Executive Column: Zentara Pushes for Indonesia to Export Its Own Tech

Why It Matters

Indonesia’s declining cybersecurity score threatens its ambition to become a regional data‑center hub, making homegrown solutions critical for economic growth and digital sovereignty.

Key Takeaways

• Indonesia's NCSI fell to 47.5, lagging regional peers
• Zentara aims to position Indonesia as a cyber‑tech exporter
• CEO advises startups prioritize processes over expensive SOCs
• $10‑per‑user phishing tools can boost security hygiene
• Advancing from reactive to proactive maturity turns security into management asset

Pulse Analysis

Indonesia is racing to attract data‑center investments and accelerate AI adoption, yet its National Cybersecurity Index slipped from 63.64 in 2023 to 47.5 in 2025. The decline places the country behind Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines, exposing a critical vulnerability in its digital infrastructure. Zentara, launched in 2025, sees this gap as an opportunity to build indigenous cyber‑technology that can be exported globally. CEO Regal Rauniyar Star argues that a homegrown security ecosystem is essential not only for protecting domestic assets but also for showcasing Indonesia’s tech credibility on the world stage.

The column stresses that cybersecurity spending should follow a mindset, not a budget. Start‑ups need documented processes, trained staff and simple, affordable tools rather than a full‑scale Security Operations Center. A $10‑per‑user phishing‑simulation subscription—roughly $40 a month for a 30‑person team—can dramatically improve employee vigilance. Zentara promotes a maturity model that moves firms from reactive, level‑1 defenses to proactive, level‑5 practices where security becomes a strategic management function. As AI reshapes threat vectors, continuous risk mapping and data‑back‑up become indispensable, turning security from a cost centre into a competitive advantage.

If Indonesia can nurture firms like Zentara, it could flip its cybersecurity deficit into an exportable asset. Local solutions tailored to regional regulatory nuances can help SMEs upgrade defenses without prohibitive costs, while larger enterprises gain confidence to host critical workloads. A robust domestic cyber‑industry would also attract foreign investors seeking secure environments for cloud and AI projects. By championing a process‑first, cost‑effective approach, Indonesia positions itself to not only close the security gap but also to become a regional leader in cyber‑technology exports.