REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The National Cyber and Encryption Agency (BSSN) has secured the information system before the 2018 Regional Head Elections (pilkada) and has continued to monitor the system during the democratic event. BSSN spokesman Anton Setiawan said the agency had earlier identified the threats of technological and information security during the 2018 pilkada.

BSSN has provided a description to the General Elections Commission (KPU) and Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) of potential cyber threats and operational recommendations in the face of cyberattacks during the implementation of pilkada. The cybersecurity recommendations for the 2018 pilkada included the standard, regulation, and security audit scheme of the information system.

"We have provided cybersecurity recommendations. We continue to remain alert to prevent attacks on the information system, including on the provincial KPU website," he stated in a short message in Jakarta on Wednesday.

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The BSSN has emphasized the importance of operational safeguards for the information and technology infrastructure and system, security policies, internal regulations, and coordination among stakeholders.

Meanwhile, the KPU has been working to improve technology utilization during the 2018 pilkada. Bawaslu also took measures to anticipate cyber violations during the implementation of the simultaneous pilkada by preparing standards for controlling cyber crimes.

Over 152 million Indonesians are expected to go to polls to elect 17 governors, 39 mayors, and 115 district heads for the 2018-2023 term during the simultaneous pilkada to be held in 171 regions across the country on Wednesday (June 27). The government has declared the local election day as a national holiday.

Based on data of the KPU, the total number of eligible voters for the 2018 pilkada are 152,067,680, comprising some 76 million female and 75 million male voters. The commission estimates that the total turnout will reach more than 70 percent.

The 17 provinces to hold pilkada are East Java, Central Java, West Java, East Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sumatra, Riau, Maluku, Bali, Southeast Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, North Sumatra, Papua, North Maluku, and Lampung.

Indonesia had organized simultaneous pilkada peacefully in 2015 and 2017 respectively.

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