Protecting "soft borders" in the digital age: Urgent need to unify cybersecurity focal points

Cyberspace: From Development Opportunity to New Front of Crime

In the era of digital transformation, when all activities of national life from administration, economy , finance, education, healthcare to online public services are deeply dependent on digital information infrastructure, cybersecurity has become an integral part of national security.

Cyber attacks are no longer isolated acts of individual individuals, but are increasingly organized, cross-border, sophisticated, and even linked to strategic competition between countries. In this context, the requirement for unifying the state management of cybersecurity is posed as an inevitable requirement to ensure effective governance, timely response, risk reduction, and protection of national sovereignty in cyberspace.

After 28 years of Vietnam officially connecting to the Internet, cyberspace has become an important "growth engine" of the country. Vietnam has implemented many major programs on IT and digital transformation such as the National Digital Transformation Program, IT Development Plan to 2030, Resolution 57-NQ/TW on scientific and technological breakthroughs and innovation... Technology platforms have promoted the strong development of the digital economy and digital society, bringing positive changes to people and businesses.

However, along with opportunities, cyberspace also presents serious challenges such as cyber-attack campaigns on energy, financial, and telecommunications corporations; personal data leaks involving tens of millions of accounts; open data trading markets on underground forums; online fraud rings, gambling, trafficking in banned substances, and harmful cultural products.

The increasing speed and sophistication of cybercrime shows that cyberspace has become a "soft border" of the country, where any weakness can lead to serious damage to the economy, security and social order.

Not only domestic targets, but many international hacker groups, even with foreign support, have also increased their activities targeting Vietnam's important information infrastructure. Meanwhile, agencies and organizations still have weak security infrastructure, loose operating procedures, and lack of professional staff, leading to passivity when incidents occur.

Faced with that reality, a decentralized management mechanism with many focal points will cause delays in handling, lack of uniformity, and fail to meet the requirements of protecting national security in cyberspace.

Bảo vệ — Speaking at the closing session of the signing ceremony and the High-level Conference of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime 2025, Politburo member and Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang affirmed that "the Hanoi Convention will be a historic milestone" in preventing cybercrime.

Law consolidation: an urgent need as cybercrime increases

To overcome the situation of overlapping and dispersed responsibilities, the Party has issued a series of important policies. In particular, Resolution 27-NQ/TW (2022) on building a rule-of-law state defines the principle: "A task is only assigned to one agency to preside over, take primary responsibility, and be associated with the responsibility of the head". This is a particularly important principle in the field of cybersecurity, where processing time, decision-making speed and clear responsibility are vital factors.

In particular, in Resolution No. 176/2025/QH15 dated February 18, 2025, the Ministry of Information and Communications was no longer part of the organizational structure of the Government of the 15th National Assembly. And currently, the task of state management of ensuring network information security has been transferred to the Ministry of Public Security.

This leads to an objective requirement: to merge the Law on Cyber Security (2018) and the Law on Network Information Security (2015) into a unified Law on Cyber Security, to ensure a presiding agency and a focal point with comprehensive responsibility.

Furthermore, the two current laws were enacted 7–10 years ago, while the pace of development of information technology and cybercrime has changed dramatically. Many completely new issues have emerged: data security, big data, cloud computing, IoT, AI, cross-border platforms… If two separate laws continue to be maintained, the overlap in management scope and administrative procedures will cause difficulties for both businesses and enforcement agencies.

On July 10, 2025, in Resolution No. 87/2025/UBTVQH15, the National Assembly Standing Committee added the Cyber Security Law project to the 2025 Legislative Program on the basis of merging the Cyber Security Law and the Network Information Security Law into one unified law and amended and supplemented according to simplified procedures.

Why is it necessary to unify the focal point of network security management?

According to the Draft Law on Cyber Security, the Ministry of Public Security is the focal agency responsible for managing cybersecurity nationwide, presiding over the development of national technical standards and regulations, and guiding organizations and individuals to ensure cybersecurity for important information systems related to national security in all fields, except military information systems.

In addition, the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, which was signed by 72 countries in Hanoi recently and is legally binding globally, has recognized that each member country designates a contact point available 24/7 to ensure the provision of immediate support for investigation, prosecution, trial or for the collection of evidence in the form of electronic data. According to the assignment, the Ministry of Public Security is the focal point of Vietnam responsible for organizing the implementation of the Convention.

The drafting agency believes that unifying the focal point for cyber security management is an inevitable and urgent requirement in the context of cybercrime increasing rapidly in both quantity and level of danger.

Firstly , a single focal point helps ensure consistency and synchronization, avoiding overlap between ministries and sectors, creating a strong and consistent cybersecurity protection system. Centralizing authority and responsibility also helps optimize resources and improve the effectiveness of responding to threats.

Second , unifying the focal point clarifies management responsibilities, avoids shirking responsibility, and facilitates monitoring, inspection, and handling of violations. A single agency in charge helps to detect incidents and provide solutions quickly and promptly – a vital factor when cyber attacks often take place in a very short time.

Third, centralized management helps improve the ability to share information, coordinate across sectors and respond to cross-border attacks – a common challenge today. At the same time, unifying the focal point helps develop a synchronous cybersecurity infrastructure, reduce dependence on foreign technology and create an environment that encourages innovation in the field of cybersecurity.

Finally , a single focal point agency also helps better protect the rights of people and businesses, while strengthening trust in digital services, promoting sustainable development of the digital economy.

Thus, unifying the focal point for cyber security management not only enhances national defense capacity in cyberspace but is also a key condition for Vietnam to develop safely and proactively in the digital age.

According to the working program, the National Assembly is expected to vote to pass the Law on Cyber Security on December 10, 2025.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/bao-ve-bien-gioi-mem-trong-ky-nguyen-so-yeu-cau-cap-bach-thong-nhat-dau-moi-an-ninh-mang-238251205102930355.htm