BANGKOK, JurnalPost.com — The Head of the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN) of the Republic of Indonesia, Nugroho Sulistyo Budi, received the Outstanding Leadership award at the ACRA Awards ceremony held during the 3rd ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Community Alliance (AJCCA) Conference in Thailand on Thursday (29/10/2026).
The award was presented in recognition of his leadership in fostering innovation and strengthening the cybersecurity ecosystem, both within Indonesia and through regional cooperation.
On the same occasion, Nugroho emphasized that increasingly complex cyber threats cannot be addressed by any single nation in isolation. The development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), specifically Agentic AI, presents a new challenge that requires collective coordination and preparedness.
According to him, strengthening digital resilience depends not only on technological capabilities but also on collaboration, human resource capacity building, and information exchange between nations.
Award for Leadership in Cybersecurity
The Outstanding Leadership award received by Nugroho was part of the AJCCA Conference series, which brought together various cybersecurity stakeholders from ASEAN nations and Japan.
This award recognizes leadership contributions in developing innovative initiatives and promoting the strengthening of digital security.
The ceremony took place amidst a growing need for nations to bolster the protection of information systems and digital infrastructure.
Technological progress brings many benefits to public services, businesses, and societal activities. However, the widening use of digital services also increases the need for security systems capable of anticipating various forms of threats.
In this situation, leadership that can strengthen coordination and drive institutional readiness is a crucial factor in building sustainable cyber resilience.
Agentic AI Reshapes the Digital Threat Landscape
In addition to receiving the award, Nugroho delivered a keynote speech titled The Silent Threat: Cyber Dominance in the Age of Agentic AI.
In his presentation, he highlighted the development of Agentic AI, an artificial intelligence technology capable of executing tasks based on specific goals with a higher degree of autonomy.
This technology has the potential to increase the efficiency of various digital activities. However, its capabilities also introduce new issues that must be accounted for in information security management.
Nugroho explained that AI plays three roles in the cybersecurity landscape: as ashield, atarget, and aweapon.
As a defensive tool, AI can help detect suspicious activity, analyze attack patterns, and accelerate responses to security incidents.
Conversely, AI systems can also become targets for exploitation if there are weaknesses in their models, data, or supporting infrastructure.
On the other hand, the same technology can be misused by cybercriminals to support malicious activities.
This condition demonstrates that the utilization of artificial intelligence must be accompanied by adequate oversight and risk management to ensure that technological progress does not inadvertently increase the vulnerability of digital systems.
BSSN Chief Promotes Security by Design
Addressing these developments, Nugroho emphasized the need for a security approach implemented from the early stages of technology development.
“To anticipate these risks, we need to strengthen AI governance, implement the Security by Design principle, and manage risks proactively to build a secure and resilient digital ecosystem,” Nugroho stated during his presentation.
The Security by Design principle places security as a vital component of the system planning and design process.
With this approach, potential vulnerabilities can be identified early, giving developers and technology managers the opportunity to prepare protective measures before systems are widely deployed.
The application of this principle also requires periodic evaluation, access restrictions, and monitoring for the emergence of new threats.
In the context of Agentic AI, oversight becomes increasingly important because the technology can perform a series of actions automatically based on given instructions and authority.
Without adequate control, these capabilities could pose risks to data security and system reliability.
Three Pillars of ASEAN–Japan Cybersecurity Collaboration
Beyond technological developments, Nugroho highlighted the importance of strengthening international cooperation in facing cross-border cyber threats.
He proposed three main pillars essential for building regional cyber resilience: Collaboration , Capacity , and Connectivity .
Collaboration is directed at strengthening coordination between governments, cybersecurity agencies, industry, academia, and various parties involved in protecting digital systems.
Capacity building focuses on developing technical competencies, strengthening human resource capabilities, and improving institutional readiness to handle security incidents.
Meanwhile, connectivity is necessary to support smooth communication and information exchange between countries, especially when facing threats involving digital networks across various regions.
These three pillars are considered interconnected in building a cooperative mechanism capable of responding to evolving threats more effectively.
“Cyber threats know no borders. Resilience must be built together,” Nugroho asserted.
This statement emphasizes that cyber threats do not recognize geographical boundaries, so digital resilience must be built through shared commitment.
Disruptions to one digital system can impact other interconnected networks or services, including those in different countries.
Therefore, national protection efforts must be supported by regional cooperation through knowledge exchange, strengthened communication, and improved capabilities in handling security incidents.
AJCCA Conference Serves as a Forum for Regional Digital Resilience
The AJCCA Conference is an annual forum that brings together representatives from cybersecurity agencies, relevant ministries, industry associations, academics, and technology practitioners from ASEAN countries and Japan.
The forum serves as a venue to discuss the evolution of digital threats, share experiences, and strengthen cooperation in addressing cybersecurity challenges.
The development of Agentic AI is one of the issues receiving attention due to its potential to change how digital systems are used while simultaneously creating new risk patterns.
For Indonesia, these discussions are relevant given the increasingly widespread use of digital technology across various sectors, from government to public services.
BSSN's participation in this conference is part of an effort to strengthen relationships and coordination with cybersecurity stakeholders in the region.
The Outstanding Leadership award received by Nugroho also serves as a momentum to highlight the importance of leadership, innovation, and cooperation in facing the evolution of digital threats.
Amidst the acceleration of artificial intelligence usage, readiness to face risks cannot rely solely on increasingly sophisticated technology.
Strengthening governance, implementing security from the design stage, increasing institutional capacity, and cross-border collaboration are essential parts of building a secure, trusted, and resilient digital ecosystem.
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