Student Interviews

Hiroshi Oe

With the 2020 Olympics on the horizon, the use of credit cards is sure to increase. My research is on the security of the card industry, with a focus on the PCI DSS, the unified security standard for credit cards.

I moved to the information security department and realised the need for practical knowledge

I have worked in a variety of roles including sales, revenue management and performance evaluation. With the launch of the Information Security Administrator Examination (merged with other examinations in 2008), I was interested in information security, because I thought the public will become more concerned about security. After more than 10 years of self-education and working in a non-security related job, I finally moved to the information security department three years ago, and I realised the need for practical knowledge. Two people from our company have previously studied here and are now working in security within the company. I wanted to learn as much as they did, so I kept asking to the company for support, and with the help of my boss, I was able to enrol as part of the company's education programme.

Learn about the human element of security in a variety of interactions

Before entering IISEC, I thought that information security was a system-based business with a technical focus, such as cryptography. At IISEC, I learned that "this field has a strong human element, which is influenced by ethics and organisational behaviour". This knowledge broadened my horizons and I am now actively studying management subjects as well. I also attended joint lectures using a video conferencing system, with students from other universities, such as Keio University, as well as special lectures by people in charge of security departments at companies, which gave me a broader knowledge. In addition, Prof. Harada's research lab, to which I belong, has a customary overnight seminar camp, and both current and former students attend. One of the great advantages of this graduate school is that it opens up a wide variety of interactions that you cannot find in your company.

My dissertation examines the PCI DSS, the unified standard for the card industry, from a practitioner's perspective

I entered IISEC through my company's programme, so I chose a topic for my Master's dissertation that is directly related to my work. The credit card industry is currently in the process of implementing the PCI DSS, a unified standard for the secure handling of member data, which requires very strict requirements. I intend to write a practical dissertation on the subject, examining the standard from a practitioner's point of view, whether they are practically feasible and whether the shortcomings can be compensated by other mechanisms. Credit cards will become ever more important for the 2020 Olympics. I would like to study hard and apply my knowledge to make Japan a safer place to use credit cards.

Hiroshi Oe
Hiroshi Oe
Orient Corporation
Enrolled in April 2013
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