Without security, there is no sustainable digital transformation.

Digital transformation is opening up new development opportunities for the country, while profoundly changing the way society operates. As data and digital platforms gradually become the "new infrastructure" of the economy, all activities from management, finance, commerce to daily life are increasingly dependent on the online environment. However, along with the increasingly rapid pace of digitalization comes an increase in the complexity of information security risks, cyberattacks, and data leaks.

In this context, cybersecurity is no longer a purely technical issue, but has become a crucial condition for protecting digital trust and ensuring the sustainable development of national digital transformation. The series "No Security – No Sustainable Digital Transformation" analyzes the emerging challenges in the data age, the role of cybersecurity in digital trust, and the need to build a "digital shield" for the national digital transformation process.

According to the National Cyber ​​Security Association (NCA), information systems in Vietnam will face approximately 552,000 cyberattacks in 2025. (Graphic created by Gemini)

Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo identified the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation as a strategic breakthrough, creating a foundation for rapid and sustainable growth. In this process, data and digital space have become the "new infrastructure" of the economy. However, along with the rapid expansion of digital space comes a strong, complex, and unpredictable increase in cybersecurity risks. These threats are no longer limited to isolated technical incidents, but have become systemic, organized, and directly linked to core data and digital infrastructure. Therefore, correctly identifying the nature of cybersecurity challenges is a prerequisite for ensuring the safe and sustainable development of national digital transformation.

A report on cyberattacks in Vietnam from Vnetwork recorded approximately 2 million attacks in 2025. (Image: nhandan.vn)

In recent years, the digital transformation process in Vietnam has taken place at an unprecedented pace and on an unprecedented scale. From building e-government, moving towards digital government, to the strong development of digital banking, e-commerce, digital journalism, etc., digital infrastructure is gradually becoming the operating foundation of the entire economy .

Furthermore, data is being collected, connected, and exploited on a large scale. Interconnected information systems between ministries, departments, and localities; online public service platforms; and digital ecosystems of businesses are creating a vast, multi-layered, and increasingly interdependent digital space.

However, this expansion also brings with it a reality: an ever-increasing "attack surface." Every new system deployed, every digital service put into operation, can become a target of cyberattacks if not adequately protected.

According to the National Cyber ​​Security Association (NCA), in 2025, information systems in Vietnam will face approximately 552,000 cyberattacks, a decrease of 19.38% compared to 2024. However, the decrease in number does not mean a reduction in risk. In fact, 52.3% of agencies and businesses reported suffering damage from cyberattacks during the year, a sharp increase from 46.15% in 2024. This trend shows that hackers are shifting from mass attacks to targeted campaigns, aiming at critical systems and high-value data.

Hackers tend to employ a dual-attack strategy, not immediately encrypting data upon intrusion but instead lying low for an extended period to steal critical data for sale or exploitation on the black market.

Mr. Vu Ngoc Son, Head of Technology Department, National Cybersecurity Association.

Many current attacks are no longer "quick strike, quick retreat" but tend to lie low for extended periods to steal data before encrypting it or extorting money. Mr. Vu Ngoc Son, Head of the Technology Department of the National Cybersecurity Association, noted that hackers are increasingly employing a dual-attack strategy, not immediately encrypting data upon intrusion but instead lying low for a long time to steal important data for sale or exploitation on black markets. Only when there is no more data to exploit do they proceed to encrypt it and extort money from the victims.

Meanwhile, Vietnam has the highest number of web-based threats to businesses in Southeast Asia, with over 8.4 million cyberattacks in 2025. Authorities note that common attack methods include ransomware, phishing, vulnerability exploitation, and software supply chain attacks. Notably, many attack campaigns have shifted from single-target methods to multi-technique combinations, deployed in stages to overcome traditional defenses.

A report on cyberattacks in Vietnam from Vnetwork recorded approximately 2 million attacks in 2025, with 46% using AI. Hackers are shifting towards identity theft, abusing AI, deploying multi-layered attacks, and putting businesses under immense pressure, paralyzing their operations. Credential attacks led with 685,912 incidents, accounting for 25.1%, indicating that hackers are increasingly focusing on exploiting user accounts rather than disrupting systems.

A cyberattack report in Vietnam from Vnetwork recorded approximately 2 million attacks in 2025, with 46% using AI.

The emergence of artificial intelligence is also ushering in a new phase of risk in cyberspace. While previously, scams were easily recognizable due to their superficial and unconvincing content, AI now allows for the creation of fake emails, messages, voices, and images with a very high degree of realism. This makes it increasingly difficult for ordinary users to distinguish between real and fake, inadvertently turning them into a "weak link" in the entire cybersecurity system.

