Helping build cyber skills for Indonesian micro and small business

Indonesia is a nation of small and micro-entrepreneurs who are increasingly using online platforms to sell their goods and services. The Australia-Indonesia Centre is pleased to announce a new program that will help build the tech skills and business knowledge of this important part of the economy.

Funded by the Australian government, Cyber E-commerce for Trade is an Australian government initiative aimed at helping countries in the Indo-Pacific take full advantage of the digital economy by increasing their e-commerce capabilities.

The program is also in partnership with the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN), and Ministry of Cooperation and UMKM Republic of Indonesia (Kemenkop UMKM RI) who have been working with AIC Industry Fellow Caroline Chan on the program.

Professor Chan provided her thoughts about the program on the eve of its launch.

The Australia-Indonesia Centre: Who will benefit from the e-commerce for trade training program?

Professor Chan: The major beneficiaries will be the online small businesses who would like to expand their business globally. The program will provide them with learning new knowledge around security but to also put it into practice.  Many small businesses are unprepared and unconcerned when it comes to cyber breaches; but customers are increasingly concerned about the security of their personal data. A recent KPMG survey of 175 procurement managers found that an overwhelming 94% believe that cyber security standards are important when awarding a project to an SME supplier.

Professor Chan recently took part in the AIC’s In Conversation webinar, “What’s next for the digital economy”.

The Australia-Indonesia Centre: What skills will be taught that are important for Indonesia?

Professor Chan: The basic cybersecurity knowledge and skills which can be practically implemented will be taught. This will include (i) knowing the company’s biggest data assets and how to protect this such as using  backup systems and passwords (ii) increase awareness of cybersecurity and communicate safe practices in the company and with others (iii) know what to do and how to respond in the case of an attack.

The Australia-Indonesia Centre: After all the hard work, what is the feeling about creating the course and now launching it?

Professor Chan: The hard work has just started and I feel a mixed sense of excitement and anxiousness in rolling out the program, to monitor the reaction of participants, and the impact of the program on their businesses and more broadly on the business community.

E-commerce for trade: new cybersecurity support for Indonesia’s micro, small and medium enterprises

As a pilot project, the program design is innovative as this will be the first time we use the online delivery combined with peer grouping and one-on-one technical assistance. It is also the first time we deliver the program to private entities (small businesses) collaboratively with the Australian government (DFAT) and Indonesian government (BSSN, the government major cyber security unit which has a direct report to the President).

AIC partners will also be involved in the delivery of the program. So, it is an exciting project but the learning from this project is most important as we can then scale up the project to broaden the impact and accelerate the integration of Indonesian small businesses to the global digital trade.