U.S. Embassy Jakarta Leads Effort to Boost Cybersecurity at Strategic Ports

Jakarta: The United States Embassy Jakarta hosted a four-day cybersecurity workshop in Jakarta September 1-4, focusing on securing Indonesia’s strategic ports against cyber threats.  This workshop, organized in collaboration with leading cybersecurity experts, brought together more than 40 Indonesian participants from across the ports and cybersecurity sectors to strengthen Indonesia’s resilience against malign actors targeting critical maritime infrastructure. 

“The security of Indonesia’s ports is vital not only to the Indonesian economy but also to bilateral trade,” said the U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Heather Merritt in her remarks, stated from the Embassy statement.

“This workshop reflects the United States’ dedication to working with Indonesia to safeguard critical infrastructure and ensure the stability of our shared maritime interests,” added Merritt.

The workshop included interactive training sessions, site visits, and simulations to equip participants with practical tools to counter cyber threats.  Participants explored cybersecurity fundamentals for port systems, focusing on Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and critical controls to reduce risks. 

Workshop participants conducted a site visit to port facilities, where experts will highlight vulnerabilities and effective defense practices.  Attendees took part in a tabletop exercise simulating maritime ICS risks to help decision-makers lead resilience initiatives. They engaged in a hands-on cyber range simulation, enhancing their ability to respond to real-world threats. 

“This is a great event which combined tabletop exercise and the exchange of technical knowledge, helping to develop better coordination among Indonesian stakeholders in the port cyber sector,” said Nur Achmadi Salmawan, a participant from the National Cyber and Encryption Agency (BSSN) Jakarta.  

The workshop was led by experienced trainers and facilitators, including Tim Conway (Technical Director for Industrial Control System (ICS) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Programs at SANS Institute), Dean Parsons (Principal Instructor for Industrial Control System (ICS) and Operational Technology (OT) at SANS Institute), and Dao Le (Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)/Cybersecurity Executive). 

This initiative underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening Indonesia’s cybersecurity capabilities and fostering collaboration to address shared challenges in the maritime domain.