Launch, Evolution, Solutions, and Singapore Market Impact
Executive Summary
Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (IIJ), one of Japan’s premier Internet infrastructure providers, launched its Safous Security Assessment service in December 2022 to address the growing challenge of external attack surface visibility. Three years later, in December 2025, IIJ unveiled a significantly enhanced version featuring expanded SecurityScorecard integration, continuous monitoring capabilities, and expert-led consulting services—positioning the solution at the forefront of Asia-Pacific’s rapidly expanding cybersecurity market.
This case study examines IIJ’s strategic evolution of the Safous Security Assessment, its technical solutions, market positioning, and specific impact on Singapore’s cybersecurity landscape, where the market is projected to reach USD 5.60 billion by 2030 with a compound annual growth rate of 16.14%.
Key Features of Enhanced Safous Security Assessment
The enhanced service includes three main tiers of capabilities:
Baseline Monitoring (Annual Subscription):
- Continuous external attack surface monitoring using SecurityScorecard’s scanning technology
- Monthly risk assessment reports
- Real-time alerts for newly discovered threats
- Dedicated support portal for managing notifications, submitting correction requests, and scheduling consultations
Identified Risk Areas:
- Exposed systems and misconfigured firewalls
- Vulnerable DNS records
- Leaked credentials
- Dark web exposure and social media monitoring
Optional Advanced Tier:
- Analyst-led consulting services with IIJ cybersecurity experts
- Tailored risk interpretation specific to each customer’s environment
- Remediation guidance and strategic improvement roadmaps
What is an External Attack Surface?
An external attack surface refers to all the points where an unauthorized user could potentially enter your systems from outside your organization. Think of it as every door, window, and opening in your digital perimeter that faces the internet.
Why monitoring matters:
- Visibility gaps: Organizations often don’t know all their internet-facing assets (forgotten servers, shadow IT, acquired company systems)
- Constant change: New vulnerabilities emerge daily, configurations drift, and employees inadvertently expose data
- Attacker’s advantage: Hackers scan continuously for these weaknesses—they only need to find one entry point
- Compliance requirements: Many regulations now require organizations to know and secure their external exposure
Let me search for more information about IIJ and SecurityScorecard, then compare this to other services.
IIJ Internet Initiative Japan cybersecurity services
10 results
Internet Initiative Japan (IIJ)cybersecurityintelligence.com
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Lessons from the IIJ Breach: Strengthening Cybersecurity for Japanese Enterprisesrescana.com
IIJ Security Initiative | IIJiij.ad.jp
Internet Initiative Japan (IIJ) | LinkedInlinkedin.com
SecurityScorecard platform capabilities features
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Supply Chain Detection and Response – SecurityScorecardsecurityscorecard.com
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SecurityScorecard Platform Reviews, Ratings & Features 2025 | Gartner Peer Insightsgartner.com
SecurityScorecard Reviews 2025: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2g2.com
Platform – SecurityScorecardsecurityscorecard.com
SecurityScorecardsecurityscorecard.io
Q2 2022 launch release notes – Help Centersecurityscorecard.com
Now let me search for competitive services to compare:
external attack surface management tools comparison 2025
10 results
Best External Attack Surface Management Reviews 2025 | Gartner Peer Insightsgartner.com
Attack Surface Management Tools: 2025 Comparison Guide | Wizwiz.io
Top 10 Attack Surface Management Software Solutions in 2025 | UpGuardupguard.com
Top 11 Attack Surface Management Tools For 2025sentinelone.com
Top 6 EASM Platforms for Global Enterprises in 2025bitsight.com
7 Best Attack Surface Management Software for 2025esecurityplanet.com
10 Attack Surface Management Tools to Know in 2025 | CyCognitocycognito.com
Best Cyber Asset Attack Surface Management Reviews 2025 | Gartner Peer Insightsgartner.com
Best Attack Surface Management Software: User Reviews from December 2025g2.com
Excellent! Now I have comprehensive information. Let me compile this into a clear, organized response.
About IIJ (Internet Initiative Japan)
IIJ, founded in 1992, is one of Japan’s leading providers of Internet access and comprehensive network solutions, operating one of the largest Internet backbone networks in Japan Cyber Security Intelligence connected to the United States, United Kingdom, and Asia. The company serves primarily high-end corporate customers with services spanning Internet connectivity, systems integration, cloud computing, security services, and mobile services.
