Cyber threats in Indonesia have reached an alarming stage, with billions of digital attacks targeting organizations, government institutions, and individuals every year. According to Velsicuro, there were more than 3.64 billion cyber-attacks in Indonesia during the period from January to July 2025. This figure is nearly equivalent to the total number of cyber-attacks recorded over the previous five years, reflecting an extremely rapid and aggressive escalation of threats.
Despite the continuous rise in cyber-attacks, the reality is that most organizations in Indonesia remain highly vulnerable. Only 12 percent of companies are reported to have mature cybersecurity capabilities, while the rest demonstrate relatively low preparedness. Ironically, many of these organizations are overly confident in their ability to withstand cyber attacks.
This situation highlights that cybersecurity awareness is no longer merely a formal training requirement, but a fundamental necessity for building sustainable defenses across all levels of an organization.
Why Cybersecurity Awareness Has Become a Critical Issue in Indonesia?
Cybersecurity awareness has become an issue that Indonesian companies can no longer afford to ignore, as attack patterns continue to evolve and grow more sophisticated. Many attacks such as phishing, ransomware, and social engineering exploit human factors rather than purely technical vulnerabilities. According to global reports, 95 percent of data breaches involve human error rather than technology failure alone.
These facts indicate that a lack of cybersecurity awareness poses a significant risk to organizations. In addition, the rapid pace of digitalization in Indonesia has expanded the attack surface considerably, while organizational awareness and readiness to address these risks remain insufficient. Many employees believe they can recognize threats such as phishing, yet nearly half of them have still fallen victim to phishing attacks.
Cyber Threats in Companies: The Role of Human Error in Security Incidents
Beyond the low level of cybersecurity awareness, human error is in fact the primary trigger behind many cyber security incidents. Simple mistakes that often go unnoticed include opening malicious links from untrusted sources, exposing credentials, or failing to recognize phishing email indicators. These actions can create opportunities for attackers to infiltrate systems.
Industry data shows that human error is involved in most security breaches, including an overly optimistic assumption that employees already understand existing threats. This mindset can lead to severe consequences, including damage to business reputation, loss of customer trust, and significant recovery costs when an organization becomes a victim, especially when incidents originate from previously undetected behaviors.
What is Cybersecurity Awareness and The Concept of Human Firewall?
Cybersecurity awareness is a systematic effort to improve individual knowledge, understanding, and vigilance toward cyber threats, with the goal of changing behavior so that digital risks can be recognized and addressed effectively. This effort emphasizes the critical role of people who have the capacity to understand threats and enhance alertness against cyber risks.
At its core, cybersecurity awareness positions people as a human firewall, where employees are viewed not as weaknesses but as active layers of defense. The objective is to enable them to identify and stop threats before they evolve into real attacks.
AKO Labs Approach to Cybersecurity Awareness in Indonesia?
To improve cybersecurity awareness in Indonesia, AKO Labs introduces three core approaches designed to ensure optimal implementation of the human firewall within organizations. Through the philosophy of Experiment First, Scale Later, problem driven cybersecurity awareness training, and learning by doing, AKO Labs delivers relevant solutions that drive meaningful behavioral change related to cybersecurity awareness for organizations in Indonesia.
Unlike competitors, AKO Labs combines experimentation, validation, and rapid iteration to create real value rather than merely producing proof of concept initiatives.
Experiment First, Scale Later
AKO Labs believes that effective training goes beyond theoretical instruction and must involve realistic hands-on experimentation through simulations of real-world scenarios. Programs are first tested on a small scale, then evaluated and expanded based on evidence of actual behavioral change.
Problem-Driven, Not Trend-Driven
Training materials are developed based on concrete issues frequently encountered in Indonesia, including phishing cases that reflect local context and common employee mistakes. This approach is not about following hype, but about addressing real and pressing needs.
Learning by Doing
This approach integrates practical exercises with immediate feedback, enabling participants to understand risks while also learning effective prevention and reporting practices.
What Makes AKO Labs Different from Other Cybersecurity Awareness Programs?
AKO Labs stands out by offering a highly pragmatic and contextual approach tailored to conditions in Indonesia. By delivering materials that align with local culture and business practices, AKO Labs designs methods that create deeper and more sustainable training impact.
Here are five key reasons why AKO Labs differs from other cybersecurity awareness programs:
- Reducing the risk of human error through comprehensive training that minimizes common mistakes often exploited in cyber-attacks such as ransomware and phishing.
- Faster phishing recognition and response, where participants are trained to identify attack indicators in real time and report them more quickly and accurately.
- Relevant content and localized materials delivered in the local language, supported by case studies aligned with Indonesian culture and business practices, enabling stronger understanding and impact.
- Training materials aligned with local and global regulatory compliance standards, particularly related to data privacy and information security governance.
- Flexible integration with AKO Labs training modules available in SCORM 1.2 and 2004 formats, ready for integration with corporate Learning Management Systems.
Benefits of AKO Labs Cybersecurity Awareness Training for Companies
AKO Labs training delivers the following tangible benefits:
- Reduced human error.
- Rapid response to phishing in real time scenarios.
- Relevant content with stronger local understanding.
- Compliance with regulations and information security standards.
- Flexible integration of training modules with corporate LMS platforms.
Key Features of the AKO Labs Cybersecurity Awareness Program
AKO Labs offers a range of key features that make its cybersecurity awareness program a strong fit for organizations, including:
- Use of the local language to help participants understand context more easily and intuitively.
- Culturally relevant context through real case examples aligned with Indonesian business realities.
- Real world case studies of cyber threats, providing lessons learned from past cyber-attacks.
- Compliance with local and international regulations as added training value, supported by content aligned with data protection laws and standards.
Cybersecurity Awareness Across Industries in Indonesia
The need for cybersecurity awareness in Indonesia is no longer limited to a single industry, but has become a cross-sector necessity. The continuous evolution of cyber threats targeting multiple industries, with significant operational and reputational impact, makes cybersecurity awareness a critical requirement.
The banking and financial sector faces risks related to data breaches and digital fraud, the healthcare sector must protect sensitive patient data, while manufacturing, retail, education, and government institutions increasingly rely on digital systems that are vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Each industry has distinct threat patterns and risk characteristics, making it essential for cybersecurity awareness programs to be designed in an adaptive and contextual manner to build appropriate awareness, vigilance, and response across all organizational levels.
Also Read: Find Out 5 Benefit of Cloud Security to Protect Your Data and Business
Building Effective Corporate Cybersecurity Awareness with Virtus Technology Indonesia
As part of CTI Group, Virtus Technology Indonesia delivers a comprehensive cybersecurity awareness approach supported by experienced experts in cybersecurity and digital transformation. Through strategic collaboration with AKO Labs, Virtus provides training programs and end to end guidance tailored to each organization’s needs and security maturity level.
Backed by a professional IT team with deep understanding of the cyber threat landscape in Indonesia, Virtus helps organizations build a sustainable security culture, transform employees into active human firewalls, and strengthen business resilience amid escalating digital risks. Contact the Virtus team today by clicking this link!
Author: Ervina Anggraini – Content Writer CTI Group