ASEAN Cybersecurity Cooperation Strategy: Combating Cyber Terrorism and Hackers Through CERT Coordination

Cyberterrorism poses a significant threat to ASEAN’s digital infrastructure, particularly as the region becomes increasingly reliant on digital economies and interconnected systems. This paper examines the role of hackers in cyber terrorism and evaluates ASEAN's efforts to address these threats through the establishment of Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs). While the effectiveness of CERT coordination is still evolving, the initiative holds promise in enhancing regional responses to cyberattacks. Key challenges, such as disparities in CERT capabilities among member states and legal barriers to cross-border coordination, are highlighted. This paper also explores potential solutions, including expanding CERT capabilities in less-developed member states, fostering public-private partnerships to leverage technical expertise, and increasing international cooperation with global cybersecurity organizations. The findings suggest that while ASEAN’s CERT initiative shows potential, further investment and collaboration are required to ensure a robust and unified regional cybersecurity framework capable of addressing the growing threat of cyberterrorism.