Following a ransomware attack on Indonesia’s Temporary National Data Center (PDNS), the country’s immigration data has been securely transferred to Amazon Web Service (AWS). Yasonna Laoly, the Law and Human Rights Minister, sought to reassure the public of the data’s safety stored on AWS after the cyberattack, stating that all is now well without any further issues.
The decision to transfer the immigration data to AWS was prompted by disruptions at the PDNS caused by the ransomware attack on June 20. This attack, which impacted a total of 282 institutions, necessitated the need to secure the immigration data and prevent any potential leaks.
While Yasonna Laoly was unable to provide a specific timeline for the data to be returned to the PDNS, he emphasized the current security and integrity of the information stored on AWS. The Ministry of Communication and Informatics and the National Cyber and Encryption Agency (BSSN) have been diligently working to address the situation and ensure the recovery of the affected data center.
The President, Joko Widodo, has instructed the Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister, Abdullah Azwar Anas, to conduct a study and seek references on national data management from other countries in preparation for the establishment of the official PDN. Azwar Anas disclosed that a technical implementation unit will be formed by the government following the launch of the official National Data Center (PDN) at the end of 2024 as a response to the impact of the ransomware attack.
In a meeting with the House of Representatives Commission I, Communication and Informatics Minister Budi Arie Setiadi underscored that Indonesia is not the only country affected by such attacks. He pointed out that Indonesia ranks among the lowest of the G20 countries in terms of the number of ransomware attacks, citing data from Technology Review Insight.
Budi Arie Setiadi emphasized that ransomware attacks are a global issue, with the United States experiencing the highest percentage of attacks, followed by Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Indonesia. Despite the challenges posed by the ransomware attack, Budi expressed confidence in the full recovery of the data center’s operations by the end of July.
The attack, which utilized a ransomware called Brain Cipher, rendered a portion of the data stored within the PDNS unusable. Earlier reports indicated that the perpetrators behind the attack had demanded an $8 million ransom.
As the Indonesian government continues to address the aftermath of the ransomware attack, efforts are underway to safeguard the country’s data infrastructure and prevent future cybersecurity threats. The transfer of immigration data to AWS and the planned establishment of the official National Data Center indicate a proactive approach to enhancing data security and resilience in the face of cyber threats.
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