ITSEC launches cybersecurity & AI academy in Jakarta

ITSEC Asia has launched the ITSEC Cyber & AI Academy in Jakarta, a new unit focused on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence training in Indonesia.

The academy was introduced at the company's headquarters in the presence of officials from the Indonesian government, higher education and the military, alongside industry representatives and technology professionals.

The launch comes as Indonesia seeks to expand its pool of digital workers while organisations face a growing need for staff who can build, test and secure technology systems. The academy will use practice-based learning and real-world simulations for professionals and organisations.

Nezar Patria, Vice Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, set out the scale of the shortfall in digital skills.

"Indonesia will need around 9 million digital talents by 2030, while today we have only around 3 million. This gap cannot be addressed by the government alone. Strong collaboration between government, industry and educational institutions is needed to prepare the talent Indonesia needs as the digital economy continues to grow. Initiatives such as ITSEC Cyber & AI Academy can contribute to this effort by strengthening talent readiness in cybersecurity and AI," said Patria.

ITSEC Asia is listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange under the ticker CYBR. The academy draws on the company's 16 years of cybersecurity experience and turns that work into training programmes designed around workplace needs.

Patrick Dannacher, President Director of ITSEC Asia, linked the launch to the company's work in the sector.

"For 16 years, ITSEC Asia has been at the forefront of cybersecurity. Now we are bringing that experience into talent development to help shape the next generation who will safeguard Indonesia's digital future," said Dannacher.

"Cybersecurity and AI challenges continue to evolve. We therefore need more professionals who can understand technology in practical terms, secure it and use it responsibly. ITSEC Cyber & AI Academy is part of our commitment to contributing to the development of Indonesia's digital capabilities," he added.

Two tracks

The academy is structured around two main areas. Its cybersecurity track, described as Defend & Attack, is intended to train participants to understand threats, test systems, defend networks and respond to incidents.

The second track, Build & Govern, centres on AI and is intended to cover the building, deployment and management of AI systems, including security and governance.

Stella Christie, Vice Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, said the country's data resources would only become valuable if they were properly protected and used.

"Indonesia has a major strength in the form of data. But data only becomes a strategic strength when we have the capability to protect it and use it effectively. AI can help us address challenges that matter to Indonesia, but that requires talent that understands both the technology and the data behind it," said Christie.

According to ITSEC Asia, the training model is practitioner-led and follows a sequence of assessment, learning, practice and evaluation. That process is supported by a set of in-house platforms covering competency assessment, academic management, adaptive AI learning, simulation and cyber awareness.

Yulius C. Rusli, President Director of ITSEC Cyber & AI Academy, said the academy had been built around practical needs rather than theory alone.

"We built the Academy around real needs in the field. Participants don't just learn cybersecurity and AI concepts. They also have the opportunity to test their capabilities through assessment, adaptive learning and simulations designed to resemble the conditions they face in their work," said Rusli.

"Technology ecosystems such as AKSI, CAKRA, SAKTI, PERISAI and JAGA allow us to build a more measurable learning journey, from identifying competencies to testing capabilities in realistic scenarios," he added.

Talent pipeline

The launch also forms part of a broader effort to widen the country's cybersecurity talent base. Alongside the academy, ITSEC Asia highlighted its ITSEC CyberTalent initiative, which supports young Indonesians through learning access, mentoring and industry exposure.

As part of that effort, the company will support Ibrahim Al Abrar, a student from Boyolali in Central Java, who received a Letter of Appreciation from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration after reporting a security vulnerability in one of its public systems through a disclosure programme. The support includes equipment for his studies, private training sessions with ITSEC Asia specialists and the chance to join an internship programme if requirements are met.

Dannacher said access, rather than raw ability, often determined whether young people could progress in the field.

"Over the past 16 years, we have seen that great talent can come from anywhere. The biggest challenge is often not ability, but access to learning, mentorship and opportunity. Through ITSEC CyberTalent, we want to help young Indonesian talent continue to develop so they can contribute to Indonesia's digital security in the future," said Dannacher.

ITSEC Asia said the academy forms part of its contribution to Indonesia's wider digital ecosystem, where demand for trained cybersecurity and AI workers is rising across business and public institutions.