The Vietnam Security Summit 2025, an international seminar and exhibition, took place in HCM City on May 23. Major General Le Minh Manh, Deputy Director of the Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department (A05) under the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), said that technological advancements, digital transformation, and innovation are being widely implemented. 

Breakthrough technologies such as AI, big data, cloud computing, and 5G have demonstrated their superior and critical value in the digital era.

However, the development of science and technology poses significant challenges to ensuring cybersecurity, network security, and data privacy, impacting the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals.

Globally, numerous dangerous cyberattacks have targeted critical national information systems, causing widespread and severe damage to both property and human health.

Establishing trust in the digital era amid new challenges has become an urgent issue for organizations, individuals, and nations.

Manh said that ensuring cybersecurity and network security for critical national information systems and protecting data is a core and vital task for safeguarding the nation during its development.

Vietnam has implemented various policies to promote science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation to drive socio-economic development and strengthen national defense and security. Numerous legal policies have been enacted to encourage the application of technology in socio-economic development while ensuring cybersecurity and network security. Telecommunications and IT infrastructure have developed comprehensively.

Most sectors in Vietnam have digitized their databases and applied IT to enhance management efficiency and reduce administrative procedures. The digital economy has formed and grown rapidly, becoming an increasingly significant component of the national economy.

Many cross-border business models and new services are also emerging on digital and internet platforms.

However, Vietnam faces numerous challenges to national security, social order, and safety in cyberspace. Each year, tens of thousands of critical information systems belonging to state agencies, organizations, and businesses are attacked, infected with malware or subjected to data theft, affecting security and social order, and causing economic losses.

Organized crime and high-tech crime in cyberspace are on the rise. Large-scale organized criminal activities, including the collection of personal data, are occurring.

Manh said that protecting critical information and data is an urgent and long-term task and the responsibility of every agency, organization, and citizen.

It is necessary to strengthen public-private partnerships to leverage the potential of the business community and all societal components to ensure cybersecurity, network security, data protection, and the security of critical information systems, while combating cybercrime to build a safe and healthy digital world.

Major General Nguyen Tung Hung, Deputy Commander of the Cyberspace Operations Command (Command 86) under the Ministry of National Defense, noted that cyberspace has brought many benefits to citizens, businesses, and state agencies in promoting socio-economic development and national governance, but it also presents numerous challenges. 

Large-scale cyberattacks continue to target information systems and critical national infrastructure of individuals and economic conglomerates, aiming to steal data, disrupt politics, and paralyze business and production activities. These attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and complex.

Cyberspace is also an ideal environment for malicious actors to exploit, spreading fake news and illegal information that impacts politics, economics, and society, causing confusion and anxiety among the public.

Hung said that cyberspace offers opportunities for socio-economic development but also carries many risks and threats to cybersecurity. A nation cannot be secure if its cyberspace is not secure. Citizens, organizations, and businesses facing numerous risks and threats may become fearful and lose trust in cyberspace if timely solutions are not implemented to make it safe and healthy.

Le My