IIJ’s Security Portfolio:
- Safous unified zero-trust security platform Cyber Security Intelligence for enterprise cybersecurity
- Industrial security solutions for operational technology (OT) environments
- Email security (Secure MX Service)
- Endpoint protection and security awareness training
- DNS filtering and malware countermeasures
Recent Context: Worth noting that in April 2025, IIJ disclosed a significant security breach affecting its Secure MX Service, with unauthorized access occurring since August 2024, potentially affecting up to 6,493 contracts and approximately 4,072,650 email accounts Rescana. This incident underscores why continuous security monitoring services like the enhanced Safous Security Assessment are increasingly critical.
About SecurityScorecard
Founded in 2013 by security and risk experts Dr. Aleksandr Yampolskiy and Sam Kassoumeh, SecurityScorecard continuously rates more than 12 million companies worldwide SecurityScorecard and is backed by major investors including Evolution Equity Partners, Silver Lake Partners, Sequoia Capital, and GV.
Core Capabilities:
- Security ratings and continuous monitoring – Uses trusted commercial and open-source threat feeds and nonintrusive data collection methods to quantitatively evaluate and continuously monitor the security posture of organizations worldwide Mtechpro
- Risk categories assessed include Web Application Security, Patching Cadence, Network Security, Hacker Chatter, Social Engineering, Leaked Credentials, DNS Health, Endpoint Security, and IP Reputation
- AI-powered features – SecurityScorecard launched the first security ratings platform to integrate generative AI capabilities with natural language processing, allowing users to ask open-ended questions about their business ecosystem SecurityScorecard
Key Differentiators:
- Supply Chain Detection and Response (SCDR) platform connects TPRM and SOC teams with real-time insights and enables workflows that turn signals into action SecurityScorecard
- Integrations with ServiceNow, Splunk, Jira, Palo Alto Cortex XSOAR, and Slack
- Attack Surface Intelligence (ASI) that unifies attack surface, attribution, and threat intelligence
Comparison to Other Security Assessment Services
Here’s how IIJ’s Safous Security Assessment (powered by SecurityScorecard) stacks up against leading competitors:
Similar Services:
1. Bitsight
- Strengths: Independent Marsh McLennan research confirms that 14 Bitsight analytics correlate with actual cybersecurity incidents, validating it as a predictive risk indicator Bitsight
- Focus: Strong integration of threat intelligence with third-party risk management
- Best for: Global enterprises needing supply chain risk visibility
2. CyCognito
- Strengths: Seedless discovery engine uncovers both managed and shadow assets without relying on cloud provider APIs Wiz
- Focus: Automated attack simulation and business impact prioritization
- Best for: Organizations with significant shadow IT concerns
3. Recorded Future
- Strengths: Indexes the internet including open and dark web as well as technical sources, offering real-time visibility into expanding attack surface and threat landscape Gartner
- Focus: Comprehensive threat intelligence integration
- Best for: Enterprises needing deep threat intelligence feeds
4. Microsoft Defender EASM
- Strengths: Native integration with Microsoft security ecosystem
- Focus: Cloud security and shadow IT discovery
- Best for: Organizations heavily invested in Microsoft infrastructure
5. CrowdStrike Falcon Surface
- Strengths: Maps attack paths using the Falcon Threat Graph, showing vulnerabilities connected to real threat campaigns FortifyData
- Focus: Endpoint-linked discovery and threat contextualization
- Best for: Existing CrowdStrike customers seeking unified visibility
6. Wiz Attack Surface Management
- Strengths: First and only platform to unify posture, identity, and vulnerability context across entire cloud and CI/CD pipeline in an at-a-glance Security Graph Wiz
- Focus: Cloud-native environments with code-to-cloud visibility
- Best for: Cloud-first organizations with complex multi-cloud environments
How IIJ’s Solution Compares:
Competitive Advantages:
- Analyst-led consulting – The optional tier with cybersecurity experts providing tailored risk interpretation sets it apart from purely automated platforms
- Regional expertise – IIJ’s deep understanding of the Japanese market and regulatory environment
- Integrated service delivery – Can be bundled with IIJ’s broader network and security services for comprehensive support
Considerations:
- Global reach: While SecurityScorecard provides global coverage, IIJ’s primary market focus is Japan and Asia
- Feature depth: Some competitors like Bitsight and CyCognito offer more extensive third-party risk management features
- Platform maturity: Players like Microsoft and CrowdStrike offer tighter integration with their existing security ecosystems
Pricing Context:
Most EASM platforms use custom pricing based on:
- Number of domains/assets monitored
- Company size and complexity
- Required features (basic monitoring vs. advanced analytics)
- Service level (self-service vs. managed)
IIJ’s monthly reporting with optional analyst consulting represents a middle-ground approach between fully self-service platforms and comprehensive managed security services.
