Acom Adopts Netskope to Move Beyond Perimeter Security and Safeguard Customer Data

Masatoshi Shimbo, Deputy General Manager of the Infrastructure Team in Acom’s Systems Operation Department, explains “Before COVID-19, PCs were restricted to in-office use and could not be taken offsite. To enable remote work during the pandemic, we rapidly implemented a VPN-based solution. But as VPN vulnerabilities became a target of cyberattacks, we replaced it—yet continued to rely on traditional firewall-based perimeter defense. Looking beyond the pandemic, we began exploring Zero Trust in 2021 to build a security framework suitable for the hybrid work era.”

“Being able to consolidate existing security features into a single platform was a major advantage,” says Shimbo. “Other vendors required additional tools to fill functionality gaps. Netskope, on the other hand, offered centralized visibility and management of internet traffic. It also included new capabilities like Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) for monitoring and controlling cloud service usage, and Data Loss Prevention (DLP) to identify, monitor, and protect sensitive data—features we had not previously deployed. The unified console made configuration easy, and the ability to realize SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) in a single product was highly valued.”

In November 2022, Acom chose Netskope not only for its capabilities but also for its cost advantages over renewing existing solutions. “Our leadership also showed strong interest in Zero Trust,” adds Shimbo.

Masahiko Okugawa, Senior Chief in the Infrastructure Team, shares, “Our previous third-party remote browser had a slow launch time and rendering issues, which users complained about. Now, those complaints have completely disappeared. We also use Cloud Firewall to allow access to rich content only for authorized users.”

Operationally, routing internet traffic through Netskope helped avoid bottlenecks caused by centralized traffic, resulting in improved response times without compromising safety. “By using the Internet via Netskope, we have been able to improve response times as well as ensure safety. In addition, by consolidating our existing security products, we have been able to reduce operational and maintenance labor and eliminate the need for capacity management, thereby improving the efficiency of operational management and reducing total costs,” says Nishikawa.

Looking ahead, Shimbo shares the next steps, “We’ve successfully moved beyond perimeter-based security. Our next goal is microsegmentation—dividing the network into smaller segments to boost security. We also want to use Netskope to enable granular user-level controls. With a secure foundation in place, we aim to leverage the latest technologies like AI in a timely manner to enhance competitiveness and customer satisfaction.”

Backed by Zero Trust, Acom’s dual approach of defense and innovation will continue to strengthen its “circle of trust.”