Government Response to Ransomware Attack on Indonesia’s Immigration Data

The Minister of Law and Human Rights, Yasonna Laoly, has reassured the public about the safety and security of Indonesia’s immigration data, which has been transferred to Amazon Web Service (AWS) after a ransomware attack on the Temporary National Data Center (PDNS).

Following an internal meeting to address the cyberattack, Yasonna Laoly confirmed the security and integrity of the data stored on AWS. While the immigration data is currently on AWS, he indicated plans to eventually return the data to the PDNS, although a specific timeline for this transition has not been provided.

In response to the attack, President Joko Widodo has directed the Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister to conduct a study on national data management and gather insights from other countries to inform the establishment of an official National Data Center (PDN) by the end of 2024.

The government intends to establish a technical implementation unit to support the official PDN, with measures being taken to ensure the full recovery of the data center from the impact of the ransomware attack by the end of July.

During a hearing with the House of Representatives Commission I, Communication and Informatics Minister Budi Arie Setiadi acknowledged that ransomware attacks are not unique to Indonesia and highlighted the global prevalence of such cyber threats. It was noted that Indonesia ranks among the lowest in the G20 countries in terms of the number of ransomware attacks.

In light of the attack, it is essential for the government to enhance its cybersecurity measures and establish robust systems for safeguarding sensitive national data. Indonesia is actively learning from the experiences of other nations and implementing best practices in data management and protection as it continues to address the aftermath of the ransomware attack.

The government’s response to the ransomware attack on Indonesia’s immigration data underscores the critical importance of cybersecurity and the need for proactive measures to safeguard vital national information. With the transfer of immigration data to AWS and plans to establish an official National Data Center, Indonesia is taking significant steps to fortify its data infrastructure and strengthen its resilience against cyber threats.