability, and complete independence from external control. It sought a solution that aligned with European data protection regulations and reflected the club’s preference for trusted, regionally based partners that support data sovereignty, a focus directly shared by XM Cyber.

The Solution

VfB Stuttgart selected XM Cyber to strengthen visibility across its IT environment and ensure data sovereignty. The XM Cyber platform runs on STACKIT’s secure European cloud infrastructure and provides the club with a clear, continuous, and fully compliant view of risk across every system in use. The XM Cyber platform pinpoints exposures and priorities with precision, allowing the IT team to concentrate on what matters most. Deployment was fast and stable, with no impact on the club’s daily operations.

“Together with sovereign hosting via STACKIT, this creates a digital infrastructure that is not only secure, but also scalable and future-proof.”

Alexander Wehrle, Chairman of the Board, VfB Stuttgart

The combination of XM Cyber and STACKIT provided the club with an especially strong foundation for digital independence. The IT team now works with full transparency across all systems and relies on a stable, scalable infrastructure that prepares the club for ongoing digital growth. 

Benefits & Outcomes

XM Cyber gives VfB Stuttgart the ability to find and address weaknesses before they become problems. The team now works with full visibility across its environment and can act early to keep systems protected. XM Cyber provides the IT team with a transparent overview of their security posture, complete with specific recommendations and remediations. This capability allows the department to identify potential exposures early and react proactively. As Alexander Wehrle notes, it’s like modern injury prevention in professional football:

“Those who recognize risks in good time and take targeted countermeasures remain competitive in the long term.”

Alexander Wehrle, Chairman of the Board, VfB Stuttgart

Security has become an even greater part of the club’s culture. The leadership views it as a strategic function that supports business stability and operational strength. Together, XM Cyber and STACKIT keep data, applications, and infrastructure protected under European standards. The result is a secure and transparent digital foundation that supports the organization’s future.

Key Takeaways

• XM Cyber identifies exposures early and delivers specific remediation steps, so the VfB Stuttgart IT team can act on real priorities rather than theoretical risk. 
• Deployment had zero impact on daily operations. The club rolled out XM Cyber without downtime or disruption to its existing systems. 
• Data sovereignty was a core requirement. XM Cyber deploys on STACKIT's European cloud, giving VfB Stuttgart full compliance and digital independence on trusted, regionally based infrastructure. 
• Alexander Wehrle, Chairman of the Board, compares XM Cyber's approach to injury prevention in professional football: recognize risks early, take targeted countermeasures, stay competitive long-term.