According to government sources, a complimentary cybersecurity service will soon be available to medical institutions, critical infrastructure operators, universities, and research institutes.
The primary objective of this service is to safeguard against connections to malicious websites housing malware intended for data theft, thereby protecting infrastructure directly impacting people’s lives.
Recognizing the escalating threat of cyber-attacks aimed at stealing information related to advanced technologies, the government has deemed it imperative to introduce new measures to counter such threats.
The National Center of Incident Readiness and Strategy for Cybersecurity (NISC) has earmarked ¥4.93 billion in the current fiscal year to fortify cybersecurity across government agencies and other entities. As part of this initiative, NISC intends to roll out the proposed free cybersecurity service.
While critical infrastructure operators, universities, and research institutes have already taken steps to defend against cyber-attacks, the government aims to enhance overall cybersecurity levels in Japan, which are perceived as vulnerable. These measures also seek to prevent the unauthorized leakage of cutting-edge technology to external entities.
The planned service, dubbed the Protective Domain Name System (Protective DNS), has been successfully implemented in several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. It functions by intercepting connections to phishing sites that attempt to steal personal information through URLs sent via email or other channels. Additionally, the system issues warnings when users attempt to download suspicious files containing malware.
The service is expected to benefit critical infrastructure operators such as medical institutions and water utilities, where malfunctions could have significant ramifications for public welfare. It is also likely to extend to universities, research institutes, and independent administrative institutions engaged in advanced technology research. The government will promote the adoption of this service through relevant ministries and agencies, including the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology.
Data on malicious sites obtained through this service will be collected and analyzed by NISC to enhance its effectiveness.
In recent years, there has been a surge in cyber-attacks targeting medical institutions, universities, and research institutes. In March, a medical institution in Kagoshima Prefecture fell victim to such an attack, prompting restrictions on certain medical services.
Source: asianews.network
