Japan, US, and EU Collaborate on Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity

Strategic Insights -

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan, in collaboration with the Industrial Cyber Security Center of Excellence (ICSCoE) and the governments of the United States and the European Commission, hosted the first in-person JP-US-EU Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Week in Tokyo from October 9 to 13, 2023. The event brought together 35 government and industry practitioners from the Indo-Pacific region for a week-long hands-on training program, focusing on cybersecurity measures for industrial control systems.

Key Takeaways:

  • The event was the first in-person JP-US-EU Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Week since 2019, highlighting the growing importance of cybersecurity cooperation among like-minded countries.
  • The Cyber Security Week was first launched in 2018 by Japan in collaboration with the US, aiming to enhance cybersecurity capacity within the Indo-Pacific region and reinforce collaboration with respective countries.
  • The European Union officially joined the annual ICS cybersecurity exercise from 2021, recognizing its value in combating growing cybersecurity threats.
  • The event provided participants with hands-on training on AI, hacked robotic arms, and a simulated tampering with a water-level regulation system in an industrial plant, as well as cybersecurity-related seminars on awareness, standardization, incident response, and supply chain risk management.
  • The program aimed to enhance the cybersecurity capabilities of participants from the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in areas of critical infrastructure protection.
  • The event contributed to establishing a common understanding on ICS cybersecurity and strengthening relationships between the Indo-Pacific region and Japan, the US, and the EU, laying the foundation for further international cooperation in jointly addressing growing cybersecurity threats.

Statistics:

  • 35 government and industry practitioners from the Indo-Pacific region participated in the event.
  • The event included 4 keynote speeches and 4 seminars on topics such as awareness, standardization, incident response, and supply chain risk management.
  • Hands-on training exercises focused on AI, hacked robotic arms, and a simulated tampering with a water-level regulation system in an industrial plant.
  • The event was a collaboration between the governments of Japan, the United States, and the European Commission, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in cybersecurity.

Sources:

  • Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan
  • Industrial Cyber Security Center of Excellence (ICSCoE)
  • Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan
  • Department of Homeland Security/ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (DHS/CISA)
  • Department of State (DOS)
  • European Commission (Directorate-General for Communications, Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT))
  • Nara Institute of Science and Technology
  • Toyo University
  • Faculty of Information Networking for Innovation And Design (INIAD)