As digitalization accelerates and cyberattacks grow increasingly complex and sophisticated, NEC's cybersecurity business has reached a critical turning point. In May 2025, NEC announced the strengthening of its cybersecurity operations with a bold new mission: to protect .JP — Japan's cyberspace. Central to this initiative is the newly established "Cyber Intelligence & Operation Center," a cornerstone of defense that leverages NEC's advanced AI capabilities. Ahead of its full-scale launch in the latter half of fiscal 2025, we spoke with members on the front lines of cyber defense about NEC's commitment to safeguarding Japan's digital infrastructure. 

World-Class Cyber Defense: One Company Rising to the Challenge

"Protecting .JP." This mission, announced by NEC at a press briefing on May 8 attended by major media outlets, garnered significant attention. "Some people said we had bitten off more than we could chew," recalls Takayuki Oku, who leads NEC's cybersecurity strategy. With global damages from cyberattacks estimated at $8 trillion, the issue has become an international crisis. Oku reflects, "I believe it sent a strong message that a single company was willing to take on something as ambitious as protecting all of 'Japan.'" 

Cyber threats continue to escalate as attack methods become ever more advanced. "Simply shutting the 'doors' to keep intruders out is no longer enough," Oku explains . Norihito Fujita, who heads NEC's AI security R&D, adds, "The rapid evolution of generative AI has dramatically increased the variations of attacks." As a result, today's focus is understanding early "precursors" to threats and implementing proactive measures before damage occurs. 

The new "Cyber Intelligence & Operation Center" will serve as the hub for this shift from reactive to proactive defense. What exactly will its role be?

"Predict and Pre-empt" – Powered by NEC's Talent and Expertise

The Cyber Intelligence & Operation Center represents a next-generation Security Operation Center (SOC) that brings together the full spectrum of NEC's capabilities — from the fundamental research developed at NEC's Central Research Laboratories to the hands-on expertise gained through years of system design, construction, and operation. Through this integration, the center is able to deliver comprehensive services for customers: monitoring evolving cyber threats, detecting early warning signs of attacks, and providing support and reporting during incidents.

Unlike traditional SOCs, which focus primarily on reacting to alerts after an intrusion attempt, NEC's new center is designed for proactive security operations — predicting threats and implementing pre-emptive defense. This approach enables the detection of attacks that previously would have gone unnoticed, as well as the prevention of situations where post-intrusion countermeasures would come too late. Oku explains, "It's like checking the weather forecast before heading out with an umbrella. By sensing and predicting the early signs of an attack, we can tip the balance in favor of the defenders."

At the heart of the new center is "cotomi," NEC's proprietary generative AI. Fujita underscores its significance, "Domestic generative AI is a crucial foundation for 'protecting .JP'." Because the center handles customers' highly sensitive and personal data, relying on domestic AI rather than foreign-developed solutions reduces the risk of data leakage and ensures truly safe and secure analysis.

cotomi plays a pivotal role in analyzing vast amounts of information, generating reports, calculating risk, and more. By automating time-intensive, routine tasks, it frees security analysts to focus on higher-value, strategic operations," Fujita emphasizes, "This allows us to allocate our SOC experts to work that truly strengthens our defense capabilities."

The depth and caliber of NEC's human capital in both security and AI are also key strengths. Oku, who joined NEC in 2024, describes the company's talent pool as "astonishing." Fujita, who has built his career at NEC since joining as a new graduate, adds with pride, "If it came down to it, we have the expertise to develop generative AI entirely from scratch."

Professionals Safeguarding Livelihoods: NEC's Mission

The Cyber Intelligence & Operation Center will establish operation bases not only in Japan but also across North America, the Asia-Pacific region, and Europe. Explaining the objective behind the ".JP protection" mission, Oku notes: "It is about protecting Japanese companies as they operate globally. This center will safeguard the entire supply chain of Japanese enterprises, including their overseas sites."

Built upon the strengths cultivated through years of research at NEC's laboratories and the practical experience gained in close collaboration with customers, NEC's cybersecurity business now stands at the threshold of a major transformation. With the declaration to "protect .JP" as its staring point, NEC has made a decisive shift towards strengthening its cybersecurity as a core pillar of its business. For NEC, cybersecurity exemplifies the kind of technology that truly delivers on its Purpose: creating social value.

Fujita highlights the significance of NEC's mission: "Many of our customers are social infrastructure companies that support everyday life. Protecting their cybersecurity is directly linked to safeguarding people's daily lives." Oku adds: "The harder we work in cybersecurity, the less you see happening. The absence of incidents is itself proof of our capabilities." As both men emphasize, cybersecurity professionals work quietly, yet decisively, ensuring the safety and stability of our daily lives.

To continue protecting ordinary daily life from ever-evolving cyber threats, NEC's progress in cybersecurity will never stop. At the heart of this effort, the Cyber Intelligence & Operation Center now begins its full-scale operations.

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