HCM City (VNS/VNA) – As cybersecurity has become more important than ever intoday’s connected world, local authorities are taking steps to protect nationaland personal security.

“Cyberapplications are tools for Vietnam to connect with the world and motivation forthe country to develop a knowledge-based economy. However, cybersecurity isbecoming serious, even threatening national security,” Le Thanh Tam, executivechairman of the International Data Group (IDG) ASEAN, said at the Vietnam CyberSecurity 2017 Forum on November 9.

From2017 to 2021, Vietnamese authorities are expected to spend over 1 trillion VND (44.5million USD) for cybersecurity, but by 2021, damage by cyberattacks is forecastto reach 6 trillion VND (267 million USD).

Lieutenantgeneral Hoang Phuoc Thuan, director general of the Ministry of PublicSecurity’s Cyber Security Authority, said that each year, authorities havediscovered dozens of cases involving the loss of national secrets fromcyberattacks.

“Nationalsecurity threats by cyberattacks have become more serious. The websites of theParty, Government and media are often attacked with threats of creating fake informationand calling for uprisings,” he said.

Thuansaid that protecting Vietnam’s cyber sovereignty is difficult as the countryhas hundreds of connections through the seas, borders and satellites.

“Weare lagging behind on national cybersecurity because awareness is limited. Thisresults in limited cyberdefensive ability, while most of the solutions rely onforeign partners,” he added.

Thelieutenant general said that awareness of cybersecurity must be enhancedthroughout the entire society.

“Relevantauthorities must issue a strategy and an action plan for cybersecurity, andimprove and complete the legal framework for cybersecurity in line withinternational regulations,” he said. “An industry for cybersecurity should beset up to defend Vietnam. Authorities should also encourage start-ups andinnovative businesses to join the field.”

NguyenThanh Hai, director general of the Ministry of Information and Communications’Information Security Authority, said: “International co-operation, in-depthresearch and training for new technology related to cybersecurity are veryimportant.”

Lastyear, Vietnam trained more than 400 information technology engineers andprovided short training courses for more than 2,600 State staff, and alsoorganised international and national workshops on cybersecurity.

“Attentionhas been paid to cybersecurity education, especially for State staff,” headded.

Toachieve information assurance, Dr Tran Van Hoa from the People’s PublicSecurity Academy, suggested that systems should operate well at the same time:access control, network security, infrastructure security, applicationsecurity, encryption, operation security, education and awareness, legal andregulatory issues, and disaster recovery.

“Toreduce losses, organisations and enterprises should prevent harmful codes andlosses if the network is infected. When the network is infected, the urgentwork is to stop the expansion and then discover the origin and write ananti-virus,” he said.

APECcybersecurity

Lieutenantgeneral Hoang Phuoc Thuan also noted that authorities during the ongoing APEC2017 Summit in Da Nang this week focused on cybersecurity.

“Thereare many groups from different industries working for the highest level ofcybersecurity at the APEC Summit, and Vietnamese leaders have also called forthe development of information technology, including cybersecurity,” he added.

ViettelGroup – the country’s leading telecom service provider - which is providingtelecom services and is in charge of cybersecurity during the APEC Summit, hasgiven top priority to information security and stopping cyberattacks.

“Wecontinuously examined cybersecurity during preparation for the APEC Summit.Dozens of rehearsals for cyberattack prevention were organised, and humanresources have been arranged 24 hours a day to ensure that cyberattacks can bewarded off,” Tao Duc Thang, Viettel deputy general director, told VietNam News.-VNA