Papua New Guinea’s tax administration system went offline for nearly two weeks in late January 2025 after a cyberattack on the Internal Revenue Commission shut down phones, emails, and the entire Standard Integrated Government Tax Administration platform, according to the NBC, which reported that the IRC confirmed the breach and said a limited amount of internal data may have been accessed.
The incident was not an anomaly. In 2021, ransomware crippled the Department of Finance. In February 2025, the Bank of PNG suffered its own cyber incident, as reported by local media. And just weeks ago, Samoa’s Computer Emergency Response Team warned the Pacific region about APT40, a Chinese state-backed hacking group actively targeting Pacific Island networks, according to a regional cybersecurity advisory cited by Sprint Networks.
This is the reality of doing business in PNG in 2026. The Asia-Pacific region now attracts more cyberattacks than anywhere else on earth, accounting for 34% of all global incidents in 2024, according to IBM’s X-Force Threat Intelligence Index, which Sprint Networks cited in its February 2026 analysis of PNG’s cybersecurity landscape. Ransomware, business email compromise, phishing, and state-sponsored espionage are all rising sharply across the region.
For PNG, the gap between digital ambition and digital defence is widening. The government is pushing hard on digitization, with initiatives like SevisPass, the G2B Single Window Portal, and the eProcurement system moving ahead. But the National Cyber Security Strategy 2024–2030, launched by the Department of Information and Communications Technology, acknowledges that “cybersecurity threats pose significant risks to PNG’s digital infrastructure, critical services, businesses, and citizens,” according to the strategy document published by the DICT.
The strategy cites recent incidents, including the IFMS hack of the finance department and disruptions on “Black Wednesday,” as evidence of “vulnerabilities in government systems, critical infrastructure, and private enterprises, necessitating a comprehensive and proactive approach to cybersecurity,” the DICT said in the 78-page document released in April 2024.
The Logistics Sector: PNG’s Next Big Digital Target
PNG’s logistics sector is undergoing rapid digital transformation. PNG Customs is leading the G2B Single Window Portal, aimed at streamlining trade and business licensing, according to the Department of ICT’s Digital Government Plan 2023–2027. The National Procurement Commission’s eProcurement system is reducing public tendering timelines from months to days, the DICT said in a progress report released in April 2025. Ports are being upgraded with CCTV, vessel tracking systems, and solar security lighting under a A$10 million (PGK 26.2 million) Australian Government grant, according to the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby.
But these digital upgrades come with a hidden cost: expanded attack surfaces.
A single weak vendor, an IT provider, cloud host, or software supplier can compromise an entire organization. PNG’s heavy reliance on external service providers increases exposure. The National Cyber Security Centre’s Cyber Threat Report 2025 highlights five global trends that should worry every PNG organization, from SMEs in Lae to SOEs and government agencies in Waigani, according to a LinkedIn analysis by Justin Wohuinangu, who reviewed the NCSC report and said the findings are just as relevant for PNG as they are for New Zealand.
First, state-sponsored attacks are rising, the NCSC report said. Advanced actors are quietly targeting governments, critical infrastructure, and businesses. They don’t always want money, sometimes they want influence, intelligence, or long-term access. Second, cybercrime is now commercialised, the report said. Ransomware-as-a-service means anyone can “rent” attack tools. Criminals don’t need skills anymore, just motivation. In PNG, where many organizations still lack multi-factor authentication and reliable backups, this makes them an easy target, according to the NCSC.
Third, hacktivism is becoming noisier, the report said. Geopolitical conflicts overseas can quickly spill into the Pacific. DDoS attacks and website defacements may not steal data, but they can damage reputation and disrupt essential services, the NCSC warned. Fourth, supply-chain blind spots are the new backdoor, the report said. A single weak vendor can compromise an entire organization. PNG’s heavy reliance on external service providers increases exposure, according to the NCSC. Fifth, known vulnerabilities are still the biggest problem, the report said. Most successful attacks exploit old, unpatched systems or weak passwords. Not sophisticated techniques, just basic gaps, the NCSC said.
For PNG, the message is clear: we don’t need world-class attackers to be compromised; we only need world-class neglect, the NCSC report concluded.
Why PNG’s Logistics Sector Is Especially Vulnerable
Three factors make PNG’s logistics sector more vulnerable than most, according to Sprint Networks’ February 2026 analysis.
