Fujitsu Cyber Threat Intelligence Service

 

Cyber security has become one of the leading boardroom issues. According to a recent report1by global insurer Lloyds of London, attacks on computer operating systems run by a large number of businesses around the world could cause losses of $28.7 billion in terms of their financial, economic and insurance impact.

Fujitsu announced the availability of its Cyber Threat Intelligence(CTI) service in Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa (EMEIA) region. Fujitsu’sCyber Threat Intelligence teams perform thorough, ongoing monitoring and assessment of the threat landscape, bringing together threat intelligence data from a broad range of sources.

Rob Norris, Head of Enterprise and Cyber Security at Fujitsu in EMEIA, said :“Being online is the lifeblood for all organizations today and it is critical to remain online, and protect the integrity of your systems and your data even when you’re under attack from cyber criminals. Nobody should underestimate the catastrophic damage that a cyberattack can cause starting with a simple slip, such as opening an infected email. The nature and scale of cyber threats is changing so fast that traditional security solutions on their own are no longer enough to provide adequate protection. What we give our customers with the CTI service is a comprehensive view of their security posture, thorough analysis of security risks and actionable information because today, being unprepared for a cyber attack can easily put a company out of business.”

• What challenges customers are facing in cyber security?

Today we have more target attacks in terms of specific individuals certainly, the more sophisticated attackers would identify key people and they would go after them. What the hackers do is doing a lot of research before attacking specific people. This situation probably account for 3-4% of the attacks, but the majority of attacks are still random. Therefore, cyber-attacks are normally done via official emails or by scanning the network structure and looking for defence entry. What we see in terms of attacks are the small businesses because of the easiness of launching a cyber-attack. It is as easy going on the web and purchase procurement target organization. Attacking small businesses and individuals and more they are after their financial information and personal information they can actually sell on the the dark web. You can pay as little as 5$ for some financial information up to 30-40$ for personal information.

• What about cyber security and cloud services?

There are the same risk using cloud services. With cloud services, I need to know where the data reside and if the data are encrypted. Certainly, these are the principal questions we have to ask to our self in terms of how secure are the data and we need to ask the same questions to the cloud host provider.

• Recently Fujitsu won a European projects on the framework of Horizon 2020 on the theme of Industrial IT and cyber security.

We have a factory in Augsburg where we are working specifically on IoT security and we have our own Iot competencies centre settled in Germany. With the European Parliament, we are looking in terms on what we are able to do on Cyber security. We are leading a European project with a number of organisations where we are looking on IoT security. One of the Key things would be weather there is a legislation or not and we need to settle certain security standard with IoT devices apply to everybody. For example, when you buy a device and you go on internet you need from the first day to change a password. Simple standards would help in terms of security of IoT devices.

• How important is the education on data protection?

I think that is very important. If you look on data protection and the work you need to do in terms of protecting data, I think it is only now that people start to understand the importance of data protection. It is like an insurance policy. Many organisations think cyber-attack could happen to somebody else while it could happen to them. The organizations need to understand and carefully manage the risk of threat exposure and constantly test and make sure their defences are continually up to date. Preparation is the key. In the event of a cyber-attack, a response and recovery plan makes all the difference in minimizing the impact of the attack. What personal data they hold on individuals? Where is that data be stored? In the Cloud, in the country that operate? Can I easily access to that information? Is that information encrypted? These are the principles of data protection that need to be enforced.

 Henry Borzi

EU new study to support 5G roll-out

Ahead of tomorrow’s Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council that will concentrate on most pertinent Digital Single Market issues, the Commission published today the latest study on spectrum assignments that will support the EU’s work towards successful 5G deployment.

What are the biggest inhibitors to faster roll-out of large-scale 5G services? Take survey & win a $250 Gift Card https://t.co/JKr1qZsmHv

— SDxCentral (@sdxcentral) October 22, 2017

The results affirm that licence duration and auction prices influence investments in better network coverage. For example, there is a tendency for higher investment levels in countries that have awarded longer licences. There is additionally evidence that high spectrum prices can be associated with lower 4G availability. These findings will provide supplementary input to the ongoing negotiations with the European Parliament and the Council on the Commission’s proposal for new EU telecoms rules – the European Electronic Communications Code. Tomorrow’s Council meeting in Luxembourg aims to accelerate progress on the Digital Single Market legislative files, in particular on spectrum and 5G deployment. Additionally, the Ministers hold a follow-up debate on cybersecurity following the European Council conclusions, the Tallinn Digital Summit and the Commission’s proposals to scale up the EU’s response to cyber-attacks. For the Commission Vice-President for the Digital Single Market Andrus Ansip, Commissioner Julian King in charge of Security Union, as well as Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society Mariya Gabriel will participate. The European Electronic Communications Code is crucial for creating the Digital Single Market, as it will boost investments in high-speed and quality networks. It provides the necessary basis for the 5G roll-out at the same time all across the EU. Read more about the topic in the proposal from 2016. Further details on the spectrum assignments study can be found here. Spectrum factsheet will be available soon here. Overview factsheets on the Digital Single Market can be found here: state of play, timeline, cybersecurity.

