The government is upbeat about developing an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) security laboratory to protect its confidential data and information.

Engkos Koswara, expert advisor for ICT at the Office of the State Minister for Research and Technology told The Jakarta Post on Friday the government expected to have an ICT security laboratory within five years.

The laboratory would be useful for the development of an internalized ICT security system for protecting confidential information, as although security protection systems had been locally developed by private institutions since 2005, the government needed its own protection system, Engkos said.

"The country's security protection mostly focuses on anti-viruses and network protection, without taking application and server databases into consideration.

"Indonesia also needs a forensic and cyber crime research center including incident management response and analysis," he said, adding most institutions and individuals used ICT security systems like anti-virus software, both foreign, such as Kaspersky, and local ones such as PCMAV. The government will provide academic and financial incentives for those involved in developing technology for their ICT security protection.

"The incentives are for lecturers, researchers and even talented students," he said, adding that Rp 100 billion (US$10.57 million) was allocated yearly from the state budget for technology development.

In line with the government's strategic planning, Russian giant security firm Kaspersky Lab has been in talks with the government on internalized ICT development, proposing cooperation for the provision of a research laboratory for security protection, as well as internships and scholarships for Indonesians.

"University students can submit their research papers as part of the selection process for scholarships," firm founder Eugene Kaspersky told reporters Friday. "The world is prone to malicious software *or malware* attacks as hackers break confidential codes to make money through the computerized systems in the business sector," he said. "China, Latin America and Russia are the most prone to such attacks." He said Indonesia was not a main target of malware, which had damaged computer systems in countries around the globe, however he expected it to become a target within the next few years. Engkos acknowledged the danger, saying ICT security would be the government's priority in the coming years.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/