Hackers beware: Vietnam is improving cyber security

According to the Authority of Information Security under the Ministry of Information and Communications, Vietnam suffered 620 cyber attacks in the first quarter of 2019, down 21.17 percent compared to the last quarter of 2018, and 49.82 percent compared to a year ago. The number of IP addresses categorized in ghost computer networks was 1,845,133, a drop of 17.42 percent compared to the last quarter of 2018, and 56.19 percent compared to the same period last year.

The National Cyber Security Center recorded about 10,220 cyber attacks on information systems last year, a decrease of 1,023 attacks compared with the previous year.

These figures show that cyber security in Vietnam has undergone positive changes. In particular, campaigns to handle malicious code in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City by the Ministry of Information and Communications have achieved results. Many businesses have also planned and invested in their cyber security systems with professional advice from security companies.

An assessment on cyber security conducted by Bkav Corporation in December last year revealed that the damage caused by computer viruses to Vietnamese users reached a record of VND14.9 trillion in 2018, 21 percent higher than 2017’s figure.

Luong Thi Le Thuy, general director of Cisco Vietnam, said Cisco has surveyed 150 Vietnamese businesses. In general, the level of investment in safety and security by Vietnamese businesses has increased. Business leaders have placed safety and security as a top concern, fearing that insecurity could curb creative ideas and business development.

With Vietnamese businesses increasingly digitized, cyber security is one of the top three technology targets, in addition to investment in cloud computing and the upgrade of IT software and hardware.

According to the Authority of Information Security, the fourth industrial revolution not only offers opportunities for Vietnam, but also poses challenges. The widespread application of advances in IT and communications blurs the lines between reality and the virtual world and multiplies the potential risks of information insecurity.

According to Luong Thi Le Thuy, in order to protect ourselves against so many threats, businesses and organizations need to improve their information security capabilities in three key areas - people, processes, and technological solutions. These include training people, improving knowledge, raising awareness of information safety; building processes to ensure information safety and handling problems; and developing comprehensive security solutions.