Jakarta, INTI – In an exclusive interview with INTI Media during INTI Expo 2025, Mr. Onno Widodo Purbo, Rector of the South Tangerang Institute of Technology (ITTS) and Technology Specialist, shared his insights on the urgency of securing Indonesia’s national cloud architecture. He emphasized that if all data is centralized only in Jakarta, then all digital activities in Indonesia will be dependent on network routes to the capital. This becomes a serious issue when regional network infrastructure remains uneven and highly prone to traffic bottlenecks. The solution, he stressed, is to build Edge Clouds across various regions as mini data centers so that data processing can take place closer to the source of activity. This approach not only strengthens national data sovereignty at the system level but also ensures better efficiency and security. This was one of the key points highlighted in the technical forum held at INTI Expo 2025.
Edge Cloud is Critical for Efficiency and Risk Mitigation
According to Ono, Edge Cloud is a crucial strategy to optimize data processing performance in regional areas. He provided an example in the mining and oil & gas industries operating in remote forest locations sectors that clearly cannot rely on constant connectivity to Jakarta’s central systems. With mini servers placed near the operation site, data can be processed faster and is less exposed to network instability. Edge Cloud aims to ensure data traffic does not bottleneck at the central hub and reduces the risk of a single point of failure.
Infrastructure Must Be Built with “Privacy by Design” & “Security by Design”
Ono also stressed that strengthening national cloud infrastructure is not only a technical issue, but also a legal and personal data protection issue. Cloud implementation, he said, must apply the principles of “Privacy by Design” and “Security by Design” from the planning stage. This ensures that security is not merely patched after deployment, but is embedded from the initial architecture. With this approach, data breach risks can be minimized particularly in alignment with the Personal Data Protection Law (PDP) which now serves as the national legal reference.
Regulations Exist, but Technical Implementation Awaited in 2026
He reminded that the operational implementation of the PDP Law is still awaiting the Government Regulation (PP) scheduled to be signed in early 2026. Many industry players have yet to realize the legal implications. In case of data violation, the sanctions are severe, ranging from fines of up to IDR 50 billion to potential suspension of company operations. Therefore, he urged industry players, academia, government, and cloud providers to begin aligning their steps from now.
Conclusion
Indonesia’s data sovereignty will not be achieved merely by building large data centers in the capital, but must be supported by the development of Edge Cloud across regions and the enforcement of data protection regulation. Cross-sector collaboration is the key to ensuring that the country’s digital transformation proceeds securely, systematically, and sustainably.
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