Why is Security Scoring Service Important? Explanation of Introduction Benefits and Main Services

In response to the increase in cyber attacks, many companies are forced to strengthen security measures in addition to the digitization of normal operations. However, even if you say you want to strengthen security, some people may not be able to grasp exactly what to strengthen or what security risks their company has in the first place.

This article explains the overview of security scoring services, which are useful for grasping the direction of such security measures.

Table of Contents

1. What is a security scoring service?
2. Background to why security scoring services are attracting attention
1. Rapid spread of digitization in companies
2. Increase and severity of cyber attacks
3. Benefits of implementing a security scoring service
1. You can discover security measures that your company lacks
2. Realize cost-effective security measures
4. Main security scoring services
1. ID “Security Scoring Service”
2. NTT Communications “WideAngle”
5. Summary

1. What is a Security Scoring Service?

As the name suggests, a security scoring service is a service that objectively investigates your company’s security environment and converts it into a score.

Compared to the introduction of general business efficiency tools, security measures have the problem that the effects and the degree of necessary measures are difficult to understand. This is because it is difficult to quantitatively evaluate whether security measures are functioning correctly until an actual attack occurs, and whether the measures are necessary or insufficient.

This is where security scoring services come in handy. You can comprehensively evaluate your company’s security status from multiple perspectives as needed, and evaluate the items to be considered, such as whether existing security measures are functioning correctly and where vulnerabilities exist.

2. Background to why Security Scoring Services are attracting attention

The following backgrounds can be considered as reasons why security scoring services have become popular:

2-1. Rapid spread of digitization in companies

The background to the growing demand for security scoring services is the rapid progress of DX in companies.

DX is a high-priority project led by the government in Japan, and many companies are enjoying the benefits of digitization, so it is an initiative that many companies are expected to promote in the future.

While promoting DX through the digitization of operations has many attractive benefits, it is also a concern that it will greatly increase security risks.

For example, suppose there is a company that used digital and analog methods half and half. Even if such a company were to be attacked by a cyber attack, only the digital part of the business would be damaged, but if all operations were digitized, all operations could be affected by a cyber attack with conventional security measures.

The progress of digitization of operations means that dependence on digital technology has increased, and the risk of attacks has also increased. As cyber attacks are evolving every day, conventional security measures may not be sufficient to provide adequate protection, so it is important to evaluate and improve security measures as soon as possible.

2-2. Increase and severity of cyber attacks

With the global penetration of DX, the number of cyber attacks itself is also increasing. This trend is no exception in Japan, and the average number of cyber attacks in 2022 is 970 per week, a 29% increase compared to the previous year.

Reference: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000168.000021207.html

In recent years, not only have cyber attacks increased, but the fact that financial damage has become more serious is also a major concern.

Unlike minor incidents such as failures on company websites in the past, there are many cases of damage that directly and seriously affect business continuity, such as the leakage of confidential information and the demand for ransoms in exchange for confidential information and internal systems being held hostage.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of such cyber attacks, but it is possible to minimize the risk of being victimized and minimize losses in the event of an attack. Security scoring services are used to consider effective countermeasures for this purpose.

3. Benefits of Implementing a Security Scoring Service

By implementing a security scoring service, companies can expect the following implementation benefits:

3-1. You can discover security measures that your company lacks

Security scoring services are very effective in discovering security measures that are lacking in your company.

By calculating the security status of the entire company as a score, and considering effective improvement measures in the process of why the area that is subject to deduction has such a score and what can be done to improve the score, you will be able to effectively consider improvement measures.

It is also important to note that you can have it objectively evaluated by security experts, rather than relying on the subjective opinions of security personnel. You can consider measures that take into account the latest cyber attack situation without relying on the subjective opinions of internal security personnel.

3-2. Realize cost-effective security measures

Using a security scoring service costs money, but it will ultimately help you implement cost-effective security measures.

Security measures are not just about introducing various security services, but about implementing efficient measures that can eliminate your company’s vulnerabilities.

If you do not correctly understand your company’s vulnerabilities, you may end up strengthening security in areas that have already been addressed, resulting in unnecessary security costs, or you may overlook key vulnerabilities and leave security holes unattended.

In order to avoid such situations, it is necessary to use a security scoring service to correctly understand your company’s security situation.

4. Main Security Scoring Services

Security scoring services are provided by various companies in Japan. Here are some of the main services.

4-1. ID “Security Scoring Service”

The security scoring service provided by Information Development thoroughly collects information about client companies, focuses on information that attackers would also obtain, and performs security diagnostics.

We strive to strengthen the security of our clients through vulnerability identification based on the supply chain and advisory by security consultants.

Official website: https://www.idnet.co.jp/service/ssc.html

4-2. NTT Communications “WideAngle”

NTT Communications’ WideAngle is a security scoring service provided for small and medium-sized enterprises. It evaluates security based on public information about client companies on the Internet and provides a unique analysis report.

You can have your security evaluated simply by displaying the domain you want to investigate, so it is a relatively easy-to-use service.

Official website: https://www.ntt.com/business/services/security/security-management/wideangle/securityscorecard.html

Summary

This article explained the overview, implementation benefits, and main services of security scoring services.

Even if you understand the importance of security measures, it is important to borrow external help in order to implement security measures correctly, and the information you can obtain from it has great value.

If you are considering strengthening security, it is important to set aside time to correctly understand your company’s security situation by using the services introduced above.

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