Many students come from public offices and security companies

After gaining experience in various departments as a technical officer in the National Police Agency, I was assigned to the High-Tech Crime Technology Division of the Info-Communications Bureau, where I was mainly responsible for digital forensics. I then enrolled at IISEC for the first time as an Agency employee, as part of the Bureau's temporary training scheme. Information security and cyber security related crimes cannot be solved without a multifaceted perspective, as well as the knowledge and skills from within the division. In order to achieve such diversity, it is important to complement each other through "collaboration across industry, academia and government". I believe that the postgraduate experience at IISEC will be very useful for me, as many of our students come from the public sector and information security related companies.

Always be aware of the basis of information

There are three good things for me about this postgraduate course. Firstly, I was able to learn about information security in a systematic way. At IISEC, we can learn about the differences in the underlying legal concepts between the US and Japan, and the basics of encryption keys, and so on. I have developed a basic idea of security by learning these areas systematically from a broad perspective. Secondly, I was able to experience cyber-attacks and defences first hand. Thirdly, I was able to attend special lectures with other universities and hear different perspectives on security through the interaction with other students. When you learn about information security in a broad and deep way, you realise that there is a lot of information out there that may or may not be true. What is the basis for this information? I have always been aware of the need to confirm the primary source.

Is it possible to use the results of automated analysis tools available to everyone, as evidence?

I am currently examining the conditions under which automated digital forensic analysis tools can be used as evidence in criminal proceedings. In the United States, lawsuits have been filed to challenge the authenticity of the results, and this is a topic that will surely become an issue in Japan in the near future. My research is so unique that I have already received attention as a lecturer at a subcommittee of the Digital Forensics Society and have been asked to write for a publication. IISEC is a graduate school with great opportunities, where you can carry out practical research and exchange information with people from many different fields. I believe that if you are proactive in taking advantage of the diverse opportunities available, you can greatly accelerate your development.