Japanese cybersecurity: Small businesses face growing threats

Most Japanese small and medium-sized businesses are already victims of cyberattacks, a fact often unknown to those who claim Japanese cybersecurity is lagging. NTT cybersecurity strategist Mihoko Matsubara revealed that while large corporations employ red teams or outsource security assessments, even they cannot guarantee 100% prevention. The focus is shifting to rapid detection and recovery, especially as smaller businesses are increasingly targeted by ransomware due to lower defenses. Cybercriminals are also targeting individuals within companies, exploiting the desire to avoid reporting incidents. They may offer a portion of ransom payments to insiders for assistance, as seen in a BBC report where a journalist was offered a cut for access.