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In February 2024, Vietnam saw a notable decline in cyber attacks, with a total of 862 incidents reported, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC). This marked a 9.3% decrease from January and a significant drop of 48.9% compared to the same period last year.
The ministry disclosed that more than 432,400 Internet Protocol (IP) addresses were identified as part of virus-infected computer networks, also known as botnets. This figure represented a 13% increase compared to the corresponding period in 2023, highlighting the persistent challenge of cybersecurity in the country.
As of February, Vietnam boasted a total of 3,224 information systems, with 2,145 of these systems classified according to level-based security. This classification accounted for 66.5% of the total, marking a slight increase of 0.5% from January and a noteworthy 6% increase compared to the same period last year.
To bolster cybersecurity measures, the Authority of Information Security (AIS) under the MIC has been actively implementing various solutions. One notable initiative involved a collaboration with Google to launch the programme “An toan len mang, An tam vui song cung Google” (Be safe online, enjoy life with Google). This programme aims to educate and assist elderly individuals in Vietnam in navigating the internet safely and confidently.
In addition to proactive measures, the AIS conducted a thorough review of 43 websites, which included nine operated by ministries/agencies and 24 managed by provinces and cities. These websites were identified as containing advertising content, prompting the need for further scrutiny and potential mitigation strategies.
Furthermore, efforts were made to enhance the trustworthiness of state agency websites. In February, the AIS renewed and re-issued network trust certifications for eight state agencies’ websites, bringing the total number of accredited state agency websites to 4,662. This figure encompasses 557 websites belonging to 21 ministries/agencies and 4,105 websites representing 61 provinces/cities.
Despite mounting cybersecurity concerns globally, Vietnam has managed to mitigate cyber threats, evidenced by a decline in cyberattacks in recent years. The country has been proactively addressing security issues within its digital landscape, yielding significant success.
Notably, Vietnam’s efforts were recognised with a commendable rank of 25th out of 194 countries in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) as early as 2020, signalling a positive trend in its cybersecurity endeavours.
However, challenges persist within the cybersecurity landscape, underscoring the ongoing need for robust measures and continued vigilance to safeguard digital assets and infrastructure.
OpenGov Asia reported that Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính emphasised the crucial role of cybersecurity in ensuring public security agencies’ proactive approach to understanding and forecasting situations to prevent unforeseen challenges related to strategy, political security, and social order and safety in 2024.
The Prime Minister lauded the various agencies’ contributions to administrative reform, e-government initiatives, and national digital transformation, highlighting the sector’s pivotal role in these endeavours. He stressed the necessity of continual administrative reforms, sufficient resource allocation, and infrastructure investments in the public security sector.
To reinforce these priorities, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued a directive for stricter adherence to information security regulations and enhanced level-based information system security measures, aligning with the existing Law on Cybersecurity.
This escalating requirement has sparked a notable increase in demand across various sectors and industries, prompting a heightened focus on cybersecurity solutions and expertise. The Vietnam Cybersecurity Market is forecasted to experience substantial growth with a CAGR of 16.8% by 2027. This growth is propelled by the increasing demand for digitalisation and scalable IT infrastructure.
The concerted efforts of the Ministry of Information and Communications along with collaborative endeavours with industry partners underscore Vietnam’s commitment to fortifying its cybersecurity infrastructure and safeguarding its digital landscape against evolving threats.
