Okinawa's CplusC Partners with Cybertrust for Secure Elderly Care Initiative

In a significant move towards improving the safety and security of elder care services, Okinawa's CplusC Co., Ltd. and Tokyo-based Cybertrust Inc. have teamed up to enhance the cyber security measures for the 'Yasashii Mimamori' (Gentle Monitoring) service. This memorandum of cooperation aims to leverage Cybertrust's device authentication capabilities, allowing only certified devices to access sensitive monitoring data, thus reducing the risks of data leaks and unauthorized access. The partnership comes amid growing concerns over Japan's aging population, particularly the rise in solitary elder households, the increasing shortage of caregivers, and incidents of solitary deaths.

The 'Yasashii Mimamori' service utilizes advanced Wi-Fi sensing technology to monitor the activities of senior citizens, ensuring their welfare by providing real-time visibility into their daily behavior. If inactivity is detected over a certain period, alerts are sent to registered family members, local community members, or government authorities, enabling timely interventions. Given that this service processes personally identifiable information and monitoring data, implementing stricter security measures is imperative. The collaboration will establish a rigorous framework that restricts access to authorized devices only, fortifying the protection against data breaches and cyber threats.

The Framework of the Partnership

The partnership includes a structured division of roles, where the community representatives, such as social welfare workers, will use approved tablets—termed 'Kyōjo Terminals'—to oversee multiple elderly clients. Cybertrust will integrate its 'Cybertrust Device ID' service for these terminals and for governmental devices, enhancing the security by ensuring that only verified devices can log into the monitoring system. This arrangement features a fail-safe mechanism: should a shared tablet be lost, its device ID can be instantly deactivated, reducing the chances of unauthorized access.

As per the explanation from CplusC, their service 'Yasashii Mimamori' stands out with its unique capability to visualize seniors' daily activities around the clock, making this information accessible to family members via a dedicated smartphone application. The service aims to ensure that none of the elderly are left unattended; if family members do not respond to alerts, the established network will automatically notify pre-registered local helpers. Currently, this initiative has rolled out in seven municipalities within Okinawa, with plans to expand to twelve by fiscal year 2025 and ultimately to seventeen municipalities by fiscal year 2026.

Responsibilities of Each Company

CplusC focuses on the operational aspect of the senior monitoring service, whereas Cybertrust provides the technological backbone to secure access through rigorous device authentication. Cybertrust's Device ID solution will support a variety of platforms, including Windows, iOS, and Android, thus enhancing the service’s usability across devices, including during remote operations via VPN or cloud services.

Future Outlook

With the backing of this partnership, both organizations plan to trial and refine the enhanced 'Yasashii Mimamori' service by 2026, evaluating cost and accessibility before expanding it further across Okinawa and eventually to other regions of Japan. This initiative not only aims at improving safety and security for the elderly but also addresses the broader societal challenges posed by an aging population, particularly the prevention of ignored solitary deaths and establishing a sustainable monitoring system for socially isolated individuals.

Both CplusC and Cybertrust are firmly committed to achieving a more secure, proactive support system for the elderly, ensuring a safer community for all. As Japan navigates its demographic challenges, such partnerships will be crucial in fostering a society that can adapt to the needs of its aging constituents.