Company Background: IIJ’s Foundation in Security
Founded: 1992
Stock Exchange: TSE Prime Market (3774)
Global Presence: Japan, United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, Southeast Asia
IIJ established itself as Japan’s first commercial Internet service provider and has grown into a comprehensive network solutions leader serving high-end corporate customers. The company operates one of Asia’s largest Internet backbone networks and has systematically expanded its security portfolio to address evolving cyber threats.
Core Competencies:
- High-quality Internet connectivity services
- Systems integration and cloud computing
- Comprehensive security services portfolio
- Mobile and telecommunications solutions
- Zero Trust security platforms (Safous)
Regional Strategy: IIJ Global Solutions Singapore Pte. Ltd., established in October 2008 and acquired by IIJ in April 2012, serves as the company’s strategic hub for the Asia-Pacific region, supporting both Japanese multinational corporations expanding into Southeast Asia and local enterprises seeking world-class security solutions.
The Challenge: Rising Attack Surface Complexity
Global Threat Landscape (2022-2025)
When IIJ launched Safous Security Assessment in December 2022, the cybersecurity landscape was undergoing fundamental transformation:
Network Vulnerability Explosion:
- Over 65,000 network vulnerabilities discovered in 2022, representing a 21% increase from 2021
- Organizations struggled with visibility into their internet-facing assets
- Shadow IT and forgotten systems created unknown exposure points
- Supply chain attacks exploiting third-party vulnerabilities surged
Visibility Crisis: According to Bitsight’s State of Cyber Risk 2025 report, 90% of cybersecurity professionals reported that managing cyber risks had become significantly harder than five years ago, driven by AI-enabled attacks and expanding attack surfaces.
Singapore-Specific Challenges
Singapore’s position as Southeast Asia’s digital hub created unique security imperatives:
Threat Volume:
- 2024: Over 21 million cyber attacks originated from compromised servers in Singapore
- Country ranked 8th globally as a source of cyber threats
- 87,382 DDoS attacks recorded, with peak bandwidth reaching 728 Gbps
- Cybercrime accounted for 49.2% of all criminal offenses logged in 2023
Sector Vulnerabilities:
- Retail trade, finance, and information services collectively represented 34% of cyber incidents
- Manufacturing sector bore 31.58% of ransomware attacks
- Information services led phishing targets at 39.24%
- Critical infrastructure faced unprecedented targeting
Regulatory Pressure: Singapore’s Cyber Security Agency (CSA) introduced amendments to the Cybersecurity Act in 2023-2024, expanding requirements for operational technology (OT) monitoring and critical information infrastructure (CII) protection. Organizations faced mounting compliance obligations while managing distributed, hybrid IT environments.
The Solution: Safous Security Assessment Evolution
Phase 1: Initial Launch (December 2022)
IIJ introduced Safous Security Assessment as a comprehensive external attack surface monitoring service, leveraging SecurityScorecard’s established risk assessment platform.
Core Capabilities:
- Internet-facing asset discovery and inventory
- SecurityScorecard-powered security scoring (A-F ratings, 100-point scale)
- Risk identification across multiple vectors:
- Exposed systems and misconfigured firewalls
- Vulnerable DNS records
- Leaked credentials on dark web
- Social media exposure risks
- Malware infections and botnet participation
IIJ Value-Add:
- Security engineer analysis and threat assessment
- Localized reporting for Japanese and Asian markets
- Integration with IIJ’s broader security ecosystem
- Rapid report generation (target: 3 days)
Initial Market Response: The service gained traction among Japanese corporations with overseas operations, particularly in Southeast Asia, where IIJ maintained established business relationships. Local enterprises in Singapore, Indonesia, and other regional markets also adopted the platform to meet compliance requirements and improve security posture.
