Japan's Information-technology Promotion Agency (IPA) has established a new Unauthorized Access Special Consultation Desk to support companies and organizations hit by cyber attacks that cause information leaks. The service is available even at the stage where victimization is only suspected, allowing affected parties to seek advice via phone or email before incidents are fully confirmed.
The initiative addresses a surge in intrusions into online services and account systems that handle personal data, where third parties steal records and other sensitive information. IPA will help organizations with initial incident response by assessing the likelihood of unauthorized access or data exfiltration and offering practical next steps.
Organizations that have already suffered confirmed breaches, as well as those that merely suspect compromise, can contact the desk. IPA staff will gather details, provide guidance on possible unauthorized access or leaks, recommend effective emergency measures, supply a list of incident response service providers, and direct callers to the appropriate reporting channels. The service is open to small and medium-sized enterprises.
Phone consultations are accepted on weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., excluding the period from noon to 1:00 p.m. Email responses may arrive on the following business day or later. Separate contact points handle non-access-related incidents, general preventive security advice, and individual personal data breach consultations.
