Supporting the Progress of the Latest “RISE of MANA” Role-Playing Game
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CUSTOMER SUCCESS STORY by Supporting the progress of the latest “RISE of MANA” To ensure the security of RISE of MANA, Square Enix turned to the cloud service vendor FIXER for role-playing game through a secure cloud platform the actual implementation of the security measures. FIXER has a rich track record of building and running Azure systems, and it provides a total management service called “cloud.config” that Before includes Azure implementation support, and round-the-clock, year-round operation monitoring With Microsoft Azure as the foundation for game app distribution and -an advantage based on the knowhow the company has accumulated and the technology it operation, Square Enix was looking for an effective means to increase has developed through its activities. The company has long been involved in Square Enix security within the application itself. game projects and has previously provided Azure implementation and operation services. After Based on this track record , to support RISE of MANA, FIXER has been providing a service Succeeded in implementing multi-level defense and high-efficiency security that singlehandedly covers aspects of the cloud implementation, including Azure platform on Microsoft Azure servers, and achieved competitive advantages in both construction, server operation, management, and monitoring. TM security and speed in the game business. For the RISE of MANA platform, FIXER implemented a security solution based on Trend Micro Deep SecurityTM called “Deep Security provided by cloud.config”. Challenge Eisuke Sakuhara, General Manager at FIXER’s Enterprise Cloud Unit, explains the background to the implementation of this solution as follows: “Whether you win or lose with smartphone game apps is really determined from the launch of the “Azure has robust, guaranteed security as a platform. However, it is essential to use tools service. In addition to making an interesting product, you have to maintain server-side performance, such as Deep Security to deal with attacks at the application level such as intrusion and availability, and security that form the infrastructure of the game at a high-level,” says Masaru tampering that can occur through legitimate channels.” Oyamada, a Producer in Square Enix’s Business Division X. Mr. Sakuhara also explains the benefits of using Deep Security: “Deep Security is easy to >> Square Enix Co., Ltd. RISE of MANA, Mr. Oyamada’s mobile project, is the latest in a series that started in 1 991 with customize, and it has the advantage of allowing multi-level protection with a single product. It the action RPG Mana 1st (FINAL FANTASY Adventure). His team adopted Microsoft's cloud also automatically deals with server auto-scale on a cloud platform. These characteristics Industry Entertainment/Publishing provide efficient security and increase cost-performance, and these strengths are unique to platform, Microsoft Azure, as the foundation for the iPhone (iOS) version that began Number of employees Deep Security.” 3,581 (incl. Square Enix Holdings, as distribution in Japan in March 2014. The Android version launched in June, and reached of 3 1 March 20 1 4) 1 million users by August. The business model for this app is known as “free-to-play,” which allows users to download and play the game for free, but may charge for certain items *1 Location Tokyo, Japan The platform for RISE of MANA is composed of a system that includes a reverse proxy server , within the application. “Because the content is essentially free, if the usability and game servers, and a platform server. Of these, the game servers and platform server have Customer’s Challenges performance of a free-to-play game aren’t up to snuff, users will stop playing,” says Mr. Oyamada. databases running behind them, and Deep Security Agent has been installed on these servers to ● Ensuring security for smartphone game apps “We went with Microsoft Azure because we were looking for high-speed communication and provide multi-level protection -including intrusion detection and prevention, antivirus ● Improving security at the application measures, firewall, file integrity monitoring, security log inspection, and other such protections- sustained stability even when the game servers receive a large number of access requests level on Microsoft Azure through a single management console called Deep Security Manager. By doing so, the company ● Rolling-out security measures without and their workload spikes.” negatively impacting on the core maintains a high level of security around important information such as billing details. They business of game software Square Enix is globally renowned and boasts many games in Japan and overseas that bear its have also successfully implemented the streamlining and automation of security and name. It is for this reason the servers for its online games are prone to becoming targets, so the monitoring, such as vulnerability measures and network monitoring. Trend Micro Solutions TM company needed to ensure robust security for the Azure platform that supports RISE of MANA. Updates