Okay, here’s a detailed article about the tender published by the Digital Agency of Japan, focusing on accessibility and clarity for a broad audience:
Digital Agency of Japan Seeks Bids for Cybersecurity Vulnerability Assessments and Penetration Testing in Fiscal Year 2025
The Digital Agency of Japan (デジタル庁) has announced a general competitive bidding opportunity for comprehensive cybersecurity services, specifically focused on vulnerability assessments and penetration testing for the fiscal year 2025. This announcement was made on April 28, 2024, at 6:00 AM (Japan Standard Time). This initiative underscores the Agency’s commitment to strengthening its cybersecurity posture and ensuring the safety and reliability of its digital infrastructure.
What is the Tender About?
In simple terms, the Digital Agency is looking to hire a company or team to act like “ethical hackers” to find weaknesses in its computer systems and networks. This involves two main activities:
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Vulnerability Assessments: This is like a thorough checkup of the Agency’s systems to identify potential weaknesses or loopholes that could be exploited by malicious actors. It involves scanning for known vulnerabilities and analyzing configurations for potential missteps.
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Penetration Testing (also known as “Pen Testing”): This is a more active and hands-on approach. The hired experts will try to “break into” the Agency’s systems in a controlled and authorized manner to simulate real-world attacks. This helps identify weaknesses that might not be apparent from a simple assessment. The Digital Agency can then fix any vulnerabilities.
Why is this Important?
Cybersecurity is paramount in today’s digital world. The Digital Agency handles sensitive data and provides critical digital services to the public. It is therefore crucial to protect these systems from cyberattacks. By proactively identifying and addressing vulnerabilities, the Agency can:
- Prevent Data Breaches: Protect sensitive information from being stolen or compromised.
- Maintain Service Availability: Ensure that critical online services remain accessible to citizens.
- Build Public Trust: Demonstrate a commitment to protecting citizens’ data and maintaining secure digital services.
- Meet Compliance Requirements: Adhere to relevant cybersecurity regulations and standards.
Who Can Bid?
The announcement is for a “general competitive bidding” (一般競争入札). This means that any qualified company or organization that meets the Digital Agency’s requirements can submit a bid. This typically includes demonstrating:
- Technical Expertise: Proven experience in vulnerability assessments and penetration testing.
- Industry Certifications: Relevant certifications in cybersecurity.
- Financial Stability: The ability to handle a contract of this nature.
- Understanding of Japanese Regulations: Knowledge of relevant cybersecurity laws and regulations in Japan.
Key Takeaways:
- Agency: Digital Agency of Japan (デジタル庁)
- Type of Tender: General Competitive Bidding (一般競争入札)
- Subject: Vulnerability Assessments and Penetration Testing
- Fiscal Year: 2025 (令和7年度)
- Announcement Date: April 28, 2024 (2024-04-28)
- Time of Announcement: 6:00 AM (Japan Standard Time)
How to Find More Information (and Potentially Bid):
The original announcement is on the Digital Agency’s procurement page: https://www.digital.go.jp/procurement
The actual bidding documents and detailed requirements will be available on the website. Potential bidders should carefully review these documents to understand the scope of work, eligibility criteria, and submission deadlines.
Who Benefits?
- The Digital Agency: Secures its systems and data.
- Japanese Citizens: Benefit from more secure and reliable digital services.
- Cybersecurity Companies: Have the opportunity to bid on a significant contract.
- The Cybersecurity Ecosystem: This investment reinforces the importance of cybersecurity and promotes best practices.
In Conclusion:
The Digital Agency’s tender for vulnerability assessments and penetration testing is a significant investment in cybersecurity that will benefit the agency, Japanese citizens, and the broader cybersecurity ecosystem. It reflects a proactive approach to safeguarding digital infrastructure and ensuring the security of online services. Qualified cybersecurity companies are encouraged to review the bidding documents and consider submitting a proposal.
一般競争入札：令和7年度 脆弱性診断・ペネトレーションテスト一式を掲載しました
The AI has delivered the news.
The following question was used to generate the response from Google Gemini:
At 2025-04-28 06:00, ‘一般競争入札：令和7年度 脆弱性診断・ペネトレーションテスト一式を掲載しました’ was published according to デジタル庁. Please write a detailed article with related information in an easy-to-understand manner. Please answer in English.
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