Cybersecurity
The seeds of the business Earned through foresight
Cybersecurity
At the forefront
OUTLINE
Awareness of cybersecurity in Japan was low, and the need for preparation was not widely recognized in 2013. In this environment, Macnica signed a contract with CrowdStrike Holdings、Inc. (*1) and took on the challenge of expanding sales of products that were still relatively unknown.
When the need for security was just beginning to be recognized, Falcon (*2) detected an unknown threat during a customer's testing period and prevented damage. This was a turning point, and adoption expanded rapidly.
Later, when remote work suddenly increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, inquiries flooded in. Macnica 's perseverance in responding to these situations established it as a cutting-edge company in the field of security.
(※1) An American cybersecurity technology company based in Austin, Texas
(*2) MDR service provided by CrowdStrike Holdings、Inc.
PROJECT MEMBER
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Takao Suzuki
New graduate hire
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Takeshi Teshigahara
New graduate hire
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Hayato Suzuki
Career hire
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Mizuki Kawasaki
New graduate hire
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Junichi Watanabe
Career hire
POINT
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Until the seeds are born
- The foresight to identify the need for cybersecurity
- Teaming up with CrowdStrike Holdings、Inc. to take on the challenge of next-generation EDR products that had not yet been introduced in Japan
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Growing seeds
- Consistent educational activities to raise awareness of the need for the product
- Falcon detected threats during testing, proving its usefulness
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Seed sprouts
- Introduced by over 700 companies in Japan
- Inquiries flooded due to demand for remote work amid the COVID-19 pandemic
What started the project
Low awareness of cybersecurity in Japan
Cyber attacks, which cause enormous damage such as the leakage of personal information and confidential national information, have become more diverse and sophisticated with the spread of the Internet, digital transformation in companies, and the introduction of teleworking.
The starting point for Macnica to reach its current position in cybersecurity was 2013. At the time, security products were mainly focused on detecting known threats, and countermeasures for new threats that circumvented network security were lacking. There were still very few efforts to introduce new security methods in Japan, and only a few overseas startups had just begun to consider cutting-edge security mechanisms. "At that time, the field of EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response), which monitors the status of PCs and tablets and detects anomalies to deal with unknown threats, had not yet been established. Cybersecurity is advancing by leaps and bounds. We needed to be at the forefront of the industry and prepare for not only known but also unknown threats," recalls Teshigawara.
In this environment, Macnica signed a business agreement with CrowdStrike Holdings、Inc. that handles next-generation endpoint security solutions to counter unknown threats, and began promoting sales of EDR products, which were still unknown to most customers in Japan at the time, in order to protect Japanese customers from the threat of cyberterrorism.
Project Challenges
The incident led to a rapid expansion of adoption
At some point, there was a sudden increase in malicious software targeting Japanese companies, and cyberterrorism attacks targeting files shared over corporate networks and threatening to leak confidential files to the outside became more frequent, disrupting the operations of factories and medical institutions, and the damage became increasingly serious. At the time, thanks to Macnica 's educational activities, the need for next-generation endpoint countermeasures was gradually becoming apparent to domestic customers, but only a small fraction of them were adopting CrowdStrike Holdings、Inc. 's products.
Because the problem was not occurring in areas close to the customer's heart, they did not feel a strong sense of crisis and did not even consider full-scale implementation.
It was under these circumstances that an incident occurred during a customer's testing period. CrowdStrike Holdings、Inc. 's Falcon software, which we provide, detected malicious software. Thanks to the early detection of a threat that had slipped through existing security measures, we were able to prevent the damage from spreading. This was the moment when our market appeal was proven in actual testing, and our educational activities to date bore fruit. The effectiveness of CrowdStrike Holdings、Inc. products against new threats became clear, and the company's products were subsequently adopted by a variety of customers. Today, the product is used by over 700 companies and protects them from cyberattacks.
Project Results
Supporting businesses across Japan hit by an unprecedented pandemic
From 2020, due to the impact of COVID-19, each company was required to reform its work style, including remote work. Prior to the spread of the Corona virus, most companies had not yet considered remote work, but thanks to the steady educational activities and proposals that Macnica had continued up to that point, customers understood that EDR products were highly effective as a security measure, and as soon as the Corona disaster struck, they were inundated with inquiries from all over Japan about security measures for remote work. As soon as the Corona disaster occurred, the company was inundated with inquiries from all over Japan regarding security measures for remote work.
"We were extremely busy responding to inquiries, but our sales staff, engineers, and the entire department worked together to confront this unprecedented infectious disease, not only to strengthen the security of each company, but also to contribute to the overall business in Japan. We responded with a strong sense of "not only strengthening the security of each company, but also contributing to Japanese business as a whole. In the end, we were able to help many of our clients' businesses, which gave us a great sense of accomplishment," said Kawasaki. The pandemic is unprecedented in recent years. Many Japanese companies have reviewed their working methods to overcome this crisis. Macnica Kawasaki is supporting the efforts of these customers from the perspective of security.
Project Outlook
Working alongside our customers and providing them with inspiration
Macnica is playing a part in ensuring the safety of Japan's cyberspace by combating cyberterrorism, which is becoming more sophisticated and diverse every day, and protecting our customers' businesses. In this day and age where network connectivity has become the norm, it is expected that the need for security will continue to increase.
What would happen if your company were to fall victim to a cyber attack and confidential company information or personal information of employees were stolen? This could hinder your company's business expansion. What's more, your employees could become involved in crime.
"In order to help Japanese society continue to develop, we want to continue to be a companion that supports our customers in solving their problems, and do work that inspires them. To do this, each and every one of us needs to act with a professional mindset and aim to solve our customers' problems," says Suzuki. As a companion that delivers safety and security to its customers' futures, Macnica will continue to stay at the forefront of security in preparation for new threats, and continue to grow as a united team.
