Fujitsu is aiming for annual sales of 300 billion yen in its cybersecurity business by the fiscal year ending in March 2020.
TOKYO -- Fujitsu has recently partnered with two U.S. cybersecurity startups that were founded in Israel, a country known for its advanced military technology and IT skills.
As the threat of cyberterrorism grows worldwide, Fujitsu is keen to leverage its partners' expertise to gain a step on its rivals. The Japanese company aims to broaden its business through the partnerships and increase its sales of cyberdefense products and services to 300 billion yen ($2.71 billion) by the year through March 2020.
One company it is working with is Cybereason, which uses artificial intelligence to analyze the performance of computers that are hit by hackers, and the methods the hackers use, to detect and prevent future attacks. The new hacking detection service includes 24-hour support from Fujitsu's engineers.
IntSights Cyber Intelligence, Fujitsu's other new partner, specializes in collecting data on cyberattacks in areas that are not normally accessible to ordinary internet users. Fujitsu plans to use IntSights' data to filter and analyze the unique cyberthreats each customer faces. It will begin offering these services by around September.
Companies are increasingly incorporating cloud computing and teleworking into their businesses. Their servers and networks are more integrated with those outside, exposing them to security risks. If important financial institutions or physical infrastructure -- say a nuclear power plant -- were successfully targeted by hackers, national security could be endangered.
"Various cybersecurity services exist today and what was once an advantage [for a company] could soon become a commodity," said Ichiro Ohama, who oversees Fujitsu's cybersecurity business. "We will seek ways to distinguish our services from others by adding new value through partnerships with specialists," Ohama said.
Israel is keen to apply its military technology to the private sector, as well as foster new businesses. The country in recent years has seen the development of many high-tech startups in areas such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and autonomous driving.
nikkei.com