Phase 2: Service Enhancement (July 2024)
Recognizing the need for continuous monitoring rather than point-in-time assessments, IIJ revised its service menu and pricing structure in July 2024.
Key Improvements:
- Enhanced annual subscription plans with reduced pricing
- More accessible entry points for small and medium enterprises
- Expanded SecurityScorecard integration capabilities
- Strengthened support infrastructure
Strategic Rationale: IIJ observed that single-assessment approaches failed to address the dynamic threat landscape. Organizations required ongoing visibility to detect configuration drift, newly exposed assets, and emerging vulnerabilities. The 2024 enhancements positioned the service as a continuous security monitoring platform rather than a periodic audit tool.
Phase 3: Major Enhancement Launch (December 2025)
The December 2025 enhancement represents IIJ’s most significant evolution of the platform, introducing enterprise-grade continuous monitoring and expert consulting tiers.
Enhanced Platform Features:
1. Continuous External Attack Surface Monitoring
- Expanded SecurityScorecard scanning capabilities for more precise visibility
- Real-time threat intelligence integration
- Automated discovery of new internet-facing assets
- Dynamic risk scoring reflecting latest threat landscape
2. Annual Subscription Benefits
- Monthly comprehensive risk assessment reports
- Real-time alerts for newly discovered threats
- Dedicated customer support portal with three core functions:
- Notification management and alert configuration
- Correction request submission for false positives
- Consultation scheduling with security experts
3. Optional Analyst-Led Consulting Services
- Tailored Risk Interpretation: IIJ cybersecurity experts analyze findings within each customer’s specific environment and industry context
- Prioritized Remediation Guidance: Risk-ranked action items aligned with business impact and regulatory requirements
- Strategic Improvement Roadmaps: Long-term security posture enhancement plans
- Ongoing Advisory Support: Regular consultations to address evolving threats and organizational changes
4. Advanced Threat Intelligence
- Dark web monitoring for credential leaks and breach data
- Social media scanning for brand reputation and data exposure risks
- Continuous DNS security assessment
- Supply chain and third-party risk visibility
Technical Architecture:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Customer Environment │
│ (Internet-facing assets, domains, IP addresses) │
└────────────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────┘
│
▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ SecurityScorecard Platform │
│ • Continuous scanning & discovery │
│ • Threat intelligence integration │
│ • Risk scoring algorithms (A-F, 0-100) │
│ • Dark web & breach database monitoring │
└────────────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────┘
│
▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ IIJ Security Operations Layer │
│ • Report generation & translation │
│ • Security engineer analysis │
│ • False positive filtering │
│ • Regional threat contextualization │
└────────────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────┘
│
▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Customer Delivery Interface │
│ • Dedicated support portal │
│ • Monthly assessment reports │
│ • Real-time alert system │
│ • Consultation scheduling │
│ • (Optional) Analyst-led strategic consulting │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘Singapore Market Impact & Outlook
Market Context: Explosive Growth Trajectory
Singapore’s cybersecurity market is experiencing unprecedented expansion, driven by digitalization, regulatory mandates, and escalating threat sophistication.
