“Always-On” Social Operations: Panasonic Technologies Supporting Safe Frontline Environments, Reliable Infrastructure, and Trusted Data

The Panasonic Group exhibited at Interop Tokyo 2026, held June 10–12, 2026 in Japan. The company showcased technologies and solutions that ensure “always-on” operations for a wide range of facilities that are essential in society, including factories, buildings, renewable energy facilities, and AI data centers.

Advances in communication networks and data utilization have dramatically enhanced convenience and efficiency in our lives. At the same time, addressing digital security challenges—such as preventing cyberattacks and system failures or ensuring data reliability—has become more critical than ever. As the use of AI rapidly expands, what kinds of systems and technologies will be essential to keep society’s operations “always-on” without interruption? In this article, Panasonic Newsroom dives deeper into the Group’s initiatives supporting social infrastructure in the AI era, as showcased through the technologies and solutions exhibited at Interop Tokyo 2026.

“In factories, buildings, and renewable energy facilities, interrupting operations itself can lead directly to major losses,” says Hideki Matsushima, General Manager of the Product Security Center at Panasonic Holdings Corporation (PHD). With the progress of IT integration in social infrastructure, the use of IoT and cloud technologies is rapidly expanding within the operational technology (OT) domain to monitor and control equipment and devices in various sites such as factories, buildings, and renewable energy facilities. As more devices and equipment become connected to networks, the risk of cyberattacks is also increasing significantly.

In response to these trends, the Panasonic Group is strengthening OT security, building on approximately 40 years of security technology development that began with encryption and authentication technologies for AV equipment and recording media. In 2024, with 2,620 cybersecurity-related patents, the Panasonic Group ranked first in Japan in a survey conducted by Patent Result Co., Ltd. that assesses not only the number of patents but also their quality and influence. Leveraging these strengths, the Group supports the safe operation of diverse sites that underpin social infrastructure.

Matsushima explains: “To take an extreme example, even if a malware^*1 infection occurs, there are cases where it’s better not to halt operation immediately and instead assess the impact on the frontline. To prevent the spread of damage and minimize impact without stopping operations, operators need not only knowledge of cyberattacks but also a deep understanding of on-site operations, equipment configurations, and operational methods to make the best decisions for both security and business continuity.”

*1. Malware: Software designed to cause unauthorized actions on computers or devices.

Most cybersecurity technologies in the IT domain are designed for TCP/IP-based networks.^*2 However, in the OT domain—where factories, buildings, and renewable energy facilities each employ their own communication protocols and control mechanisms—cyberattacks may target these unique systems. As a manufacturing company with extensive experience developing equipment and systems, the Panasonic Group possesses deep expertise in site-specific protocols and device architecture. This enables the Group to maintain a key strength in the OT security domain.

*2. TCP/IP: Abbreviation for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. A global standard communication protocol used in computer networks, including the Internet.

Matsushima continues: “The Panasonic Group has been engaged in security monitoring for our factories at more than 200 sites worldwide. We also operate multiple SOCs^*3 around the world, monitoring cyber threats 24/7, all year round. The insights, know-how, and technologies accumulated through these efforts have become a major strength of the Group. Going forward, we will offer solutions that we have developed in-house to external customers, supporting the safe and stable operation of diverse sites that underpin social infrastructure.”

*3. SOC: Security Operations Center. A specialized organization or department that monitors and defends against cyberattacks.

Each site has its own unique characteristics—facilities, operational environments, and challenges. For this reason, the Panasonic Group proposes services optimized for each specific site rather than providing a one-size-fits-all solution.

Based on operational expertise cultivated at more than 200 factories, the Panasonic Group provides WisShield™, a security monitoring service tailored to factory environments. Dedicated staff at 7 locations worldwide monitor operations 24/7, all year round, and conduct detailed analyses when anomalies are detected. While minimizing the impact on on-site operations, the service helps prevent escalation of situations through three proprietary guidelines: Prevent, Detect, and Respond. It also flexibly supports a wide range of sites, including buildings and renewable energy facilities.

By monitoring communication status through a dashboard—even during normal operations—the system can detect communications that deviate from the norm. When an alert is triggered, the system analyzes IP addresses and communication content to determine whether it is an attack or a false positive, and notifies the site, supporting operations to keep the site “always-on.”

Matsushima notes: “Equipment configurations and network environments vary from site to site, and incidents are not uniform. Under the Customer Zero^*4 approach, the Panasonic Group has implemented security monitoring for our factories at more than 200 sites, using them as real-world testbeds. The insights and know-how accumulated from various sites are a major source of strength for WisShield™.”

