What is the SCS evaluation framework ★3 specialist verification?

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) promotes the Supply Chain Security (SCS) Evaluation Framework. The ★3 tier requires an SCS Security Expert (SCSセキュリティ専門家) — the framework's official designation for the verifying professional — to review and sign off on 81 self-assessment criteria (the expert may be from inside or outside the company). The framework is scheduled to launch by the end of fiscal year 2026 (around March 2027).

Can I consult about SCS ★3 preparation before the framework officially launches?

Yes. We accept pre-launch consultations now and can assist with gap analysis and evidence preparation. Note that the framework has not launched: registration of SCS Security Experts is scheduled to begin around January 2027, so the verification and sign-off itself will follow the launch. Preparing early is an advantage — please contact us through our inquiry form.

Fractional CISO & CISSP Security Advisory in Tokyo | SCS Cybersecurity Rating

CISSP AdvisorySecurity Advisory

We provide information security advisory and consulting services by an ISC2-certified CISSP professional. We do not accept fixed-price contract (請負) work. We are available under quasi-delegation contracts (準委任), advisory retainers, or spot consulting engagements.

CISSP requires a minimum of five years of verified, hands-on security experience. The exam — an adaptive test of up to 150 questions delivered in English — is designed to assess judgment and decision-making, not memorization. After certification, holders must complete 120+ CPE credits every three years and uphold the ISC2 Code of Ethics. This combination of experience requirements, continuous education, and ethical accountability is what makes a CISSP a credible and trustworthy basis for independent third-party verification.

I've written about what actually changed after earning CISSP — from both an engineer's and a business owner's perspective — on Qiita (Japanese).

Fractional CISO Services

A Fractional CISO gives your organization access to senior security leadership on a retainer or spot-consulting basis — without the overhead of a full-time hire. Ideal for SMEs, startups, and foreign-owned companies in Japan that need strategic security direction but don't require a dedicated full-time CISO.

Security strategy and roadmap development
Executive-level risk reporting and security policy definition
Incident response decision support and stakeholder communication
Vendor and third-party security risk assessment

Cybersecurity Rating (SCS ★3) / Verification by an SCS Security Expert

We support companies preparing for ★3 under Japan's Supply Chain Security (SCS) Evaluation Framework, promoted by METI. The ★3 tier is a self-assessment verified by an SCS Security Expert (SCSセキュリティ専門家 — the framework's official designation), who reviews and signs off on 81 self-assessment criteria. The expert may be from inside or outside the company.

According to IPA's guidance, to register as an SCS Security Expert, a professional must hold one of the accepted credentials — CISSP, Registered Information Security Specialist (登録セキスペ), CISM, CISA, Certified Information Security Auditor, or ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor — and complete the training designated by the framework, including a final examination. The formal requirements are to be set out separately by the framework and have not yet been published. We hold the CISSP and intend to take the designated training and register in line with the framework's schedule once the requirements are published. The framework has not launched yet, so verification and sign-off will be available only after launch — but preparation and gap analysis can begin now.

Gap analysis and advisory for SCS ★3 certification
Review and guidance on the 81-criterion self-assessment checklist
Designing operations that leave evidence — annual reviews, access-right audits, asset inventories
Verification and sign-off as an SCS Security Expert (after registration, once the framework launches)
Continuous improvement support after certification

Published schedule (based on IPA materials, as of September 2026): December 2026 — training providers and evaluation bodies announced; January–March 2027 — designated training offered (start dates vary by provider); around January 2027 — SCS Security Experts published; around March 2027 — ★3 and ★4 operations and applications open. Dates are subject to change by the framework operator.

Field-Based Expertise That Big Firms Can't Match

Large consulting firms tend to rely on document-based assessments because they have never worked in actual development environments. We bring hands-on perspective from both well-run projects and projects with serious security gaps — which means we know what real risks look like on the ground.

IoT & OT Security: Firmware development on ESP32 and PIC microcontrollers, PCB circuit design through Gerber data and board assembly. We understand hardware-layer risks that cloud-only consultants never see.
Real-World Risk Patterns: Hardcoded SSH keys, credentials committed to repositories, and other field-common vulnerabilities are familiar territory. We provide substantive verification — not rubber-stamping — that prevents self-assessments from becoming mere formalities.
Cloud to Edge: Combining AWS cloud architecture with embedded and hardware development, we can assess risk across the full supply chain — from the data center to the device.

Security Advisory Services

Security assessment and configuration audit for cloud (AWS) environments
Network and access design support based on Zero Trust model
Incident Response Plan (IRP) and risk management support
VPN and IoT system security design and communication defense advisory
Cloud security framework establishment, training, and continuous improvement support

Contract Terms & Fees

Contract Type: Advisory retainer or spot consulting
Fees: From JPY 100,000 per month (excl. tax; approx. 8 hours/month, additional hours billed separately). Spot consulting also available.
For inquiries and quotations, please contact us through this form.