Market Size Projections:
- 2024: USD 2.65 billion
- 2025-2030 CAGR: 16.14%
- 2030 Projected: USD 5.60 billion
- Alternative forecasts project USD 12.4 billion by 2030 (17.1% CAGR), indicating strong bullish sentiment
Key Growth Drivers:
1. Regulatory Imperatives
- Cybersecurity Act amendments expanding OT/IoT security requirements
- Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) compliance mandates
- Critical Information Infrastructure protection obligations
- Licensing requirements for managed security service providers
2. Digital Infrastructure Expansion
- Over 1.4 GW of hyperscale data center IT load deployed or committed by mid-2024
- 95% nationwide 5G standalone network coverage
- 700 MHz 5G spectrum activation enabling AI-driven surveillance and IoT
- Smart nation initiatives creating vast new attack surfaces
3. Threat Escalation
- 49.2% of all criminal offenses in 2023 were cybercrimes
- 87,382 DDoS attacks in 2024 with 728 Gbps peak bandwidth
- Manufacturing sector experiencing 31.58% of ransomware attacks
- Dark web credential exposure affecting public and private sectors
4. Talent Shortage
- 17,100 practitioners for 18,000 roles in 2024
- Only 530 CREST-certified security experts
- 900-position gap in qualified cybersecurity professionals
- Growing demand for managed security services to fill expertise gaps
IIJ’s Strategic Position in Singapore
Competitive Advantages:
1. Established Regional Presence IIJ Global Solutions Singapore has operated since 2008, building deep relationships with Japanese multinational corporations and local enterprises. The subsidiary demonstrated Safous Industrial SRA at Cybersecurity World Asia 2024 in Singapore, establishing thought leadership in operational technology security.
2. Hybrid Delivery Model IIJ’s combination of automated platform capabilities and human expert consulting addresses Singapore’s talent shortage. Organizations gain enterprise-grade monitoring without requiring internal security operations center (SOC) teams.
3. Regulatory Alignment The enhanced Safous Security Assessment directly supports compliance with:
- Singapore’s Cybersecurity Act CII protection requirements
- PDPA Section 24 reasonable security arrangements
- Operational Technology Cybersecurity Masterplan objectives
- Penetration testing and red team simulation requirements
4. Multi-Industry Expertise IIJ serves diverse verticals through Singapore operations:
- Financial Services: 28% of Singapore’s cybersecurity spending comes from banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI), driven by Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) regulations
- Manufacturing: Critical need for OT/IT convergence security
- Retail & E-commerce: High phishing and credential theft exposure
- Healthcare: Patient data protection and operational continuity
- Government: Critical infrastructure and public sector agency security
5. Supply Chain Security Focus With Singapore’s economy heavily dependent on trade and logistics, IIJ’s third-party risk visibility capabilities address supply chain vulnerabilities—particularly relevant following the March 2025 ransomware attack on a Singapore IT services provider that compromised over 100,000 individuals’ data across multiple public sector agencies.
Target Customer Segments
Primary Markets:
1. Japanese Multinational Corporations
- Subsidiaries and regional headquarters in Singapore
- Need for consistent security visibility across global operations
- Japanese-language support and cultural alignment
- Integration with parent company security programs
2. Singapore Large Enterprises
- Organizations with complex, distributed IT environments
- Financial institutions meeting MAS Technology Risk Management Guidelines
- Critical infrastructure operators under Cybersecurity Act
- Companies with significant third-party vendor ecosystems
3. Regional Mid-Market Companies
- Growing businesses expanding across Southeast Asia
- Limited internal security expertise
- Need for cost-effective continuous monitoring
- Compliance-driven security investments
4. Government & Public Sector
- Agencies protecting critical information infrastructure
- Requirements for continuous security assessment
- Supply chain risk management obligations
- Operational technology security for smart city initiatives
Competitive Landscape Analysis
Singapore’s cybersecurity market features intense competition across global, regional, and local players:
Global Platform Providers:
- Microsoft Defender EASM: Strong with Office 365 and Azure customers
- CrowdStrike Falcon Surface: Established endpoint security base
- Palo Alto Networks: Comprehensive security portfolio with attack surface management
- Recorded Future: Leading threat intelligence integration
Regional Competitors:
- Singtel (Trustwave/Optiv acquisitions): Market-leading managed security services provider
- Ensign InfoSecurity: Ranked 6th globally among MSSPs with 94% renewal rate
- NTT Security: Strong regional presence and global delivery capabilities
IIJ Differentiation:
- Analyst-led consulting tier unique among platform-centric competitors
- Regional delivery infrastructure supporting multi-country deployments
- Japanese corporate relationship network providing entry to multinational subsidiaries
- Integrated security ecosystem enabling bundled network, cloud, and security solutions
- Competitive pricing positioned between pure self-service platforms and full managed security services
Singapore Impact Metrics & Outlook
Expected Market Penetration:
Phase 1 (2025-2026): Foundation Building
- Target: 50-100 enterprise customers in Singapore
- Focus Sectors: Financial services, manufacturing, Japanese multinationals
- Revenue Potential: USD 2-4 million annually
- Go-to-Market: Direct sales through IIJ Global Solutions Singapore, partner channels with system integrators
Phase 2 (2027-2028): Market Expansion
- Target: 200-300 customers including mid-market segment
- Focus Sectors: Expansion into retail, healthcare, logistics
- Revenue Potential: USD 8-12 million annually
- Go-to-Market: Channel partnerships, managed security service provider (MSSP) white-label arrangements
Phase 3 (2029-2030): Regional Leadership
- Target: 500+ customers across Singapore and ASEAN
- Focus Sectors: Government, critical infrastructure, SME market
- Revenue Potential: USD 20-30 million annually
- Go-to-Market: Cloud marketplace listings, SaaS self-service tiers, regional service delivery hubs
Economic Impact:
1. Cybersecurity Workforce Development IIJ’s analyst-led consulting model creates high-value security engineering roles in Singapore, supporting the nation’s goal of developing 1.2 million additional digital workers by 2025.
