UPDATA

What UPDATA does

UPDATA Inc. (アップデータ株式会社), founded in March 2005 and headquartered in Tokyo (relocated to Kyobashi, Chuo-ku in November 2025), is a privately held Japanese domestic software manufacturer that has evolved from a backup-software specialist into what it calls a "data management manufacturer." Its core product lineup centers on Shadow Desktop, a data-less client that encrypts PC data and stores it in cloud or on-premises external storage while preserving local usability; Secure Back, a centrally managed enterprise backup platform for PCs and servers with proprietary bandwidth control and email differential backup; Air Back, a lightweight real-time backup tool; and 匠のAI (Takumi no AI), an AI/ML service that incorporates field-expert knowledge into prediction models via a proprietary "Takumi Data Transformation Engine" and exposes them through a REST API. Supporting offerings include My Note Cloud (electronic paper cloud storage), Suite Data Delete (a Forum 8-originated ADEC-certified HDD/SSD erasure tool that UPDATA distributes), and Secret Folder file protection.

UPDATA generates revenue through a mix of subscription licenses (introduced for Air Back and Secure Back in April 2020), perpetual licenses, managed cloud services (Shadow Desktop cloud console, Secure Back Cloud Option, Air Back Cloud, My Note Cloud), and professional services around Takumi no AI. Go-to-market is hybrid: direct enterprise field sales backed by dedicated inquiry forms, channel/reseller partners (notably OFFICE110), technology integrations with Microsoft Japan and AWS (where UPDATA has been an APN Technology Partner since December 2016), and SI relationships including a co-developed NEC Cloud File Sync service launched in April 2022 and Ricoh Japan system integration engagements. Pricing is largely quote-based; disclosed reference points include Suite Data Delete at ¥1,320 one-time or ¥231,000/year.

UPDATA primarily serves Japanese enterprise IT/security departments, public sector/education (Wakayama Prefecture Board of Education: 3,000 PCs), and distributed-site industries such as construction, manufacturing, broadcasting, and translation services. Named customers include Toyota, Daikin, HOYA, Keio University, JTB, Takenaka Corporation, Kando Corporation, and TV Osaka. The company holds three patents (2011, 2014, 2019) covering backup and file-management technology, is certified to ISO/IEC 27001:2022 / JIS Q 27001:2023, and operates offices in Tokyo, Osaka (opened April 2025), and Nagoya (opened September 2022), with active expansion into APAC (Smart Nation Expo 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, CIO Review APAC "Virtualization Company of the Year 2024").

Name

UPDATA

Legal name

アップデータ株式会社 (UPDATA Inc.)

Website

https://updata.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UPDATA is a privately held Japanese software vendor (founded 2005) that builds Shadow Desktop (data-less client), Secure Back and Air Back (enterprise backup), and Takumi no AI (expert-knowledge AI/ML), selling via subscriptions, cloud services, direct enterprise sales, and channel partners to Japanese enterprises, public sector, and select APAC markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Enterprise Data Protection & Backup Software

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (51821)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) & Secure Data Erasure (BPAEAOAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Training Data Management, Versioning & Lineage (HDAAALAD)

Keywords

• Enterprise data protection
• Data-resident client software
• Endpoint backup management
• Secure remote work solutions
• Manufacturing predictive AI

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licensing and Sales: UPDATA generates revenue primarily through the sale of software licenses for its product lineup including Shadow Desktop, Secure Back, Air Back, and Suite Data Delete. The company operates both one-time perpetual license models and subscription models. Subscription services for Air Back and Secure Back started in April 2020. Products are available in multiple tiers (Standard, Cloud, Premium) with various contract durations (1-year, 5-year). The company also offers cloud services (Secure Back Cloud Option, Air Back Cloud) as part of its software revenue.
2. Cloud Services: UPDATA provides cloud-based services including Shadow Desktop cloud platform, Secure Back cloud option, Air Back Cloud, and My Note Cloud (e-paper cloud storage). The cloud options allow customers to use Updata's dedicated cloud environment as an external storage destination for backup redundancy. Cloud services are delivered as managed services with monthly/annual subscriptions.
3. AI/ML Consulting and Development: AI and machine learning services under 'Takumi no AI' brand, providing consulting, development, and operational support for AI implementation. The service follows a PoC-to-production model with phases for planning, analysis, verification, implementation, and maintenance. Revenue is generated through project-based AI consulting and development services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

UPDATA Inc. develops and sells enterprise data protection and data management software in Japan, anchored by Shadow Desktop, a data-resident client that encrypts PC data and stores it in cloud or on-premises external storage so no actual data resides on the local PC while preserving normal user workflows. The portfolio is completed by centrally managed backup software (Secure Back, Air Back), the Takumi no AI (匠のAI) machine-learning service that incorporates expert know-how via a proprietary data-conversion engine, electronic-paper cloud storage (My Note Cloud), and HDD/SSD data-erasure software (Suite Data Delete).

Product overview

UPDATA is a Japanese domestic software manufacturer offering a portfolio of data protection and data management products. The product lineup centers on four core offerings: Shadow Desktop (data-less client for secure PC operations without local data storage, available as both SaaS and on-premises), Secure Back (centralized enterprise backup management for PCs and servers with optional cloud redundancy), Air Back (lightweight real-time backup for PCs and servers), and 匠のAI (Takumi no AI — AI/ML service applying expert domain knowledge to predictive analytics). Supporting products include My Note Cloud (electronic paper cloud storage), スイートデータ消去 (data erasure tool), Secret Folder (file protection), and add-on modules such as Shadow Desktop File Server Option, Secure Back Cloud Option, and Secure Back Enterprise Manager. The company positions itself as having evolved from a 'data protection manufacturer' to a 'data management manufacturer.'

