March 2019 Vol. 17 No. 3

View from the Top

• Masaaki Moribayashi, Senior Executive Vice President, NTT Communications

  

  Overview
  As the fourth industrial revolution takes hold around the world, Japan has much to achieve if it is going to maintain its international competitiveness in innovation. To this end, the Annual Report on the Japanese Economy and Public Finance 2018 issued by the Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, stated that Japan must establish a competitive edge in four areas of innovation: products, processes, marketing, and organization. We asked Masaaki Moribayashi, Senior Executive Vice President of NTT Communications, what will be necessary for NTT Communications to firmly establish itself as an international enterprise.

Feature Articles: Front-line Cybersecurity Technology to Enable a Digital Society

• Security R&D for a Safe and Secure Digital Society

  

  Abstract
  Major environmental changes and market transitions are occurring as our digital society is realized, and in line with this trend, NTT Secure Platform Laboratories is conducting research and development on security technologies to build resistance to emerging new security threats and to resolve issues involving the utilization of data. This article introduces some security issues that can arise in a digital society and security measures to deal with them, both defensive and offensive.

• Discovery of Silhouette―a New Threat to Privacy―and Our Efforts to Counter It

  

  Abstract
  To prevent damage due to threats that are unknown to users and businesses, it is important to understand potential security issues in systems before the attackers do and to take preventive measures before an attack occurs. This article describes the mechanism of a new privacy threat called Silhouette, discovered in the course of this sort of empirical research on threats, together with a method for handling the threat, and initiatives to reinforce services and browser security functions around the world.

• Trial Service of Secure Computation System San-shi^TM

  

  Abstract
  To enable the safe and secure use of corporate secrets, personal data, and other types of data that must be kept confidential, NTT has developed Secure Computation System San-shi^TM that can perform tabulation and statistical processing securely and with practical performance without decrypting the data. As an initiative to stimulate the use of data, NTT is providing San-shi as a free trial service for a limited period so that many users can experience this secure computation technology. The advantage is that it enables integrated analysis without mutual disclosure of data among organizations while keeping the data encrypted. This article describes this initiative and introduces secure computation technology.

• Research Trends in Post-quantum Cryptography

  

  Abstract
  The growing recognition that quantum computers are soon to be a reality is driving research into postquantum cryptography. This article introduces the Post-Quantum Cryptography Standardization project of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the United States, which is playing a core role in the research and development of post-quantum cryptography, and introduces NTT initiatives and independent research related to that project.

Feature Articles: NTT R&D Forum 2018 Autumn Special Sessions

• Co-innovating to Accelerate Transformation and Create New Value

  

  Abstract
  Dimension Data, an NTT Group company, recently opened its first Client Innovation Centre (CIC) in Sydney, Australia. This article introduces the CIC and presents examples of co-innovation generated at CIC between Dimension Data, their clients and partners, and the NTT research and development (R&D) laboratories. This article is based on a speech given by Debra Bordignon, Chief Technology Officer, Dimension Data Australia, at NTT R&D Forum 2018 Autumn on November 29, 2018.

• Leading in the Age of Digital Disruption

  

  Abstract
  At everis, an NTT DATA Group company, a team consisting of 65 members is currently working to create solutions for existing companies by applying disruptive approaches. Half of the team is expert in technology such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, crowdsourcing, robotics, and blockchain, and the other half has expertise in business domains such as design, marketing, finance, and legal issues. This article describes the importance of digital disruption and the disruption initiatives by the NTT Group based on a speech given by Marc Alba, Chief Disruption Officer of everis, at NTT R&D Forum 2018 Autumn on November 30, 2018.

Regular Articles

• Intent-based Service Management to Improve Resource Design Efficiency for Cloud Services

  

  Abstract
  As cloud services have expanded, an increasing number of service providers are implementing various kinds of services and functions such as web services and machine learning in the cloud environment. To provide the cloud service promptly and improve customer satisfaction, a cloud service provider needs to efficiently design the resources in accordance with the service requirements. This article presents an intent-based service management framework that enables the needed cloud resources to be derived in accordance with the service provider’s service requirements, cloud environmental conditions, and operation policies.

Global Standardization Activities

• International Standards Adopted by ITU-T to Address Soft Errors Affecting Telecommunication Equipment

  

  Abstract
  ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union - Telecommunication Standardization Sector), a specialized agency of the United Nations, approved standards relating to soft errors that affect telecommunication equipment on November 13, 2018. These standards stipulate design, testing, and quality estimation methods, as well as reliability requirements concerning measures designed to mitigate malfunctions (soft errors) in telecommunication equipment on the ground chiefly caused by cosmic rays. The adopted standards will help in establishing more reliable networks.

External Awards/Papers Published in Technical Journals and Conference Proceedings

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