*4. Customer Zero: An initiative in which new products and technologies are piloted internally to verify effectiveness and identify challenges directly.

In collaboration with Trellix® Professional Services, the Panasonic Group launched the WisShield Factory Security Consulting Service with Trellix in May 2026. This service provides end-to-end support—from risk assessment and guideline formulation to implementation and operation—helping reduce business risks and support continuous security operations.

For power facilities, outages caused by cyberattacks—or shutdowns due to false positives—can affect electricity supply and the stability of social infrastructure. Security monitoring therefore requires high detection accuracy and a deep understanding of operations. To provide proprietary security monitoring services for renewable energy facilities, such as grid-connected storage stations and solar power plants, the Panasonic Group has developed an attack detection engine specialized in power control communication protocols, including Modbus. This engine monitors communications specific to power facilities and provides end-to-end support from risk assessment through detection, analysis, and response, helping facilities balance cyber threat mitigation with operational stability.

Furthermore, grid-connected energy storage facilities pose risks that can ripple throughout social infrastructure. A cyberattack could disrupt the balance between power supply and demand or affect power distribution systems. To address these challenges, the Panasonic Group is collaborating with Itochu Corporation on a cybersecurity monitoring demonstration test in an environment simulating actual operations of grid-connected energy storage facilities in Japan—the first initiative of its kind in the world.

Matsushima explains: “Since energy facilities are controlled remotely, the impact of a cyberattack is not limited to the facility itself but could spread to the regional power grid. Cyberattacks targeting energy infrastructure have been reported both in Japan and overseas. To address these threats, the Panasonic Group has installed security monitoring systems at our own renewable energy facilities in Kusatsu, Japan; Munich, Germany; and Cardiff, Wales in the U.K., accumulating insights. By coordinating with SOCs for our globally deployed factories, we have established an around-the-clock monitoring system—including late-night hours—to support safe and stable operation.”

Additionally, PHD working in collaboration with the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in Germany, a leading organization for applied research in Europe, has developed and introduced Data4Cyber. It is an open cyber-physical dataset enabling researchers and industry stakeholders to evaluate the impact of cyberattacks on renewable energy infrastructure. By using data gathered in test environments that closely resemble real-world conditions, the initiative helps advance risk analysis and supports the development of detection and monitoring technologies.

In building facilities, different systems—such as central monitoring, lighting control, and air conditioning—typically operate independently. The Panasonic Group’s building operating system, Facibble, connects facility data from different systems, enabling optimized equipment operation and advanced data utilization. Combined with SGNIS, an SOC service linked to the integrated facility network, this supports the safe, secure operation of smart buildings.

A key strength of SGNIS’s SOC service is its anomaly detection capability, based on a deep understanding of building equipment control communications, including BACnet/IP. It detects anomalies and issues alerts—such as when a virus-infected maintenance terminal connects to the building network or when suspicious communications caused by malware occur. If systems, such as air conditioning or lighting, are tampered with, it could significantly impact occupant safety and building operations. Therefore, early detection and rapid response are essential. By helping on-site staff take appropriate action before equipment failures or damage can escalate, the building SOC service enables security operations that keep buildings running.

Stable data center operations are essential for supporting an AI-driven society. To achieve this stability, the Panasonic Group is advancing initiatives on both the device and service fronts.

The key to realizing “always-on” data centers lies in the device technologies of Panasonic Industry Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Industry).

AI servers require a stable supply of large amounts of power for high-performance semiconductors, such as GPUs,^*5 while also handling sudden load fluctuations and being prepared for emergency backup power. The Panasonic Group provides device technologies developed through experience in the automotive sector and other fields, offering high reliability, safety, and high-current capacity for various power supply units installed in AI server racks and power distribution units. These technologies support the stable operation of data centers.

*5. GPU: Graphics Processing Unit. A semiconductor that handles large-scale AI computations.

For power supply units (PSUs) that provide power during normal operation, Panasonic Industry proposes the HE-S relay for high-capacity AC applications. Despite its compact size, it supports a maximum current of 40A, enabling redundant power configurations with multiple power supply lines that switch over in the event of a failure, as well as highly reliable power supply configurations. For battery backup units (BBUs) that supply backup power during outages or malfunctions, the company proposes PhotoMOS® relays and CF Series board-to-flexible printed circuit (FPC) connectors. PhotoMOS® relays are used for connections between batteries and equipment housings, as well as for detecting insulation degradation in battery management systems. The CF Series contributes to automated assembly processes, reliable connections, reduced wiring, greater flexibility in board layout, and smaller module sizes. Through these highly reliable devices, Panasonic Industry supports stable operation of AI servers.

