The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) themed "Evaluation of Indonesia's Cyber Security Regulations: Building a Strong Cyber Security Foundation". This activity is part of the effort to prepare a roadmap for the development of the cybersecurity industry to face the growing threat of cybercrime.

Widespread internet penetration has changed the digital ecosystem in Indonesia in recent years. Based on records from We Are Social, the number of internet users in Indonesia reached 185 million people as of January 2024, an increase of around 1.5 million people or an increase of 0.8% compared to the previous year in January 2023. This number is equivalent to 66.5% of Indonesia's total population of 278.7 million. Along with that, the cybersecurity landscape also presents a dynamic and evolving scenario.

Vice Chairman of Kadin Indonesia for Communication and Information, Firlie Ganinduto, said Kadin Indonesia is committed and fully supports the government's efforts to strengthen the cybersecurity system. Kadin Indonesia is currently preparing a plan to draft a White Paper on the development of the cybersecurity industry in Indonesia. This White Paper will be the basis for the implementation of the blueprint for the development of the cybersecurity industry and ecosystem initiated by Kadin Indonesia as a tangible form of support to the government in overcoming the threat of cybercrime.

"In order to prepare the White Paper on the development of the cybersecurity industry, we held an FGD to accommodate input and aspirations from the government, private sector, and other related parties. The FGD aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the cybersecurity regulatory framework in Indonesia, understand the government's plan to develop the cybersecurity ecosystem, and gain insights from the industry on cybersecurity threats to critical infrastructure," said Firlie.

According to a report by the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN), 361 million traffic anomalies or domestic cyber attacks were found in the period from January to October 2023. BSSN also noted that until August 2023, the level of traffic anomalies that were compromised or successfully infected was 75.49 percent or 203 million traffic anomalies. There are three most common anomalies found, namely malware activity, 29.7 per cent trojan activity, and information leak.

Meanwhile, Commercial Counsellor of the US Embassy, Eric Hsu, said that digital security must continue to be pursued along with the increasing internet penetration and cyber-attacks that target the business world, both small and large companies, including the financial, government, and retail sectors. "Digital security is a priority that needs to be done continuously, which affects the development of strategic projects such as smart cities and government initiatives to promote digital access in the future," he said.

"The collaboration between Kadin Indonesia and the US government is a significant strategic step in bridging the digital divide and achieving national goals for inclusive access. With better cybersecurity, we can connect remote communities and unlock greater economic potential," Eric concluded.

Based on the 2023 National Cybersecurity Index (NCSI), Indonesia's cybersecurity index score was recorded at 63.64 points, up 24.68 points from 38.96 points in 2022. Globally, Indonesia is ranked 49th in the world and 31.17 basis points adrift of Belgium, which is ranked as the country with the best cybersecurity level.