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NEC announced on the 5th that it will establish a new global framework for 24/7/365 cybersecurity monitoring and operations, linking its hubs in Japan, the United States, and Europe. The company will open a new European hub in April 2027 and begin “Follow the Sun” operations in July of the same year. To comply with European data regulations, NEC will offer a structure that keeps data stored within the region while allowing the Japan headquarters to maintain centralized control and operations. In line with Japan’s Active Cyber Defense Act, which took effect in October 2026, NEC also began offering support the same day for attack detection at overseas sites, severity assessment, and compliance with reporting obligations to authorities.
Key Elements
NEC announced on the 5th that it will establish a new global framework providing 24/7/365 cybersecurity monitoring and operations for Japanese companies expanding overseas, with coordinated hubs in Japan, the United States, and Europe. The company will open a new European hub in April 2027 and, starting in July of the same year, begin “Follow the Sun” operations in which the existing Japan and US hubs hand off monitoring and operations in relay fashion across time zones.
For Japanese companies with overseas operations, group-wide security management has long been a persistent challenge. Because each site has different operational structures and outsourcing arrangements, it is difficult to grasp the full picture of risk exposure. Companies must also contend with incident response across time zones and compliance with regulations that vary by country and region.
This announcement marks a step beyond the conventional framework of “remote monitoring of overseas sites from Japan’s IT department,” moving toward a stage that comprehensively addresses time-zone differences, data management regulations, and local reporting obligations.
Design of the Three-Hub Framework and Consideration for Data Sovereignty
At the core of the new framework is coordination among the European hub to be opened in April 2027, the existing US hub with enhanced capabilities, and the Japan hub. From July of the same year, each hub will leverage its regional business hours to hand off monitoring and operations, achieving round-the-clock coverage.
When issues arise at overseas sites, the Japan headquarters will be able to receive inquiries regardless of time zone. With the ability to centrally grasp the security posture of the entire group, the framework is expected to enable earlier incident detection and faster initial response.
A defining feature of the design is its attention to data handling. In Europe, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other rules may prohibit transferring data outside the region in certain cases. Even in such scenarios, NEC will provide a mechanism that keeps data stored within Europe while allowing the Japan headquarters to exercise centralized security operations under its control. NEC plans to progressively expand similar structures to other regions, including the United States.
Support for Compliance with Japan’s Active Cyber Defense Act
In October 2026, Japan’s Active Cyber Defense Act (officially the Cybersecurity Capability Enhancement Act, or ACD Act) took effect, strengthening measures against cyberattacks. Critical infrastructure operators are now required to report attacks to authorities, and for companies with overseas operations, meeting local reporting requirements has become an additional burden.
Ahead of establishing the three-hub framework, NEC began offering services in October 2026 to support detection of attacks on overseas sites, severity assessment, and organization of information needed for reporting. These services assist the Japan headquarters in meeting its reporting obligations to authorities, and NEC plans to expand support for reporting requirements in individual countries and regions going forward.
The extent to which security operations for Japanese companies expanding overseas can be centralized remains to be seen. The opening of the European hub in 2027 and the establishment of the three-hub framework will serve as a litmus test.
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