First, infrastructure constraints. Intermittent connectivity and bandwidth limitations mean security patches get skipped, cloud-based protections don’t always work reliably, and incident response takes far longer than it should, Sprint Networks said. Second, limited local expertise. Qualified cybersecurity professionals are scarce in PNG. When something goes wrong, getting the right help quickly is difficult, and attackers know it, according to Sprint Networks. Third, the “too small to target” myth. Automated tools scan the entire internet continuously, looking for vulnerable systems. Size doesn’t protect you. A Cisco study found that 56% of Asia-Pacific SMBs experienced a cyber incident in the past year. Of those, 75% lost customer data, Sprint Networks said.
The logistics sector’s digital systems, including vessel tracking, customs clearance, and port management platforms, are increasingly interconnected. A breach in one system can ripple across the entire supply chain, according to the DICT’s National Cyber Security Strategy.
The Stakes: Billions in Trade, Millions in Risk
PNG’s ports handle billions of kina in trade annually. Motukea and Lae, the country’s two international gateway ports, are being upgraded with modern security systems. But these upgrades also introduce new digital dependencies, according to the Australian High Commission.
The Australian Government’s A$10 million grant for port security includes perimeter fencing, solar security lighting, CCTV, and vessel tracking systems. These systems are designed to enhance safety and support compliance with international regulations, including the International Maritime Organization and International Ship and Port Facility codes, the Australian High Commission said.
But they also create new entry points for attackers. A compromised vessel tracking system could disrupt cargo flows. A breached customs platform could expose sensitive trade data. A ransomware attack on a port management system could halt operations for weeks, according to Sprint Networks.
The average recovery cost from a ransomware attack globally now exceeds $4.9 million, excluding the ransom itself. Recovery takes weeks. Some businesses never fully recover, Sprint Networks said.
The Government’s Response: Strategy vs. Reality
PNG launched its National Cyber Security Strategy in 2024. Data protection regulations are tightening. Businesses that handle customer data, financial records, or government contracts will increasingly be expected to demonstrate minimum security standards, according to the DICT.
The strategy defines the government’s vision, goals, objectives, evolving governance, and principles to guide the development of relevant strategies and action plans on cybersecurity. It acknowledges that “cyber-related risks are evolving rapidly and as PNG becomes increasingly reliant on ICT, it is of paramount importance that its technical and intelligence capabilities in cybersecurity be developed in par with international standards,” the DICT said.
But implementation lags. The Digital Identity and Verifiable Credentials Bill, meant to anchor the SevisPass framework, is still working through the legislative process, according to the DICT’s March 2026 update on the Draft National Sovereign Digital Transformation and AI Strategy. The National Cyber Security Centre is building capacity, but qualified professionals remain scarce, the NCSC said in its 2025 threat report.
What PNG’s Logistics Sector Must Do
Most successful cyberattacks exploit a small set of basic vulnerabilities: weak passwords, unpatched software, untrained staff, and no backup plan. Fixing these doesn’t require a massive budget. It requires a structured approach and the right guidance, Sprint Networks said.
The businesses that fare best aren’t necessarily the ones with the biggest IT departments. They’re the ones that take cybersecurity seriously before an incident forces them to, according to Visa and KPMG, which urged local businesses to make cybersecurity a strategic priority at a business risk roundtable in Port Moresby in early July 2025, the APNG Business Council reported.
For PNG’s logistics sector, the priorities are clear, according to the NCSC and industry experts.
First, implement multi-factor authentication across all critical systems, the NCSC said. Second, patch and update software regularly, even if connectivity is intermittent, the NCSC recommended. Third, train staff to recognize phishing attempts and social engineering attacks, Visa and KPMG said at the July 2025 roundtable. Fourth, develop incident response plans and test them regularly, according to PwC’s PNG Pulse newsletter. Fifth, secure supply chains by vetting vendors and requiring minimum security standards, the NCSC said.
Papua New Guinea’s digital economy is growing. So is the threat. The question is whether the logistics sector, and PNG’s businesses more broadly, are keeping pace.
The government’s digital transformation agenda is ambitious. But without a corresponding investment in cybersecurity, the same tools meant to drive efficiency could become the vectors for the next major breach, according to the DICT’s National Cyber Security Strategy.
