How Forensic Services Are Changing the Way IT Departments Defend

What Happens After a Cyberattack Determines Your Company’s Future

Reports of ransomware and unauthorized access incidents are relentless. Many business owners focus on “prevention,” but did you know that “post-attack response” is actually the critical turning point for business continuity?

Recently, Cross-Head Co., Ltd. and BLACKPANDA JAPAN launched the “Fast Forensic Service by IT Department SAMURAI.” This service allows companies to outsource the initial response to a cyberattack to experts.

“Forensics” refers to the technology used to preserve and analyze evidence from digital devices. It examines traces of an attack to identify the cause and aid recovery. Previously, this was an expensive service only available to large corporations and specialized teams, but it is now available to SMEs starting from a few tens of thousands of yen per month (approximately a few hundred USD).

This news has the potential to fundamentally change how companies without or with only a small IT department think about IT security.

It’s Not “Dumping” but “Clarifying Your Defense Perimeter”

An article on ITmedia highlighted survey results showing that “dumping IT on an external provider leads to poor DX results.” The point was that simply outsourcing everything makes the purpose of IT implementation unclear, leading to an increase in unused systems.

However, this new forensic service is different in nature from “dumping.” What business owners need to decide is the line between “what we protect internally” and “what we outsource.”

The initial response to a cyberattack is precisely an area that should be outsourced to external experts. There are three reasons for this.

First is speed. Responding within hours of an attack minimizes damage. In a company with only one IT staff member, it’s impossible to conduct an investigation and recovery simultaneously.

Second is expertise. Forensics requires knowledge of evidence preservation procedures and legal requirements. If evidence is destroyed through incorrect handling, it becomes difficult to file insurance claims or pursue criminal charges.

Third is cost. It’s more realistic to use a service you can call upon when needed than to hire a full-time specialist.

In other words, management defines the “scope of protection” and outsources part of it. This is the ideal form of an IT strategy.

The Case of Miyakonojo City Shows the Essence of Digitalization

At the same time, the efforts of Miyakonojo City in Miyazaki Prefecture are worth noting. The city introduced GMO Sign’s electronic official seal service, fully digitalizing the process from application to notification.

Digitalizing administrative procedures is not uncommon, but the key point of Miyakonojo City’s case is that it consistently digitalized “from application to notification.” A common failure is digitalizing only the application process while internal processing and notifications remain on paper, resulting in double work.

What this case teaches management is the principle of “designing for overall optimization, not partial optimization.” IT implementation should not be seen as “digitalizing something,” but as “redesigning the entire workflow.”

The same applies to forensic services. The entire post-attack flow—”investigation → recovery → reporting → improvement”—should be designed in advance, including outsourcing. The difference in the scale of damage between companies that do this and those that don’t is enormous.

The Value of a “Reliable External Force” as Shown by IT Department SAMURAI

The service name “IT Department SAMURAI” likely conveys the message that external professionals act as a shield to protect the company.

In fact, this service is available from a few tens of thousands of yen per month (approximately a few hundred USD) and provides 24/7 support when an attack occurs. It offers a one-stop solution for preventing damage escalation, identifying the cause, preserving evidence, and supporting recovery.

For SMEs, this is a very reassuring option. The biggest barriers to security measures are “budget” and “personnel.”

Many business owners tend to think, “We’re too small to be targeted.” However, ransomware attacks are indiscriminate. In fact, some data suggests that SMEs with weaker security are more likely to be targeted.

If you can’t invest in prevention, at least prepare for “what to do after an attack.” This is a realistic management decision.

Three Things Business Owners Should Do Now

Finally, based on this news, here are the actions business owners should take immediately.

First, “consider contracting a forensic service.” Services like “IT Department SAMURAI” have just emerged but are likely to increase in the future. If you can secure initial response capabilities for a few tens of thousands of yen per month (approximately a few hundred USD), it’s worth considering as a form of insurance.

Second, “incorporate cyberattacks into your BCP (Business Continuity Plan).” Treat cyberattacks as a business disruption risk, just like natural disasters, and document recovery procedures.

Third, “clarify the scope of outsourcing.” You don’t need to handle all IT in-house. However, management should decide the line between what is outsourced and what is decided internally.

Forensic services are precisely a tool for clarifying the “scope of protection.” The key to business continuity lies in business owners proactively making choices, not running away from IT.

Cyberattacks are no longer an exceptional event. Treat them as a risk that could happen at any time and start preparing today.