Start the European Cybersecurity Month

 “Cybersecurity is the basis for the digital world; it is our shared responsibility, of everybody, every day. I welcome these joint efforts to promote awareness and concrete actions for cybersecurity and cyberhygiene across Europe.” Said Commission Vice-President for the Digital Single Market, Andrus Ansip.

“Be Aware, Be Secure” Today is the start of European Cyber Security Month.For info about protecting YOUR business visit http://t.co/VPmJfoKH

— Accumuli Security (@Accumuli_Sec) October 1, 2012

The 5^th edition of the  European Cybersecurity Month, taking place during the entire month of October 2017 across Europe, aims at raising awareness of cybersecurity threats and promoting cybersecurity among citizens and organisations through education and sharing of good practices. This year’s campaign follows up on Commission’s proposals to scale up EU’s response to cyber-attacks and will carry further the message that cyber-hygiene needs to be embedded in our daily practices. The annual awareness campaign is organised by the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA), the European Commission and over 300 partners, including local authorities, governments, universities, think tanks, NGOs and professional associations. Around 300 activities will take place in October throughout Europe. During this month, in order to tackle the need of smarter authentication ways, the European Commission has launched a new  Horizon prize: “Seamless authentication for all”. €4 million are available to the innovators who contribute to inventing secure, privacy-friendly and affordable authentication methods for everyone and their smart objects. You can find out more about what is happening in your country during the Cybersecurity Month by checking the interactive map. Tips and advice in 23 languages, videos, online quizzes and awareness raising material are available on the dedicated website.

EU tackle illegal content online

 

“We are providing a sound EU answer to the challenge of illegal content online. Our guidance includes safeguards to avoid over-removal, ensure transparency and the protection of fundamental rights such as freedom of speech.” Said Andrus Ansip Vice-President for Digital Single Market .

Press release – "Security Union: Commission steps up efforts to tackle illegal content online" https://t.co/qi3B6PipIQ https://t.co/pbzvHGH9Vs

— IMPALA (@IMPALAMusic) September 28, 2017

The Commission is presenting a guidelines and principles for online platforms to step up more proactive prevention, detection and removal of illegal content inciting hatred, violence and terrorism online, as announced by President Juncker in his Letter of Intent accompanying his State of the Union speechof 13 September. The increasing availability and spreading of terrorist material and content that incites to violence and hatred online is not only a serious threat to the security and safety of EU citizens, it also undermines citizens’ trust and confidence in the digital environment – a key engine of innovation, growth and jobs.Vera Jourová, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, said:”The rule of law applies online just as much as offline. We cannot accept a digital Wild West, and we must act”. Julian King, Commissioner for the Security Union, said: “The digital world offers unprecedented opportunities but, in the wrong hands, poses a serious threat to our security. Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for the Digital Economy and Society, said: “Today we provide a clear signal to platforms to act more responsibly. This is key for citizens and the development of platforms.” The new guidance issued today calls on online platforms to further boost their efforts to prevent the spread of illegal content. Given their increasingly important role in providing access to information, the Commission expects online platforms to take swift action over the coming months, in particular in the area of terrorism and illegal hate speech – which is already illegal under EU law, both online and offline.

Europol: new solutions for ATM Malware Protection

“The joint industry – law enforcement report by Europol’s EC3 and Trend Micro shows that the malware being used has evolved significantly and the scope and scale of the attacks have grown proportionately. While industry and law enforcement cooperation has developed strongly, the crime continues to thrive due to the major financial rewards available to the organized crime groups involved. This report assesses the developing nature of the threat. I hope that it serves as a blueprint for future industry and law enforcement cooperation,” said Steven Wilson, Head of EC3.

Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) and Trend Micro, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions today released a comprehensive report on the current state of ATM Malware. Cashing in on ATM Malware details both physical and network-based malware attacks on ATMs, as well as highlights where the malware is created.

$TMICY Trend Micro and Europol Partner to Arm Financial Industry with ATM Malware Protection… – https://t.co/gRBIgsv3wM

— Stockboard Media Inc (@stockboardinc) September 26, 2017

ATM malware has evolved from requiring physical access to infect the machines to now successfully attacking network-based access using the bank’s corporate network. The report dissects recent attacks using bank networks to both steal money and credit card data from ATM machines, regardless of network segmentation. These attacks not only risk personally identifiable information (PII) and large sums of money, but also put banks in violation of PCI compliance standards.

