Cybersecurity is Key to Protecting Data and Public Services: Govt

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta: Cybersecurity has become a critical pillar in safeguarding personal data and ensuring the continuity of public services in the digital era. The Indonesian government considers strengthening its digital defense systems not merely an option, but an urgent necessity.

Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Nezar Patria stressed that digital threats now directly affect social sectors and governance. “Cybersecurity today can no longer be understood as a technical issue or simply as dealing with hacking incidents,” Nezar said during the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN) Executive Town Hall in Depok, West Java, on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He explained that cyberspace has become a strategic arena influencing public administration, healthcare, social assistance, and even the democratic process. “The main threat is not a spectacular large-scale attack, but the gradual erosion of system sovereignty,” he said.

Nezar warned that reliance on foreign infrastructure and leaks of strategic data could disrupt public services and erode public trust. He argued that digital infrastructure, including submarine cables, data centers, identity systems, and artificial intelligence, should be treated as national defense assets.

He cited the Global Cyber Security Outlook 2026 report, which recorded a 34 percent increase in geopolitically motivated ransomware attacks in 2025 targeting critical infrastructure.

To address these challenges, Nezar said the government is reinforcing BSSN’s role in raising national awareness and preparedness against cyber threats. “A country is not defeated because it is attacked, but because it allows its digital space to be controlled by other parties,” he emphasized. ***