One of the most notable exhibits at Interop Tokyo 2026 was for electric double layer capacitors for AI servers, a type of supercapacitor.^*6 These are designed for capacitor backup units (CBUs),^*7 which supplement power within seconds when demand suddenly fluctuates. In AI servers, momentary fluctuations in GPU workload lead to rapid swings in power consumption. Electric double layer capacitors respond immediately to these fluctuations. By absorbing power spikes and surplus energy, they smooth out sudden power fluctuations, contributing to stable operation. While Panasonic Industry has primarily focused on the automotive market, it plans to expand production lines at its Hokkaido factory (Japan) by the end of fiscal year 2027^*8 and begin mass production for AI data centers. These supercapacitors feature resistance values that are one-third of those in comparable products^*9 and can handle high-current applications.

*6. Supercapacitor: A high-capacity energy storage device that enables rapid charging and discharging over short periods and has a long service life. 
*7. In this article, CBU is referred to as a capacitor backup unit, the official term defined under the Open Compute Project (OCP) industry standard.
*8. In this article, fiscal years (FY) refer to the years ending March 31 of the stated year.
*9. According to research conducted by Panasonic Industry 

In addition, the Panasonic Group is proposing a security monitoring service for data centers. To counter cyberattacks on data centers, it is essential to combine energy control technologies—such as those used in electric substations, battery storage systems, and cooling equipment—with building system technologies for air conditioning and facility management. Leveraging expertise gained from energy control communication systems for renewable energy facilities and building equipment monitoring, the Group combines AI-based detection with expert judgment from its SOCs to detect and analyze signs of abnormalities. By enabling rapid on-site response, the Group aims to ensure stable operation of electrical systems, air conditioning, and cooling equipment that support the function of data centers.

In supporting social operations, it is important not only to ensure stable operation of facilities and systems but also to guarantee the reliability of data shared by companies and society. PHD is developing Tracephere™, a blockchain-based traceability platform designed to support the creation of a circular economy. This platform records data generated at each stage of the circular process—including product reuse, refurbishment, and recycling—in a tamper-resistant format, enabling tracking of data history.

Tracephere™ records and manages data at each stage in a tamper-resistant format and calculates carbon emissions based on this data, enabling visualization of the effects of carbon reduction measures. PHD is verifying its practicality through initiatives, such as a circular recycling demonstration project for lighting fixtures,^*10 aiming for commercialization.

*10. Selected for the Regional Co-creation and Cross-Sectoral Carbon-Neutral Technology Development and Demonstration Project 2025 (Second Call)
https://www.env.go.jp/press/press_00897.html, https://www.env.go.jp/earth/ondanka/cpttv_funds/pdf/db/324.pdf

Moving forward, PHD will advance the development of Tracephere™ towards commercialization under a strategic partnership with Actia Co., Ltd. By combining Actia’s capabilities—from business planning and digital transformation to service operations—with the Panasonic Group’s technological assets and demonstration track record, PHD plans to develop Tracephere™ into a practical and sustainable business.

Matsushima comments: “Blockchain holds great promise as a technology that proves data has not been tampered with. These characteristics are useful for ensuring the traceability of products and materials, including recycling of home appliances and lighting fixtures. Going forward, we will continue exploring ways to optimize combinations of measures and advance data registration methods.”

Data exchanged between devices and systems over networks is protected by cryptographic technology. However, as quantum computers—next-generation computers capable of high-speed calculations—become more widespread, the public-key cryptography that is widely used today may eventually be cracked, heightening the need for new security measures.

Matsushima explains: “We must transition to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) that can withstand attacks by quantum computers by 2035. To respond to this change, the Panasonic Group is developing and refining proprietary software aimed at implementing PQC in small-sized embedded devices and semiconductor chips. By optimizing design for each specific device, we achieve high-speed processing performance while minimizing memory usage. For encryption algorithms, we have achieved memory usage that is approximately one-eighth of existing software implementations, making it possible to apply them in small chips where conventional open-source implementations would be difficult to integrate.”

Matsushima continues: “Leveraging more than 30 years of expertise in cryptographic implementation for embedded devices, we are also advancing PQC migration support services that offer end-to-end support—from identifying cryptographic methods used in existing devices and systems to formulating migration plans, implementation, and verification.”

As communication and digital technologies evolve, on-site risks and challenges are becoming increasingly complex and varied. Leveraging its strengths as a manufacturing company with numerous on-site operations, the Panasonic Group is pooling its technologies and the expertise from its companies. By providing optimal solutions across services, software, and hardware, the Group contributes to ensuring “always-on” on-site operations that support society.