“Protecting against today’s cyber threats and meeting compliance standards require increased resources that are not always available for organizations, including those in the financial services industry,” said Max Cheng, chief information officer for Trend Micro. “Public-private collaborations strengthen the global, ongoing fight against cybercrime, and help fill the resource gap for organizations. This report furthers Trend Micro’s commitment to helping law enforcement and private businesses mitigate future attacks and protect individuals.”

In addition to the public report, a limited-release version is available to law enforcement authorities, financial institutions and the IT security industry. This private report provides greater detail for public and private organizations to harden ATM and network systems and prevent future attacks against financial institutions.

Fujitsu World Tour 2017: the future of Artificial Intelligence

Ravi Krishnamoorthi, Senior Vice President, Fujitsu EMEIA

Artificial intelligence and cyber security were among the topic of 2017 Fujitsu World Tour held in Brussels the 8^th of June 2017.

In a world of constant digital transformation, Cyber security and Artificial intelligence are actual topics. Organizations and citizens need to learn fast, act quickly and where possible, scale rapidly. No-one can do this alone.

We had an exclusive interview with Mr. Ravi Krishnamoorthi Senior Vice President & Head of Business Consulting, at Fujitsu on the theme of Artificial intelligence.

Mr. Krishnamoorthi which are going to be, in the future, the biggest facts or events supporting the development of artificial intelligence?

The world today is in a very right moment for the emerging of artificial intelligence (AI).  In one hand, we have resources, very high skilled people and on the other, we have huge technologies upswing that is happening. We started to have new technologies, faster technologies, more optimal technologies. Where there is a need for decision support to happen, it can be in any industry, manufactory, public service, health care, transportation, you will start to see artificial intelligence everywhere. In the next 25 years, I expect to see artificial intelligence as a commodity platform. People will buy AI as they buy utilities or services today. Al will probably will become a platform where people will start using the solution that are built in AI, as a web utility and web services. For example in the field of health care now, we have doctors who are not able to meet the demand of patient for actually going and intervene. Imagine if we have AI, which is actually helping them to meet more people so they can intervene much ahead of time. Artificial intelligence is already there.

Basically artificial intelligence could give something to human development ?

Absolutely. That is one of Fujitsu principles. The human centric innovations. We need to deliver something to the human being. It is all about how we can enable technology to deliver absolute value to human being. This is what we call as human centric innovation through digital creation.

The bigger cyber-attack of some week ago is a clear signal that we need more integrated solutions. How can we avoid or limit such attacks?

From a cyber perspective, the more you come up with interventions the more people are going to become intelligent and anti-social elements are going to become more intelligent to actually attack more. This is a long journey. I do not think there is any particular way of absolutely stopping the cyber-attack ever, that is not possible. However, there is a way to minimize it. That is exactly what Fujitsu coming to play where there is a clear mandate, not just cyber security but also physical security. How can we physically stop the wrong person touching a laptop or accessing a server for example? Right from there to actually testing, helping customer on new threats that are coming in. Therefore, the idea is to provide a consulting and professional service to help customer, besides providing ongoing very high end security services to deliver to customers.

We need a European level strategy or International strategy?

I think we need a multi prompt strategy and not a single strategy, which can actually solve the problem of cyber security.  We need to have a personal strategy, community strategy, regional strategy, country strategy moving on to European strategy and international and global strategy because the threats levels are different. In the cyber world, while there are no boundaries, there are every possibility to escalate fast from bring a regional threats level to a country level and global level. I think there are already standard available like the GDPR that is probably the best instrument enable enforcement many guidelines for companies and countries. The penalties are becoming very heavy, very strict and countries are executing an implementing the GDPR quite extensively. I think this is a first step. Cyber-security is a process an ongoing evolving exercise. It is all about how fast and agile you are and how ahead off any one of these threats you are.

Fujitsu World Tour is the largest roadshow of its kind, stopping in more than 25 cities around the globe.

 

Henry Borzi

Fighting cyber-attacks: collaboration between policymaker, companies and educational institutions

 

 

At Fujitsu World Tour 2017 we interviewed Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl, Director General of Digital Europe about fighting Cyber-attacks and the possible evolution of Artificial Intelligence:

• What we can do to fight Cyber-attacks at Eu level and at International level?

