The Authority of Information Security under the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) and several city Information and Communications Departments held a conference on the launch and evaluation of the national cyber security and safety strategy. The event was held in Ha Long City.
Servers are the primary targets of cyber-attacks in the country, aimed at stealing passwords and data. Last year in Vietnam, computer viruses resulted in economic losses amounting to VND 21.2 trillion (US$ 903 million). To ensure cybersecurity, MIC collaborated with various agencies to conduct three nationwide security exercises. The authority directly prevented over 3,600 fraudulent websites, safeguarding nearly 4 million people or approximately 6% of internet users.
Vietnam has set a goal to establish a cybersecurity research and development centre, safeguard information systems in 11 critical sectors, and establish cybersecurity forces at ministries, sectors, and state agencies by 2025.
According to Tran Dang Khoa, the Deputy Director of the Authority of Information Security, the authorities have taken action against 76 websites distributing malware and have blocked connections to 915 IP addresses of computers in virus-infected computer networks (IP Botnet). He emphasised that ensuring cybersecurity and safety are crucial tasks in the digital transformation process and essential pillars in establishing digital trust and promoting prosperity in the digital era.
The Deputy Director also spoke about the importance of investing in cybersecurity, which will promote sustainable development and generates value. To achieve this, the agency must maintain and improve the effectiveness of the “4-layer” information security assurance model. This includes focusing on monitoring and professionally protecting systems, as well as connecting and sharing information with the national monitoring system. Additionally, the agency must prioritise training and updating technical personnel with knowledge and skills related to information security, and adopt anti-malware solutions.
During the event, participants discussed measures to promote the implementation of the strategy. Dinh Sy Nguyen, the Deputy Director of the Department of Information and Communications in Quang Ninh province, stated that the local authorities have prioritised investment in developing and protecting digital infrastructure, platforms, data, and network infrastructure.
The government has stressed the need to reinforce the protection of national sovereignty in various areas of cyberspace, including digital infrastructure, platforms, data, national cyber infrastructure, and information systems used by party and state agencies.
The government has stressed that it is necessary to strengthen the protection of national sovereignty in cyberspace, digital infrastructure, digital platforms, digital data, national cyber infrastructure and the information systems of party and state agencies.
Apart from ensuring enhanced network security, the government is seeking to create a safe and regulated cyberspace and as the development and use of technology is rapidly advancing, more and more children are online for long periods of time. When they are unsupervised, they are exposed to several safety risks that they cannot deal with. Children need to be educated and equipped with the knowledge to protect themselves and take advantage of technology. The “Protecting and Supporting Children to Interact Healthy and Creatively in Cyberspace” programme is the first national one in Vietnam for child protection on the Internet. Under the programme, a network to rescue and protect children on digital platforms was created. It seeks to enhance public awareness, share valuable experiences, and receive and handle reports from the community about child abuse on the Internet. It aims to safeguard children against online risks and empower them with digital literacy while fostering a healthy online environment.