Government Eyes Cyber Security Coordination

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - A national agency needs to be set up to coordinate cyber security, Coordinating Minister for Political, Security and Legal Affairs Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno stated here on Wednesday.

"Indonesia needs a national cyber agency. Cyber capability is needed especially to deal with security threats and will become the standard for Indonesia to prevent attacks from outside," he affirmed after opening a national symposium on cyber security at Hotel Borobudur.

He noted that defense, banking and land, sea, and air agencies have already implemented their own security systems, but they have not yet been appropriately coordinated at the national level.

 "This is what needs to be coordinated and developed, so that there will be one command with regard to safeguarding the state from cyber-attacks," he pointed out.

The minister remarked that the institution would later function similar to other national agencies such as the counter-terrorism agency and the sea security agency, among others, which are answerable to the president.

"There will later be a selection team that will pick and test the would-be chief and members. The office will be located in a secure place such as the BNN (National Narcotic Agency), so that unauthorized persons do not have access to the facility. It will be under maximum security," he emphasized.

Tedjo noted that there is a pressing need to establish the agency, as government offices in the country have so far often become the targets of cyber criminals in view of the state secrets kept in those offices.

"One of the examples was the loss of data at an office at Ring, which was stolen by foreign parties. This is dangerous. It is about state secrets being stolen. Another example is that we often access the internet through an android system. Even a USB can be used to launch an attack," he pointed out.  

Based on the situation, he said he will report about the meeting today to President Joko Widodo and a discussion could later be held regarding when the agency, its budget, and selection committee and others would be determined.

"This is urgent. So, later, cooperation will be established with the National Intelligence Agency and other concerned authorities. In the banking business, a lot of customers' savings have been lost. Air transportation has also often been disrupted," he stated.

Minister Tedjo affirmed that the government will allocate the budget for the national cyber security agency in the 2016 budget, and in the near future, it will submit the proposal to the House of Representatives.

"Perhaps, in 2016, we will be able to submit it. It is urgent," he added. (WDY)