We have been collaborate internationally and in Europe for many years to create peace and to make sure those criminal attacks are handled. Actually, we have to look within our existing collaboration and regulative frameworks to really leverage those, in order to fight cyber attack. Crime is becoming more advanced. We also need to realize that, maybe we have not been good enough to educate both, business and citizens to handle this kind of threats.  Everybody knows that they need to lock the door, to have advanced surveillance in their car to avoid to be stolen. How many people do actually know the 3-4 steps they need to take on their PC to actually make sure is secure? How many companies have implemented this kind of restriction? Digital Europe carries the mandate “Digital skills coalition in Europe” and one of our task is to enlighten people in the member states on how actually handle digital skills. This collaboration between policymaker, companies and educational institutions to actually make sure to have the right skills to protect themselves from cyber-attacks, are the right solutions.

• How do you see the future of Artificial Intelligence?

I think we can use data and knowledge to improve citizen’s life drastically. We have a gap between the people who know how is done and the fear of who is using personal data and what they can do with this. I think Europe is quite ahead on consumer and protection. We also have a very good collaboration between businesses and policy maker on how do really work Artificial Intelligence.  Of course, there is a big fear on possible job loss, poverty, protectionism caused by Artificial Intelligence. That is the responsibility of policy maker to make sure and put pressure on the member states to educate people on advantages of Artificial Intelligence. We need to have a look on the future jobs and work with the Unions and school system to get new skills. There will come new jobs, but – will Europe will be able to capture these jobs? –  Or they will go somewhere else because they have better digital skills that we do. That is what we should be scared, not about Artificial Intelligence. You cannot stop evolution. Artificial Intelligence will bring something better actually enabling things for citizens in a better life, better health service, predictability on health state and help with administrative tasks.

 

Henry Borzi

Fujitsu Introduces “LiveTalk” at CEBIT

 

Fujitsu LiveTalk is a software that, for situations in which multiple people share information, such as meetings or classroom settings, recognizes a speaker’s speech, immediately converts it into text, and displays it on multiple PC screens.

Amongst some trendsetting innovations straight from the Fujitsu Labs in Japan, the Fujitsu LiveTalk solution was one of the highlights experienced at the Fujitsu booth at CEBIT 2017.

This software from Fujitsu has been developing simultaneous interpretation into 19 languages and makes communication in foreign languages blindingly easy. It is a communication tool that translates speaker’s speech into text via speech recognition and displays the content on a PC, tablet, or smartphone screen in real time. The spoken text is smoothly and reliably translated into any language available.

Focusing on the issue of communication with people with hearing disabilities, and based on the technologies of Fujitsu, which has been advancing initiatives in universal design, Fujitsu Social Science Laboratory developed and commercialized LiveTalk, a participatory communications tool for people with hearing disabilities that creates a smoother and more natural communications environment.

We interviewed Mr Michael Erhard head of communication of Fujitsu Central Europe.

• What are the features of Live Talk?

“LiveTalk was originally designed for people with hearing disabilities in Japan. It was developed in a second step for simultaneously translations in many languages and at the moment support 19 languages as for example English, Chinese , Korean, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian. It is a learning system and it is quick to catch up with the other languages due to its autodidactic skills based supported by artificial intelligence.”

• When it will be available in the market?

“It is the first time we presented this system in Europe. At the moment is available in the Japanese market and we plan to be present in the other markets”.

• What are the ideal customers for this product?

“In the first step some 100 organisations in Japan use this system in order to communicate with disabled people, in particular with people with hearing disabilities, for example hospitals, government offices, businesses and educational institutions. These institutions have to communicate with people with hearing disabilities and they had to use the sign language so only few people were able to communicate. Live talk solved this problem. In particular, the system allows for keyboard input as well as speech input, so that hearing-impaired people can participate fully, alongside speakers of other languages.

Even without a human transcriber or other assistance, which until now has been required when hearing-impaired and hearing people work or learn in the same environment. Another possible application is for example in multinational organisations where the system is able to translate simultaneously in different languages even if multiple participants speak at the same time. ”

• How easy is it to use?

 “It is very easy to use, because it can be used directly in the system and no additional hardware is necessary. It support every device with a microphone like PC, tablet, or smartphone. The spoken text is smoothly and reliably translated into any language available. “

• What about the problem related to pronunciation?

“As I explained this system is a learning system with artificial intelligence in the background. The speech is converted into text and displayed on PC screens in real time with speech recognition using handheld and headset mics. If there are any mistakes in the conversion of speech into text, the system allows for keyboard input as well as speech input on the PC. When I tried the system the first time it was poor not so perfect, then I tried a second and a third time and the system got better. Basically a learning system it means the recognition of the voice will be better and better with practice.  ”

Extract of the interview: