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Apr 18, 2019 / 13:05

Vietnam can become a cybersecurity powerhouse: Minister

According to the 2018 report on global network safety and security by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Vietnam ranked 50th out of 175 countries and territories.

Vietnam can become a cybersecurity powerhouse thanks to its world-class cybersecurity human resources and the dream to become a powerful nation, local media quoted Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung as saying.

In 2019, Vietnam will announce a national transition strategy to build a digital economy and society, the head of the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) said at the Vietnam Security Summit 2019 in Hanoi on April 17.
 
Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung speaks at the summit. Photo: Manh Vy
Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung speaks at the summit. Photo: Manh Vy
Internet security and safety are basic conditions and vital factors for successful implementation of digital national transition, Minister Hung noted.

He stressed that cybersecurity superpower is like military superpower in the real world. In the field of network security, Vietnam has the same starting point with all other countries.

Vietnam should develop network security businesses and products 

In order to turn Vietnam into a cybersecurity powerhouse, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung said that in 2019, it is necessary to create a network security market in Vietnam. To do this, information technology (IT) investment projects must ensure network safety and security.

Besides, Hung also paid attention to the development of enterprises, products and human resources for safety and security in Vietnam. 

The minister required close supervision of cybersecurity, network safety for the Vietnamese government’s agencies and national key infrastructure, strengthening their resilience after being attacked.

Each agency must have at least one unit or enterprise to ensure network safety and security. It aims to ensure that in 2019 state agencies’ network will no longer be hacked, Hung stressed.

At the summit, the minister announced the establishment of a hub to share information in the field of ​​network safety and security of the ASEAN region in Vietnam to enhance international cooperation in this field.

Improvement in cyber security ranking

According to the 2018 report on global network safety and security by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Vietnam ranked 50th out of 175 countries and territories. This is also the third consecutive year Vietnam has been named in the ITU's reputation ranking.

This result helped Vietnam rank 11th in the Asia-Pacific region and fifth in Southeast Asia in terms of network safety and security. Notably, Vietnam's ranking climbed 51 places compared to the 101th position in 2017.

According to Deputy Director of MIC’s Information Security Department Hoang Minh Tien, Vietnam's 50th ranking was a big jump compared to previous years thanks to the active provision of detailed data to ITU by the MIC.