Digital Arts to enter into the communications business in June
— Provide secure and convenient communication by utilizing knowledge of the security field —

Information security solutions provider Digital Arts Inc. (headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan; CEO: Toshio Dogu; hereinafter referred to as “Digital Arts”; Code 2326) is pleased to announce that on June 21, we will make a full-scale entry into the business of communications. We will be expanding the lineup of our chat and online conference system Desk. Co-developing alongside a new webinar system, Desk Event, the Desk series will provide secure and convenient communication for the workplace and classrooms.

Expanding use of communication tools and emerging security risks
The use of online communication tools has rapidly increased due to changes in work styles and measures against the spread of COVID-19. Online communication looks to be a promising business for the future as it takes root in diversifying work styles, improving work efficiency, and hybrid learning environments and is also expected to play a role in virtual spaces (metaverse). While it is increasingly convenient to be able to easily communicate from anywhere, new security risks face online communication, such as information leaks due to chats being missent or communications with uninvited users.


Full-scale entry into the business of communications, leveraging knowledge and results in the security business
Digital Arts has provided a secure ICT networks to more than 11 million customers*1 by providing whitelistng, a system in which only secure websites and email can be accessed and received through a proprietary database. Leveraging this knowledge, expertise, and results, we will make a full-scale entry into the business of communications, which faces an increasing number of security risks, on June 21.

The chat and online meeting system Desk has been used in-house since October 2019 and has been offered to other companies as a test implementation. In the Desk series, we will offer communication to our customers that enables secure and smooth remote work in a variety of forms. We will further accelerate our commitment to our company philosophy "Contributing to a safer, better, more convenient internet lifestyle" through collaboration between our popular security business and new communication businesses.


About the Desk series
The Desk series create a space only for communication within companies and organization or with invited users. The basic concept of the product is the "comfort and convenience" of being able to communicate anywhere there is an Internet connection. However, the product specifically offers communication within a closed network within organizations, eliminating the risk of information leaks due to communication with outside users who have not been invited to chats. It also features a simple UI that is easy to use even for users who are not that tech-savvy as well as being a one-stop shop for planning, development, sales, and support in Japan, allowing us to respond promptly to customer inquiries.

The Desk series is categorized into two major systems: the Desk chat and online conference system and the Desk Event webinar system.

Desk also offers two versions: the standard version and GIGA School edition. In addition to basic features such as chat, online conferencing, and file sharing, the standard version of Desk provides secure and smooth communication with an intuitive UI and enhanced security features, such as a single subdomain configuration (separate management of users under separate contracts) and integration with our FinalCode file security product. Because the system is invitation-only, users outside the organization who have not been invited will not be included in communications. In addition, chat rooms that include users outside the organization display a warning when chats are posted, greatly reducing the risk of accidentally sending confidential information.

Desk GIGA School edition provides useful features for teachers and school staff who are facing an increase in workload that have resulted from issues such as measures against cyberbullying that have come about after the One Device per Student initiative and the expansion of chat capability inside and outside the classroom through the GIGA School Program. Utilizing the results of i-FILTER's 55%*2 market share among school boards that have installed paid filtering on GIGA School devices and the database of i-FILTER's protection filters that block message that may lead to cyberbullying or suicide, the system can send an alert when students try to post something in a chat related to cyberbullying and also allows teachers and school staff to monitor the content of chat messages related to bullying and suicide. In addition, for school boards and schools that have already installed i-FILTER@Cloud, user management can be integrated. Through further enhancements and links to different features, the system is able to provide secure and smooth communication.

Desk Event will offer in two versions: the standard version and the Shareholder Meeting edition. The Desk Event Standard version can accommodate up to 2,000 participants and enables one-to-many communication, such as morning meetings, internal study sessions, and online seminars. In addition, when used in conjunction with Desk, chats, online meetings and webinars can be used seamlessly, making it possible to respond to various forms of online communication.

Desk Event Shareholder Meeting edition can hold shareholder meetings in a hybrid or online-only format. Questions and motions from shareholders can also be received and as well as temporary audio connection from shareholders. The voting feature also allows shareholders present to exercise their voting rights over the internet. The system is also equipped with features to prevent interruptions and ensure a smooth virtual shareholders' meeting. The system has already been tested at a Digital Arts' FY2022 shareholder meeting.

Desk Standard version has enhanced security functions, while the GIGA School edition has enhanced learning management features and other useful features for schools
In the future, Desk Standard version will offer features for safer chats and file sharing, such as anti-virus features and a feature to block harmful URLs, by leveraging the results and features of Digital Arts' security business. We also plan to offer an on-premise version, which will allow customers to use the service more securely under their own management system as well as through our cloud service. The Desk GIGA School edition will be expanded to include communication not only between students but also between schools and parents, students and parents, and members of the larger community. We intend to enhance learning management and other features to provide a foundation not only for communication but also for the use of the Internet in schools.


*1 Number of i-FILTER Ver. 10, m-FILTER Ver. 5, i-FILTER@Cloud and m-FILTER@Cloud users as of April 2023 (in-house survey)
*2 Results of interviews with 1741 school boards (as of March 2023)