The Communication and Informatics Ministry and the National Cyber and Encryption Agency (BSSN) organized a basic training on cybersecurity for 1,100 Islamic boarding school students (santri) to commemorate the 2022 National Santri Day.

“We expect that by increasing Indonesian digital talents, especially the Islamic boarding school students, we can have great potentials to strengthen (our) defense in the cyberspace and (improve) the national economy,” Head of the Research and Human Resources Development Agency of the ministry Hary Budiarto said here on Saturday.

He expressed the hope that the effort would bolster the welfare of the community.

“Globally, this digital society is known as Society 5.0. They carry out their activities digitally, (and) their data is maintained on the cloud server,” he noted.

Currently, as long as there is an Internet connection to access the required information, people do not need to travel to work, learn, or conduct other daily activities since they can be carried out virtually, the official said.

“It (the use of digital technology) requires special training,” he added.

To create more digital talents, the ministry is also cooperating with various organizations and social groups in the community, including students across Indonesia, he said.

The cybersecurity training, which was held in collaboration with the Islamic Social Organization Friendship Institute (LPOI), involved several practitioners from the Communication and Information Ministry and the BSSN.

Disseminating information on the importance of cybersecurity to students is one of the government’s concrete attempts to establish an excellent digital society in accordance with Indonesia’s 2021–2024 Digital Road Map.

According to the road map, the Indonesian people are expected to gain the basic competencies to take advantage of digital technology advancement to support the development of the national economy.

Chairperson of LPOI, Said Aqil Siroj, said he hopes that the training would encourage students to use the digital space more actively and positively.

“Hopefully, this cyber security training can be successful. To be honest, many students are still digitally illiterate, thus hopefully through the training, we can provide insight (on cybersecurity) to students in Indonesia,” he added.

National Santri Day is observed every October 22.

Source: Antara News