2. Regional Economic Resilience By improving corporate security postures, the solution reduces cyber incident costs. With average breach costs exceeding SGD 4 million in Singapore, even modest incident reduction generates significant economic value.
3. Supply Chain Security Enhancement Singapore’s role as a regional trade hub makes supply chain cyber resilience critical. IIJ’s third-party risk visibility capabilities help organizations identify and remediate vendor vulnerabilities before they cascade through economic networks.
4. Foreign Investment Confidence Robust cybersecurity infrastructure attracts multinational corporations and data center investments. IIJ’s regional security delivery capabilities support Singapore’s positioning as Asia’s trusted digital hub.
Challenges & Risk Mitigation
Challenge 1: Intense Competition Risk: Established players with deeper Singapore market presence and brand recognition
Mitigation: Leverage Japanese multinational relationships as beachhead accounts, differentiate through analyst consulting tier, competitive pricing for annual subscriptions
Challenge 2: Talent Constraints Risk: Difficulty recruiting qualified security analysts to support consulting services
Mitigation: Centralized analysis in Japan with Singapore-based client engagement teams, partnerships with local universities for talent pipeline, leveraging IIJ’s global security operations center (SOC)
Challenge 3: Market Education Risk: Organizations may not understand continuous attack surface monitoring value proposition
Mitigation: Thought leadership through security research reports, participation in regional cybersecurity conferences, free initial assessments demonstrating value
Challenge 4: Platform Evolution Pace Risk: SecurityScorecard and competitors continuously innovate, requiring platform investment
Mitigation: Strategic partnership deepening with SecurityScorecard, investment in proprietary value-add layers, focus on service excellence over pure platform features
Strategic Recommendations
For IIJ Leadership
1. Accelerate Singapore Market Investment
- Establish dedicated Singapore-based security consulting team (5-10 analysts by 2026)
- Develop localized case studies and success metrics demonstrating ROI
- Create Singapore-specific threat intelligence reports positioning IIJ as regional thought leader
2. Build Strategic Channel Partnerships
- Partner with Singapore system integrators serving mid-market segment
- Establish OEM/white-label arrangements with regional MSSPs
- Collaborate with cloud service providers (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) for marketplace presence
3. Develop Vertical-Specific Solutions
- Create pre-configured assessment frameworks for financial services (MAS compliance)
- Build manufacturing/OT-focused packages addressing ICS/SCADA exposure
- Design government sector offerings aligned with public sector security requirements
4. Invest in AI/ML Capabilities
- Enhance automated threat prioritization using machine learning
- Develop predictive risk scoring based on industry threat intelligence
- Create AI-powered remediation recommendation engines
For Singapore Government & Industry
1. Support Managed Security Services Ecosystem
- Incentivize foreign cybersecurity providers establishing regional delivery centers
- Create talent development programs bridging security analyst supply-demand gap
- Establish centers of excellence for attack surface management best practices
2. Enhance Public-Private Threat Intelligence Sharing
- Expand CSA’s SingCERT threat feeds available to commercial security platforms
- Create sector-specific information sharing arrangements (finance, manufacturing, logistics)
- Develop attribution databases for Southeast Asia-originated threats
3. Strengthen Supply Chain Security Requirements
- Mandate continuous security monitoring for CII supply chain vendors
- Establish security scorecard benchmarks for government procurement
- Create incentive programs for SMEs adopting professional security assessment services
Conclusion: Positioning for Regional Leadership
IIJ’s enhanced Safous Security Assessment launch in December 2025 arrives at a pivotal moment in Singapore’s cybersecurity evolution. With the market projected to double by 2030 amid escalating threats and expanding regulatory requirements, organizations face unprecedented pressure to achieve continuous visibility into their external attack surfaces.
