Indosat, Mastercard push for cyber-savvy Indonesia through free national training

Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison and Mastercard have joined forces with Indonesia’s ministry of communications and digital (Kemkomdigi) to roll out a nationwide cybersecurity training programme, designed to build digital resilience through the government’s Digital Talent Scholarship (DTS) platform.

The initiative marks the latest step in the trio’s ongoing collaboration, targeting the upskilling of one million Indonesians by 2029 through free, certified modules in digital literacy and cyber hygiene. Delivered in Bahasa Indonesia via a dedicated Learning Management System (LMS), the programme is open to the public, with a particular focus on MSMEs and underserved communities.

As Indonesia’s digital economy accelerates, gaps in cybersecurity readiness persist. The new programme signals a shift in how public and private sectors tackle digital risk - moving beyond basic access to building long-term digital capability and trust.

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“We are proud to once again collaborate with Indosat in building Indonesia’s digital ecosystem,” said Boni Pudjianto, head of BPSDM Komdigi at Kemkomdigi. “The government is committed to creating a digital environment that is inclusive, secure, and resilient to cyber threats. Through this tripartite collaboration with Indosat and Mastercard, we are laying a strong foundation to prepare one million Indonesian digital talents who are ready to face future challenges and support national digital economic growth.”

The training modules, designed for general users and MSMEs alike, cover topics such as identifying cyber risks, updating security systems, creating strong passwords, and recognising phishing attacks. Upon completion, participants will receive a digital certificate of accomplishment.

This move builds on last year’s collaboration between the same parties and echoes earlier efforts, such as the establishment of the Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence - also a Mastercard-Indosat joint initiative aimed at public education.

“This collaboration is a tangible demonstration of Indosat’s commitment to expanding access to digital education in Indonesia,” said Irsyad Sahroni, director and chief human resources officer of Indosat. “We are proud to be part of this national initiative alongside Mastercard and Kemkomdigi to develop a generation of digital talents who are competitive and capable of maintaining digital safety.”

“Mastercard believes that digital literacy and cybersecurity awareness are key elements in building national digital resilience,” added Aileen Goh, country manager of Mastercard Indonesia. “This programme reflects Mastercard’s commitment to raising cybersecurity awareness among Indonesians from diverse backgrounds by providing free basic cybersecurity training.”

Last year, the Indonesian government aimed to bring 30 million MSMEs into the digital ecosystem. It has also set an ambitious target of 8% economic growth by 2029. To achieve this, the MSME sector plays a vital role, given its scale and employment impact. Contributing 61% - or IDR 9.58 trillion (US$588 million) - to national GDP, the sector employs around 117 million workers, or 97% of the country’s total workforce.

But digital progress comes with growing risks. According to the latest analysis from AwanPintar.id, Indonesia faced 2.5 billion cyberattacks in the first half of 2024 - a sharp rise from 347 million during the same period last year. On average, that’s 13.7 million attacks per day, or 158 every second.

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