for RISE of MANA are also frequently released, including a weekly release of new functions. ● Deep Security provided by cloud.config “Due to this frequency, performing security checks on every aspect of service before the (A security package that includes Overview of RISE of MANA system using Deep Security release is not possible, and it’s essential to maintain statistical information about what kind Trend Micro TM Deep SecurityTM and Deep Security of attacks against the services happen and when. We then use figures that indicate threat is provided by FIXER for users of Manager Microsoft Azure Game server Game server trends to preempt attacks,” says Mr. Sakuhara. In order to fulfill this mission, the functions of Microsoft Azure) Data Center database Deep Security and information from Trend Micro are very valuable. Deep Security SQL Business Benefits Agent Database However, for Mr. Oyamada from Square Enix, the most important thing is to develop and grow ● Enhanced security for important data the RISE of MANA business. As such, no matter how important ensuring and improving Reverse proxy Cache server ● security is, he badly wants to avoid losses in development speed and app performance due to Increased cloud service security ● Streamlined and automated security System security measures. It’s also important to avoid being forced to incur costs that squeeze operations administrator business. The security solution provided by FIXER meets these demands, and provides ● Implemented security measures with no down-sides for business excellent efficiency and cost-performance. Platform server Says Mr. Oyamada “We’re able to thoroughly protect the security of RISE of MANA without Platform server Game player IT Environment database Deep Security incurring any disadvantages to our business. And in that sense, I feel that Deep Security was the ● Microsoft Azure Agent Game data flow SQL Database right answer for us.” Security application flow Page 1 of 2 • Customer Success Story • Square Enix Co., Ltd. CUSTOMER SUCCESS STORY by Solutions To ensure the security of RISE of MANA, Square Enix turned to the cloud service vendor FIXER for the actual implementation of the security measures. FIXER has a rich track record of building and running Azure systems, and it provides a total management service called “cloud.config” that includes Azure implementation support, and round-the-clock, year-round operation monitoring -an advantage based on the knowhow the company has accumulated and the technology it has developed through its activities. The company has long been involved in Square Enix game projects and has previously provided Azure implementation and operation services. Based on this track record , to support RISE of MANA, FIXER has been providing a service that singlehandedly covers aspects of the cloud implementation, including Azure platform construction, server operation, management, and monitoring. Masaru Oyamada TM Producer For the RISE of MANA platform, FIXER implemented a security solution based on Trend Micro Business Division X TM SQUARE ENIX CO.,LTD. Deep Security called “Deep Security provided by cloud.config”. Eisuke Sakuhara, General Manager at FIXER’s Enterprise Cloud Unit, explains the background Thanks to Trend Micro Deep Security and FIXER we can concentrate on our main business to the implementation of this solution as follows: without being distracted by security issues. “Azure has robust, guaranteed security as a platform. However, it is essential to use tools such as Deep Security to deal with attacks at the application level such as intrusion and tampering that can occur through legitimate channels.” Mr. Sakuhara also explains the benefits of using Deep Security: “Deep Security is easy to customize, and it has the advantage of allowing multi-level protection with a single product. It also automatically deals with server auto-scale on a cloud platform. These characteristics provide efficient security and increase cost-performance, and these strengths are unique to Eisuke Sakuhara Deep Security.” Enterprise Cloud Unit General Manager FIXER inc. Results The main point when it comes to security The platform for RISE of MANA is composed of a system that includes a reverse proxy server*1, products is whether they can swiftly implement measures to minimize the damage from game servers, and a platform server. Of these, the game servers and platform server have attacks. And from that perspective we chose databases running behind them, and Deep Security Agent has been installed on these servers to Deep Security, and it hasn’ t let us down. provide multi-level protection -including intrusion detection and prevention, antivirus measures, firewall, file integrity monitoring, security log inspection, and other such protections- Customer Profile through a single management console called Deep Security Manager. By doing so, the company Square Enix Co., Ltd. is an entertainment maintains a high level of security around important information such as billing details. They provider most famous for the FINAL FANTASY have also successfully implemented the streamlining and automation of security and and DRAGON QUEST series of role-playing games.