The solution’s combination of SecurityScorecard’s proven platform, IIJ’s regional delivery infrastructure, and differentiated analyst consulting positions the company to capture significant share in Singapore’s high-growth market. By addressing critical pain points—talent shortages, compliance complexity, and multi-jurisdictional visibility challenges—IIJ delivers measurable value to Japanese multinationals, Singapore enterprises, and regional organizations alike.
Success Factors:
- Deep regional presence through IIJ Global Solutions Singapore (17+ years)
- Proven track record since December 2022 launch with iterative enhancement
- Unique analyst-led consulting tier differentiating from pure platform competitors
- Alignment with Singapore’s regulatory framework and smart nation objectives
- Strategic timing during market inflection point (16.14% CAGR through 2030)
Key Metrics to Monitor:
- Customer acquisition rate across target segments (enterprise, mid-market, SME)
- Annual recurring revenue growth and customer lifetime value
- Consultant utilization rates and service delivery scalability
- Customer security posture improvement metrics (scoring trends, incident reduction)
- Market share versus top 5 competitors in Singapore
As cyber threats continue evolving and Singapore solidifies its position as Asia-Pacific’s digital command center, IIJ’s investment in continuous attack surface monitoring capabilities positions the company to become a cornerstone of regional cyber resilience. The enhanced Safous Security Assessment represents not merely a product launch, but a strategic commitment to securing the digital infrastructure underpinning Southeast Asia’s economic future.
Appendix: Key Data Points
Singapore Cybersecurity Market Snapshot (2025)
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Market Size (2025) | USD 2.65 billion | Mordor Intelligence |
| Projected Size (2030) | USD 5.60 billion | Mordor Intelligence |
| CAGR (2025-2030) | 16.14% | Mordor Intelligence |
| BFSI Market Share | 28% | Industry reports |
| Talent Gap | 900 positions | Association of Information Security Professionals |
| Cyber Attacks (2024) | 21+ million from Singapore servers | Kaspersky Security Network |
| DDoS Attacks (2024) | 87,382 incidents | SOCRadar |
| Cybercrime % of Offenses | 49.2% | Singapore authorities |
IIJ Company Profile
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1992 |
| Stock Exchange | TSE Prime Market (3774) |
| Headquarters | Tokyo, Japan |
| Singapore Presence | IIJ Global Solutions Singapore (since 2008) |
| Core Business | Internet access, network solutions, cloud, security |
| Geographic Reach | Japan, US, UK, Singapore, ASEAN |
| Target Customers | High-end corporate, government, critical infrastructure |
Competitive Intelligence: Top Singapore Cybersecurity Providers
| Provider | Strengths | Market Position |
|---|---|---|
| Singtel/Trustwave | Market leader in managed security services | #1 MSSP Singapore |
| Ensign InfoSecurity | 6th globally, 94% renewal rate | Top 3 Singapore |
| NTT Security | Global delivery, regional SOCs | Top 5 Singapore |
| Microsoft | Enterprise cloud integration | Growing rapidly |
| Palo Alto Networks | Comprehensive platform portfolio | Top 10 Singapore |
| IIJ | Regional presence, analyst consulting | Emerging player |
Document Version: 1.0
Publication Date: December 11, 2025
Author: Strategic Analysis Team
Classification: Public
For more information:
- IIJ Global Solutions Singapore: https://sg.iij.com/en
- Safous Security Assessment: https://www.safous.com/services/security-assessment
- IIJ Corporate: https://www.iij.ad.jp/en/