What Fore-Z does

Fore-Z Co., Ltd. is a privately held Japanese cybersecurity company founded in April 2023 and headquartered in Tokyo (Chiyoda-ku, Iwamotocho) within the broader Fore- Group structure, where Fore- Group handles ultra-classified engagements and Fore-Z adapts that research for civilian enterprise use. The company sells a six-product next-generation cybersecurity platform spanning offensive testing, deception-based detection, AI-driven counterattack, incident response training, digital forensics, and dark-web investigation. Its technology stack combines traditional vulnerability assessment and grey-box penetration testing with proprietary platforms: Deception OS lures attackers into decoy environments and logs their behavior; ICE (Traceback) correlates firewall, EDR, and proxy telemetry to identify attacker source IPs, infrastructure, and intent, including early termination of data encryption processes; and Prometheus uses AI to autonomously profile adversaries, generate counterattack scenarios, and reclaim or neutralize stolen assets and privileges.

The business is run as a high-touch professional services and platform-deployment operation targeting Japanese large enterprises, with engagement-based customized pricing, multi-year contract potential, and direct sales rather than self-service. Customer evidence to date is concentrated in a small number of large enterprise accounts across manufacturing, financial services, pharmaceutical, and large technology (including LINE Yahoo), with no disclosed SMB or international presence. Fore-Z is led by CEO Yuto Tanaka, a former Japan Ground Self-Defense Force commissioned officer with over a decade of red-team and incident response experience, and the company markets its differentiation around multi-level defense, minimal false-positive detection via decoys, pre-damage disconnection, and AI-driven automated response. There are no disclosed funding rounds, partnerships, certifications, awards, or patents, and revenue, headcount, and ownership structure beyond the founder are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Fore-Z

Legal name

Fore-Z Co., Ltd.

Website

https://z.fore-co.ltd

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Fore-Z is a Tokyo-based cybersecurity services provider founded in April 2023 that delivers vulnerability assessment, deception-based detection (Deception OS), attacker traceback (ICE), AI-driven autonomous counterattacks (Prometheus), incident response training, and digital forensics to large Japanese enterprises.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cybersecurity Services

NAICS

Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621), Security Systems Services (56162)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Managed Security Services (MSSP) & 24/7 SOC Operations (BPAKAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Endpoint Security for End Users (EDR/XDR, Patch/Vuln, Zero Trust Endpoint) (BPAEAIAG), Endpoint Security Managed Services (EDR/XDR) (BPAEADAH), Security Operations (SOC), Incident Response & Threat Hunting (EDAOAIAI), SIEM Platforms & Log Management (HDADAGAA)

Keywords

• Penetration testing services
• Vulnerability assessment solutions
• Deception technology platform
• Incident response training
• Digital forensics services

Headquarters

HQ city

Oshima

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Cybersecurity Assessment Services: Professional services revenue from vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and security diagnostics. Customized engagement-based pricing depending on scope, depth, and duration of assessment.
2. Deception Technology Services: Revenue from deployment and operation of Deception OS, ICE, and Prometheus technologies for threat detection and counterattack capabilities.
3. Cyber Evacuation Drill Training: Training services including standard plans for incident response and optional additions for business response, management decisions, and advanced attack scenarios.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Fore-Z provides enterprise cybersecurity services built around a multi-level defense platform. Core offerings include vulnerability assessment and penetration testing, a Deception OS decoy environment, ICE (Traceback) attacker source identification, the Prometheus AI-driven autonomous counterattack system, a Cyber Evacuation Drill incident-response training program, and Investigation & Analysis covering digital forensics and dark web monitoring.

Product overview

Fore-Z provides a next-generation cybersecurity platform composed of six integrated security services: Vulnerability Assessment & Penetration Test for offensive security testing; Deception OS as a decoy environment for early attack detection; ICE (Traceback) for attacker source identification and reverse tracking; Prometheus for AI-driven autonomous counterattacks; Cyber Evacuation Drill for incident response training; and Investigation & Analysis for digital forensics and dark web monitoring. The platform operates on a multi-level defense philosophy, offering services that span prevention, detection, active response, training, and post-incident investigation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vulnerability Assessment & Penetration Test (脆弱性診断・ペネトレーションテスト)

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% achievement rate on penetration testing goals for highest-privilege access acquisition
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature6 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• CounterCraft: Specialist provider of cyber deception platforms (deception environments, decoys, adversary engagement) that competes directly with Fore-Z's Deception OS offering for proactive detection use cases.
• Flatt Security: Tokyo-based startup specializing in web application and cloud penetration testing, with a security-engineer-as-a-service model. Comparable as a younger Japanese pentest-focused services firm targeting the same enterprise customers.
• Bishop Fox: US-based elite offensive-security firm known for high-end penetration testing, red-team, and Cosmos-based attack surface management. Comparable as a premium pentest/red-team brand going after the same enterprise adversary-simulations market.
• GMO Cybersecurity by IERAE: Japanese offensive-security brand spun out of GMO, focused on penetration testing, red-team, and vulnerability research. Closest head-to-head with Fore-Z in Japan for high-end pentest and red-team engagements.

Broad incumbents

• Trend Micro Japan: Japan-originated global cybersecurity vendor with a significant Japanese security services and incident response practice. Comparable as a broad incumbent covering endpoint, network, and managed detection across Japan's largest enterprises.
• Trustwave: Global managed security services and offensive security provider with MDR, penetration testing, and digital forensics offerings. Comparable as a broad international MSSP/pen-testing incumbent competing for the same multinational RFPs in Japan.
• LAC Co., Ltd. Long-established Japanese cybersecurity firm operating a 24/7 JSOC (Japan Security Operation Center) along with offensive security and consulting services. Comparable as a domestic full-stack MSSP and security assessment provider competing for the same enterprise and public-sector budgets.
• Mandiant (Google Cloud): Global incident response and threat intelligence firm (now part of Google Cloud) whose Japanese practice competes for high-end DFIR and red-team engagements. Comparable as a premium overseas brand selling similar offensive and response services into Japanese multinationals.
• NRI Secure Technologies: Subsidiary of Nomura Research Institute and one of Japan's largest pure-play cybersecurity services firms, offering penetration testing, managed security, and incident response. Directly comparable as a Japanese enterprise-focused security services provider with a broader portfolio.
• Mitsui Bussan Secure Directions: Japanese MSSP offering penetration testing, vulnerability diagnostics, and managed security services. Comparable as an established Japanese competitor for vulnerability assessment and ongoing security services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fore-Z