METI will Hold Cyber Security Drills in Areas of Electricity, Gas and BuildingsThe First Joint Public-Private Cyber Security Drills in Japan

In recent years, many fundamental infrastructures and control systems in factory plants have been globally affected by cyber attacks aimed at shutting off their operation or at their destruction.

To enhance measures against such attacks, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has decided to hold cyber security drills in the three fields of electricity, gas, and buildings for the first time in Japan. With cooperation from private organizations, the drills will examine issues in possible incidents* that may occur during operation by using a simulated system of drills.

Note*: Here, "incident" refers to a phenomenon or symptom that threatens the security of information management or system operation, such as a viral infection, unauthorized access, or information leakage.

1. Schedule and private organizations expected to attend the drills

Electricity area

Date: March 12 (Tue), 2013
Venue: Omika Works, Hitachi, Ltd.
Expected organizations: Industry organizations, research institutes, electric utilities, control system vendors, and other organizations

Gas area

Date: February 5 (Tue), 6 (Wed), 14 (Thur.), and 15 (Fri.), 2013
Venue: Fujisawa Technology Center for Research and Development, Azbil Corporation
Expected organizations: Industry organizations, gas utilities, control system vendors, and other organizations

Buildings area

Date: February 25 (Mon.), 2013
Venue: Ark Hills Sengokuyama Mori Tower
Expected organizations: Building operators, and other organizations

Note: For any inquiries regarding press coverage, please contact the following division.

2. Future efforts to continue the measures

In order to continue bolstering measures against such cyber attacks on control systems, METI will advance public-private joint efforts through research and development, etc. for establishing safer control technology and other measures to deal with issues that may be discovered in the drills. These efforts will be conducted mainly by the Tohoku Tagajo Technology Center, which is now under construction in Tagajo, Miyagi Prefecture (operated by the Control System Security Center)

Note: Full operation of the Tohoku Tagajo Gijutsu Center is to be started around Spring 2013.

Release Date

February 4, 2013

Division in Charge

Office for IT Security Policy, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau

Related Information

Information Policy

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Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
1-3-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8901, Japan Tel: +81-(0)3-3501-1511