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Shadow Desktop: Data-less client product that encrypts PC data and stores it in cloud external storage, enabling data-free local operation.
• Secure Back
• Air Back
• My Note Cloud
• 匠のAI (Takumi no AI)
• スイートデータ消去 (Suite Data Delete)

Quantifiable outcome

• Manufacturing estimation prediction: average error reduced to 1/5, variance to 1/8 compared to human expert estimates
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers23 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability3 records

Feature12 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Microsoft Japan Co., Ltd. (日本マイクソフト株式会社)coreTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft Japan is listed as an alliance partner. UPDATA is a Microsoft certified partner (since July 2007) and develops products for Windows environments. Shadow Desktop, Secure Back, and Air Back all support Windows operating systems. Products integrate with Microsoft ecosystem including Azure and Windows Server environments.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreTechnology or IntegrationAWS Technology Partner under the APN (AWS Partner Network). UPDATA products support AWS cloud storage as a backend for Shadow Desktop and Secure Back cloud options. AWS partner since December 2016. Enables UPDATA to leverage AWS infrastructure for cloud-based services and provides co-marketing opportunities.
• OFFICE110coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOFFICE110 is listed as a partner on UPDATA's partner page, specializing in security solutions. They resell UPDATA products (Shadow Desktop, Secure Back, Air Back) with specialized security expertise to enterprise customers in Japan.
• BSI Group Japan Inc. (BSIグループジャパン株式会社)minorOthersBSI Group Japan is the certification body for UPDATA's ISO/IEC 27001:2022 / JIS Q 27001:2023 information security certification (certification number IS 505934). BSI is accredited by ANAB and ISMS-AC.
• Software Association of Japan (SAJ / 一般社団法人ソフトウェア協会)coreOthersUPDATA CEO Atsushi Ogawa serves as chairman (主査) of the SAJ Data-Resident Client Research Group, which conducts market research on data-resident clients and organizes industry events. UPDATA is a member of SAJ. This association positions UPDATA as a thought leader in the Japanese software industry.
• Japan Computer System Sales Association (JCSSA / 一般社団法人日本コンピュータシステム 지적했다販売協会)minorOthersUPDATA is a member of JCSSA, a Japanese IT industry association.
• Forum 8 Co., Ltd. (株式会社フォーラムエイト)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerForum 8 is the developer/licensor of 'Suite Data Delete' product which UPDATA distributes. UPDATA resells this product as 'Suite Data Delete' under a licensing arrangement. The product provides HDD/SSD data deletion with ADEC-certified deletion certificates.
• Nippon Electric Co., Ltd. (日本電気株式会社 / NEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUPDATA collaborated with NEC to co-develop and launch 'NEC Cloud File Sync' service in April 2022. This represents a strategic co-development partnership where UPDATA's technology is white-labeled or integrated into NEC's cloud service offering, significantly expanding market reach through NEC's enterprise sales channels.
• Ricoh Japan Co., Ltd. (理光 Japan株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRicoh Japan co-implemented Secure Back solutions with UPDATA. Ricoh Japan's system integration capabilities combined with UPDATA's backup technology. Ricoh is referenced as a key partner in case studies (e.g., TV Osaka implementation through Ricoh Japan).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Veeam Software: Enterprise backup software vendor providing data protection across virtual, physical, and cloud environments. Directly comparable to UPDATA's Secure Back and Air Back in the centralized enterprise backup category.
• Druva: Cloud-native data protection and backup SaaS delivered as a 100% subscription model. Directly comparable to UPDATA's Secure Back Cloud Option and Air Back Cloud for cloud-based backup.
• Acronis: Backup and cyber protection software vendor combining data protection with anti-ransomware. Directly comparable to UPDATA's backup and data protection portfolio targeting SMEs and enterprises.
• Barracuda Networks: Backup and data protection vendor (Barracuda Backup, Barracuda Cloud-to-Cloud Backup). Directly comparable to UPDATA's backup products in the SMB and mid-market segment.

Broad incumbents

• Veritas Technologies: Enterprise data protection and information management vendor (NetBackup, Backup Exec). Broad incumbent in the same category as UPDATA's Secure Back for large enterprise deployments.
• Citrix (Cloud Software Group): Major VDI and digital workspace vendor (Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, Citrix DaaS). Competes with UPDATA's Shadow Desktop in the broader endpoint virtualization and remote work security space.
• Microsoft (Azure Virtual Desktop): Provides cloud-based VDI and endpoint management via Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 Cloud PC, integrated with Microsoft 365 and Azure infrastructure. Directly competitive with Shadow Desktop and a major source of competitive pressure for UPDATA.
• VMware (Dell Technologies): VDI and digital workspace platform (VMware Horizon, VMware Workspace ONE) and a broad enterprise IT vendor. Competes with UPDATA's Shadow Desktop data-less client proposition within the broader VDI/endpoint market.

Regional players

• NS Solutions: Japanese system integrator providing enterprise IT solutions, data management, and system integration services to large Japanese enterprises. Comparable regional player in Japanese enterprise IT and data protection.
• IIJ (Internet Initiative Japan): Japanese IT services and network provider offering security, cloud, and managed services to Japanese enterprises. Comparable regional player in the Japanese enterprise data management and security market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/updata2005cojp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8JTgFEo6nYc0lwpAfL72cA
• Facebookfacebook.com/Updata.Incorporated.Jp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/updatacojp

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

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 UPDATA