December 2015 Vol. 13 No. 12

View from the Top

• Hiroshi Nakagawa, Senior Executive Vice President, NTT EAST

  

  Overview
  The growth of FLET’S HIKARI―NTT’s optical access broadband service and flagship product―shows signs of slowing down as the demand for high-speed Internet eases and competition with optical access services of other companies intensifies. Under these conditions, NTT EAST is reexamining its business structure and reforming its business model to steer the company toward sustainable management while growing its business-user market. We asked Hiroshi Nakagawa, Senior Executive Vice President of NTT EAST, to tell us about the aims and rollout of the Hikari Collaboration Model and specific initiatives such as the new marketing method called ICT Concierge.

Feature Articles: Cybersecurity-related R&D to Counter Global Threats

• Cybersecurity R&D to Counter Global Threats

  

  Abstract
  New cybersecurity threats are continuing to expand on a global scale, and Japan is expected to become the target of cyber-attacks in the run up to 2020. In these Feature Articles, we discuss the key points of resisting global cybersecurity threats and introduce our research and development strategy for dealing with them.

• Trends in Global Security Threats

  

  Abstract
  In this article, to illustrate the trends in global security threats, we examine two ingenious cyber-attacks that were recently reported, and we discuss the countermeasures to the attacks. We also introduce the Global Threat Intelligence Report, an NTT Group initiative related to global security threats. We believe that sharing this sort of information about security threats will help to raise awareness of cybersecurity and lead to more secure systems.

• Security Intelligence for Malware Countermeasures to Support NTT Group’s Security Business

  

  Abstract
  Cyber-attacks caused by malware (malicious software) are becoming a serious social problem in many parts of the world. In this article, we introduce the security intelligence technology behind our WideAngle global integrated security service.

• Security Orchestration with a Global Threat Intelligence Platform

  

  Abstract
  The NTT Innovation Institute, Inc. has developed a system for collecting and distributing information on the threats posed by cyber-attacks: the Global Threat Intelligence Platform (GTIP). By connecting with NTT Secure Platform Laboratories’ security orchestration technologies, GTIP makes it possible to run advanced cyber defenses based on threat data. In this article, we demonstrate how we jointly built and connected these technologies and discuss their future global deployment.

• Efforts to Achieve a Joint Risk Management Support System

  

  Abstract
  At NTT Secure Platform Laboratories, we are developing technology to support joint risk management and incident response based on unified chain of command and control in order to respond to the expanding global threat of cyber-attacks and physical emergencies such as natural disasters and accidents. This article introduces our efforts aimed at implementing a risk management/incident response management support system that can be applied in the event of risks of any kind.

Feature Articles: Service Design for Attractive Services and Trends in Design Thinking

• Service Design for Creating Attractive Services, and Trends in Design Thinking

  

  Abstract
  Terms such as service design and design thinking are receiving a lot of attention as methodologies for producing attractive services, and the NTT Group is tackling this issue from various perspectives. This article introduces these initiatives, first discussing what design is, then describing how service design and design thinking fit within current design trends. Finally, it introduces three key concepts on which NTT Service Evolution Laboratories places particular focus: human-centered design, user experience design, and participatory design.

• Concept Tailor: A Tool for Iteratively Designing Service Concepts Using Storyboards

  

  Abstract
  To develop services that are attractive to users, it is important to refine the service design iteratively by obtaining evaluations of the service from users from the earliest stages. NTT Service Evolution Laboratories has developed Concept Tailor, which supports iterative design and applies a rule that divides service concepts into four stages. This article introduces the process of realizing a service concept using this tool.

• Evaluation Methods for Service Design

  

  Abstract
  Service design is not a direct path but requires repeated creation and improvement in order to make progress. Suitable evaluation methods can be used to assess the results of each step (concept plan, mock-up, prototype, etc.) to avoid moving in the wrong direction. This article introduces ideas and evaluation methods used in service design.

• Methodology for Creating Attractive Services

  

  Abstract
  NTT IT Corporation provides consulting services to help companies create services that will appeal to their customers. In this article, we introduce some of the methodologies employed by the ICT Design department to design services that capture people’s interest. We also discuss points that need to be considered with respect to user interviews and our interpretations of them as well as the generation and evaluation of ideas.

• Training Initiatives for UX Designers

  

  Abstract
  AT NTT Communications, we are actively training user experience (UX) designers. The first step in this process involves examining the existing skills of UX designers within the company. Another key step is applying the CHEF model we developed for organizing the design processes, skillsets, and mindsets required for UX design work within the company. In this article, we present the results of these initiatives and our plans for future work.

• Initiatives Related to the Creation of New NTT DATA Services

  

  Abstract
  At NTT DATA, we do not limit ourselves to developing systems in response to RFPs (requests for proposals); we endeavor to create and commercialize innovative new services together with both client and partner companies in short periods of time. However, thinking about this work and proceeding with it involve a very different approach than that used in system development projects, and therefore, several departments within the company have been moving forward with a variety of initiatives to facilitate the process. This article introduces the initiatives related to the creation of new services at NTT DATA.

Regular Articles

• Recent Activities Involving OpenStack Swift

  

  Abstract
  OpenStack Swift is popular open source software used to build very large-scale storage systems. OpenStack Swift was originally released by Rackspace, and it has been developed with community effort over the last five years by developers from all over the world. The OpenStack Swift community recently introduced some major features such as global cluster management and erasure code capability. NTT has also contributed to the OpenStack Swift community. In addition, NTT developed a proprietary secret sharing engine called Super High-speed Secret Sharing, which achieves data encryption that is compatible with erasure code. In this article, we introduce these developments and discuss NTT’s activities in the Swift community.

• Improving Inter-system Cooperation and User Convenience in Confirming Personal Safety during Disasters

  

  Abstract
  The need for effective ways to check on the safety of persons in times of disaster has been increasing in recent years. Personal safety information in times of disaster has been handled separately for different types of user terminals, different media (voice, text, etc.), and different networks. NTT Network Service Systems Laboratories has been developing a system that integrates those separate services to work cooperatively and to provide a unified service for simple and certain communication and confirmation of personal safety. Here, we describe the Personal Safety Confirmation System and the functions it provides.

Global Standardization Activities

• Standardization Efforts in IP Number Portability Specifications

  

  Abstract
  In the near future, the inter-connections between communications carrier networks that use E.164 numbers are expected to migrate to Internet protocol (IP) technology rather than connecting them through the existing public switched telephone network (PSTN). For the migration, IP networks must support number portability functionalities in order to continue the current service, although such functionalities are currently supported only in the PSTN. We describe in this article the domestic number portability specification published in August 2015 as well as the NTT initiatives in this area.

Practical Field Information about Telecommunication Technologies

• Wireless LAN Tester Conformable to IEEE802.11ac

  

  Abstract
  This article describes the development and introduction of a wireless LAN (local area network) tester conformable to the IEEE802.11ac standard. This is the thirty-second article in a bimonthly series on practical field information on telecommunication technologies. This month’s contribution is from the EMC Engineering Group, Technical Assistance and Support Center, Maintenance and Service Operations Department, Network Business Headquarters, NTT EAST.

New NTT Colleagues

• We welcome our newcomers to the NTT Group

External Awards: Papers Published in Technical Journals and Conference Proceedings

• External Awards: Papers Published in Technical Journals and Conference Proceedings