According to a report by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), cyberattacks globally are becoming increasingly sophisticated, involving organized hacker groups and even transnational elements, raising the risk of information insecurity at all levels.

Current cyberattacks not only cause economic damage, large-scale data leaks, or system disruptions, but also directly affect public trust in the digital environment. In a context where economic, financial, and public service activities are increasingly dependent on the online environment, a cybersecurity incident can trigger a chain reaction of consequences, impacting the operations of agencies, businesses, and citizens.

In the data age, the lines between cybersecurity and economic security, national security, and social stability are blurring. An attack on a data system today goes beyond technical damage; it can directly impact governance, financial transactions, and public trust in the digital environment.

These developments demonstrate that, in the data age, cybersecurity is no longer solely a matter for the information technology industry, but has become a core element linked to national security, economic security, and the stability of society as a whole. Accurately identifying the extent, nature, and trends of threats is the first but crucial step, laying the foundation for building more proactive, comprehensive, and effective solutions to protect the digital space in the future.

While resources and capital were key factors in the traditional economy, data is becoming a strategic resource in the digital age. This is also emphasized in Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, which considers data a crucial foundation for promoting innovation and the development of the digital economy. Data on population, finance, health , user behavior, etc., not only serve management purposes but also create significant economic value, helping to optimize processes, improve service quality, and open up new business models.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Dinh Do Thi, Deputy Head of the Staff Department, Cyber ​​Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention and Control Bureau (Ministry of Public Security), emphasized that data today plays a particularly important role, likened to the "lifeblood" of the digital economy. Many countries have considered data as a valuable asset that needs to be strictly protected.

According to a World Bank report, data is becoming a crucial input for growth, capable of generating significantly higher added value than traditional resources. However, this immense value makes data a prime target for cyberattacks. Unlike in the past, hackers are no longer solely focused on disrupting systems but are increasingly concentrating on stealing, exploiting, and commercializing data. Data leaks, system hijackings, and the black market trading of personal information are occurring on an increasingly large scale, becoming more sophisticated and difficult to control.

According to an IBM report, the average cost of a data breach globally reached approximately $4.45 million in 2025, causing long-term damage to organizational reputation and user trust. In Vietnam, data breaches are no longer isolated incidents but have become a serious concern.

According to experts, personal data is now considered a "gold mine" for cybercriminals. Even a small amount of data leak can expose users to numerous risks, such as bank account impersonation, identity theft, or being lured into sophisticated scams. Worryingly, many victims are completely unaware that their data has been collected and exploited beforehand.

In the digital environment, data loss is not just about material damage. More dangerously, it also means a decline in trust. A digital platform may be modern and well-equipped, an online public service may operate conveniently, but if citizens are constantly worried about their personal information being leaked or their accounts being compromised at any time, then the digital transformation process can hardly go far.

Globally, the damage caused by cybercrime is estimated at around $10 trillion annually, far exceeding many traditional types of crime. Current attack trends also extend beyond data theft, incorporating multiple objectives such as extortion, system disruption, and information manipulation. This significantly increases the level of risk, particularly for critical sectors like finance, banking, energy, healthcare, and e-commerce.

This practice reveals a paradox: the more valuable the data, the more vulnerable it becomes if not adequately protected. In many cases, systems receive significant investment but lack effective access control, authorization, encryption, and data monitoring mechanisms, leading to the risk of exploitation from within.

Therefore, in the process of digital transformation, data should not only be considered an "asset" to be exploited, but also viewed as an "object to be protected" at the highest level. Building a comprehensive data protection strategy – from collection, storage, processing to sharing and exploitation – is a prerequisite for ensuring information security and maintaining digital trust in society.

Digital transformation and cybersecurity are not two separate processes, but rather two sides of the same development process. The faster digital transformation progresses, the more urgent the need to protect data, systems, and social trust becomes. If data is considered a "new resource" of the digital economy, then cybersecurity is the "shield" protecting that resource.

Digital transformation opens up unprecedented development opportunities, but it also makes cyberspace a new front for national security. As the digital space expands and data becomes more valuable, the risk of attacks increases, becoming more sophisticated and unpredictable.

Therefore, cybersecurity protection is no longer solely the responsibility of specialized agencies or technology companies, but must become a continuous requirement throughout the entire process of the nation's digital development. This is also the spirit set forth in Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW: rapid development must go hand in hand with safety, stability, and sustainability.

According to Nhan Dan newspaper

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/khoa-hoc-cong-nghe/202605/khong-co-an-toan-khong-co-chuyen-doi-so-ben-vung-b193657/