Ensuring the security of digital infrastructure and digital data.

On the morning of August 23rd, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Information and Communications, in collaboration with the Vietnam Information Security Association – Southern Chapter (VNISA Southern Chapter), organized the Southern Region Information Security Conference and Exhibition 2024 with the theme “Securing digital infrastructure, data, and the digital economy against cybercrime”.

The conference and exhibition, held at GEM Center (District 1), is an annual event aimed at providing visual information on information technology (IT) and information security to leaders of agencies and businesses implementing digital transformation applications, as well as central and provincial government agencies in the South.

In the first half of 2024, a series of ransomware attacks targeted large businesses in Vietnam, paralyzing systems, disrupting operations and business activities, and causing significant financial losses. Many businesses were forced to pay large ransoms to recover data and restore systems, eroding customer and partner trust. The damage extends beyond economic losses and has long-term impacts on the reputation and competitiveness of Vietnamese businesses in the international market.

This year's event will focus on hot topics such as: Security in cashless transactions, protecting IT systems to support Ho Chi Minh City's digital transformation, artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) supporting traditional information security solutions, authentication in the context of hackers having more sophisticated tools…

In addition, the event also includes a series of information security activities such as: a conference specifically for leaders of state management agencies and businesses, a scientific seminar on information security, a practical information security exercise in Ho Chi Minh City, the ASEAN 2024 Student Information Security Competition…

Mr. Ngo Vi Dong, Chairman of the Southern branch of VNISA, shared at the event.

According to Mr. Ngo Vi Dong, Chairman of the Southern branch of VNISA, in 2024 the entire information and communication sector will strive to popularize digital infrastructure and create digital applications to develop the digital economy and society.

“We are living in the digital age, and all management and operational activities, from government to businesses, require a robust technology system, accurate databases, and smooth operation. Alongside these advantages, cybercriminals always know how to exploit technology to carry out schemes such as attacking technology infrastructure and data for profit. The fight against cybercrime is always direct and requires constant measures, heightened vigilance, and strategic prevention. Therefore, every year, VNISA Southern Region collaborates with other organizations to hold events to provide businesses with an overview of information security, thereby proposing effective solutions to combat cybercrime,” Mr. Ngo Vi Dong emphasized.

Mr. Lam Dinh Thang, Director of the Department of Information and Communications of Ho Chi Minh City, hopes to receive more suggestions and solutions for information security in Ho Chi Minh City.

At the event, Mr. Lam Dinh Thang, Director of the Department of Information and Communications of Ho Chi Minh City, stated that the strong development of digital transformation, in addition to the opportunities for remarkable growth, also comes with many challenges and risks, especially in light of the increasing rate of cybercrime. In 2023, Vietnam experienced nearly 14,000 cyberattacks, a 10% increase compared to 2022. The nature of cybercrime is becoming increasingly sophisticated and diverse, significantly impacting the economy, society, and national security.

“Currently, Ho Chi Minh City is accelerating its digital transformation and building digital infrastructure, creating a very attractive environment for cybercrime. The city is also striving to combat increasingly large-scale cyberattacks, with more and more attacks targeting government agencies and businesses, causing serious consequences. However, in reality, the awareness of the public, agencies, and businesses regarding information security is still low; the human resources with expertise and investment in information security have not been prioritized; and policies and laws still have many limitations. Hopefully, through this conference and exhibition, Ho Chi Minh City will receive more opinions and contributions to ensuring information security in the future," Mr. Lam Dinh Thang shared.

Many information security solutions from businesses in Ho Chi Minh City were showcased at the exhibition area.

According to a survey by the Southern Chapter of VNISA, in 2024 many organizations and businesses outsourced information security monitoring services to optimize costs (increasing from 20% to over 50%) compared to 2023. Data backup to combat ransomware is an effective method; however, up to 59% of organizations and businesses have not implemented or prioritized backing up important data. The survey results also show that 61% of organizations are currently using cybersecurity measures to minimize damage from attacks, while 13% are interested but lack sufficient information and resources to implement them.

BUI TUAN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/dam-bao-an-toan-cho-ha-tang-so-du-lieu-so-post755355.html