Asahi Group Holdings is overhauling its cybersecurity after a September ransomware attack exposed 2 million people's personal data and crippled operations. CEO Atsushi Katsuki announced plans for a dedicated cybersecurity unit and admitted their previous measures "were easily broken."
The Qilin ransomware group's attack encrypted servers and infected employee devices, forcing the Japanese brewing giant to halt automated order and shipping processes. Recovery efforts will continue until February 2026, with the company scrapping VPNs for a zero-trust security model.
The financial impact is severe: alcohol sales in Japan dropped 20% year-over-year in November, and Asahi has skipped three months of sales disclosures due to ongoing system disruptions.
Source: Infosecurity Magazine