#Cybersecurity #KELA Cyber #Active Defense

KELA Inc.'s Committed Vision for 2026

As we welcome the new year of 2026, we at KELA Inc. extend our heartfelt greetings to all. We deeply appreciate the support and kindness we received throughout the past year.

Last year in Japan was marked by significant events, such as the election of the first female Prime Minister, soaring U.S. prices, and record-breaking average summer temperatures. Additionally, the rapid implementation of generative AI technology led to transformative changes in both business models and daily life. Despite Japan's GDP surpassing 600 trillion yen, we continue to face serious challenges including prolonged yen depreciation, inflation, and a shrinking workforce due to a declining birthrate and an aging population. For companies striving for continuous growth, adapting to digital transformation (DX) and automation has become more critical than ever.

In the realm of cybersecurity, the acceleration of cyber-attacks on enterprises has become increasingly evident. As reported, incidents at Asahi Group Holdings and Askul have highlighted the alarming rise in ransomware-related public disclosures, with over 7,000 incidents globally, a staggering 40% increase from the previous year, resulting in a total damage of 9 trillion yen (according to Cybersecurity Ventures). Furthermore, the surge in cyberattacks affecting supply chains and cases of compromised brokerage accounts prompted the Financial Services Agency to issue warnings and amend supervisory guidelines. Notably, shocking incidents have occurred where middle and high school students were arrested for unauthorized access utilizing generative AI, reflecting the diversity of attack methods and actors.

In response to these challenges, the Japanese government recognized the limitations of its traditional passive cyber defense strategy. On May 23rd, a bill regarding Active Cyber Defense (ACD) was promulgated, establishing the National Cyber Coordination Office (NCO). This initiative aims to create a framework for detecting preemptive signals of attacks, marking a significant step forward in bolstering national cybersecurity. Moving forward, this ACD approach is poised to become the standard in cybersecurity.

KELA was established in 2009 by cybersecurity experts from the Israeli intelligence community, IDF Intelligence. In 2015, we established a premier-level data lake to accumulate threat intelligence from cybercriminal activities. Based on this foundation, we introduced the KELA Intelligence Platform to the market, which automates the process of infiltrating hard-to-reach sources for information collection, analysis, and monitoring. This system also enables alerts for threats detected within the underground cybercriminal space, assisting clients in preventing potential cyber attacks.

In 2026, we are implementing an ACD ecosystem built around three pillars:

1. Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI): Utilizing the KELA platform to “visualize invisible foes.”
2. Attack Surface Management (ASM) and Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM): Via our 'ULTRA-RED' system, we enable organizations to “understand their own (information asset vulnerabilities).”
3. Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM): With 'SLING' to provide insight into “the situation of our peers (supply chains).”

Through this robust ACD structure, we are committed to protecting all organizations, including governmental bodies and private enterprises throughout Japan, from continuously evolving cyber threats, ensuring business resilience, and ultimately contributing to