Speaking at the ITSEC Cybersecurity Summit 2024 here on Wednesday, he remarked that the presence of a cybersecurity academy is essential to producing digital security talents capable of helping Indonesia navigate increasingly complex challenges in the digitization era.
He expressed belief that the academy would help Indonesia prevent cyberattacks targeted at its vital infrastructure and places.
Muhammad then spoke of having communicated with Indonesian Defense Minister and President-elect Prabowo Subianto regarding his proposal.
"I have conveyed this matter to the president-elect. Hopefully, the incoming government will actualize this suggestion with the support of ITSEC. That way, we will be able to protect our country from increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks," he said.
The lawmaker also expressed hope that the ITSEC Cybersecurity Summit 2024 would serve as momentum for the government and related parties to find a solution to strengthen Indonesia's information technology sector.
The summit brought together IT security experts, government officials, and relevant stakeholders to discuss the latest cybersecurity trends and evolving cyberthreats, with a special focus on data protection in vital sectors such as finance, administration, telecommunication, health, energy, and transportation.
Earlier, on August 16, MPR Speaker Bambang Soesatyo remarked that the time has come for Indonesia to start making preparations for the establishment of a cyber branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI).
He emphasized that cyber force is vital for the country to adapt to the era of the Internet of Military Things (IoMT), marked by countries' ability to launch military operations remotely without compromising accuracy.
He pointed out that the recent cyberattack on a national data center should be seen as a warning.
On the same day, Communication and Informatics Minister Budi Arie Setiadi shared the same view about the importance of a cyber military branch.
He underscored the need for Indonesia to follow the example of fellow Southeast Asian nation Singapore, which has formed a military branch that focuses on cyber defense.
Indonesia has seen several significant cyber incidents in recent years, with the most recent occurring in August, when several Indonesian government agencies were targeted by a complex cyberattack.
The incident led to operational disruptions, affecting the national data center's ability to process and manage data efficiently.
The Indonesian government has responded to the recent attacks with a combination of technical, legal, and policy measures, involving various agencies.
Key government agencies involved in the response include National Cyber and Encryption Agency (BSSN), Ministry of Communications and Informatics, Ministry of Law and Human Rights, and National Police.
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Translator: Fathur R, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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