Japan's communications ministry to conduct telework survey on cyber-attack measures

A company employee works from home in Fukuoka on April 10. (Credit: The Yomiuri Shimbun)

The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry plans to conduct a large-scale survey of about 1,000 companies as early as this summer to determine the extent of teleworking, which has been widely introduced due to the spread of coronavirus infections. Some companies have decided to introduce the system without sufficient protection against cyber-attacks, the sources said.

The survey will ask what kind of security measures are being implemented for the computers and software used for telework, as well as the details and implementation status of such measures. Based on the results of the survey, the ministry plans to draw up a checklist noting important points when introducing a security system. The ministry also plans to establish a consulting service with private companies.

In Japan, teleworking is rapidly being used in response to the government's declaration of a state of emergency. According to a nationwide survey conducted by Persol Research and Consulting Co. on April 10-12 in which about 4,000 people in Tokyo were polled, the rate of employees working remotely was 49%, more than double the figure of 23% in March. The state of emergency was expanded to cover the whole country on April 16, and telework is expected to be expanded in the future.

A company employee takes part in a company meeting from home in Tokyo in March. (Credit: The Yomiuri Shimbun)

Overseas, cyber-attacks related to the spread of the novel coronavirus are on the rise. According to the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, the number of cyber-attacks against the World Health Organization is double the usual amount, although the specific number has not been disclosed.

Attacks targeting the video conferencing platform Zoom have also been frequent. Although the number of Zoom users is increasing rapidly because it is a major service that can be used for free, there have been a number of cases in which third parties have intruded into meetings and stolen personal information.

"If telework is actively used, it will become even more important to guard against cyber-attacks," a government official said.

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