Information security needed in digital transformation: minister

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung speaks at the workshop. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) - The Vietnam Information Security Day 2021 was co-organised by the Vietnam Information Security Association (VNISA) and the Authority of Information Security Department under the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC), in both offline and online forms, in Hanoi on November 25.

The event looked into the situation, the demand for technological application and development, and information security solutions to serve digital transformation and to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam.

Zero risk

In his remarks, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung stressed the significance of cyber security.

The minister cited a recent report as saying that every year, each person globally suffers from three to four cyber attacks. Therefore, he said, to stay safe, it is necessary to be aware of insecurity.

In the world, only 60 percent of software development projects apply the process of coding and evaluating information security before operating. In Vietnam, this proportion is much lower.

The Authority of Information Security (AIS) detected and handled 816 fraudulent websites between December 2020 and November 2021. Meanwhile, in the world, the number was more than 2 million. 

An overview of the workshop (Photo: VNA)

In the face of the increasing threat, the Minister said that if Vietnam wishes to stay safe, the awareness of cybersecurity must be enhanced. “The higher our sense of cybersecurity, the safer we are,” he underlined. “However, to be safe, we must enhance the use of digital technology.”

He added that developed countries are more resilient to cyber threats because they are one step ahead by using digital tools to detect the problem, and improve the shield.

Leading in the use of digital technology and always paying attention to information security is the right approach to boost digital transformation towards a safe digital economy and digital society, the minister emphasised.

The ministry also made recommendations on a four-layer model to protect information technology systems which include: on-site human resources, the protection of enterprises specialised in information security, the inspection and compliance of the information security audit firm, and the oversight of the national cyber security supervision centre.

Make-in-Vietnam information security products needed

In order to be safe in cyberspace, it is necessary to have Make-in-Vietnam information security products, said the minister.

All software and national digital platforms must be developed safely, be evaluated safely, and be used safely, he said.

He also mentioned safety in the collection and processing of personal data, strengthening international cooperation, and regularly communicating on information security to the people.

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung has said cyber security is a prerequisite for digital transformation. (Photo: VNA)

The minister said: "If we wish to stay safe, we must make national digital transformation safe. The national digital transformation includes digital government, digital economy and digital society.”

“On this year's Information Security Day, I require clarification of how to ensure information security for national digital platforms, to ensure the safety of electronic transactions, and to ensure the safety of people's internet devices," he added.

To build a prosperous country, it is necessary to accelerate the digital transformation process in the context of ensuring information security. The Ministry of Information and Communications suggested technology enterprises continue to develop Make-in-Vietnam solutions for information security and, at the same time, take measures to build digital trust for internet users.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of the internet increased, while ransomware, viruses, and online fraud also developed fast.

Statistics of the Authority of Information Security showed that there were more than 5,000 cyberattacks causing problems to information systems in Vietnam from the first quarter to the third quarter of this year, an increase of more than 25 percent over the same period last year.

Besides the main session, there is an online exhibition with nearly 30 booths introducing advanced information security technology solutions from domestic and foreign enterprises./.