Cybersecurity readiness of organizations in Vietnam remains low

Although there is an increase compared to last year (only 6% of organizations in Vietnam are assessed as Mature), this increase is not significant. This shows that, despite improvements compared to last year, the level of cybersecurity readiness is still low, especially in the context of hyperconnectivity and artificial intelligence (AI) that are continuously posing increasingly complex challenges for security professionals.

AI is revolutionizing cybersecurity, but it is also bringing with it a new wave of threats, with 9 in 10 organizations (87%) experiencing AI-related security incidents in the past year. However, only 55% of survey respondents believe their employees have a clear understanding of AI-related threats, and only 53% believe their teams fully understand how adversaries are leveraging AI to launch sophisticated attacks. This gap in awareness is leaving organizations exposed to serious risks.

AI is adding to the already complex cybersecurity landscape. In the past year, 60% of organizations experienced cyberattacks, while their ability to respond was hampered by complex security systems and disparate solutions.

To deal with current cybersecurity challenges, organizations need to increase investment in AI application solutions, simplify security infrastructure...

Looking further, respondents rated external threats such as hackers and state-affiliated groups (71%) as more serious than internal risks (29%). This underscores the urgent need to develop streamlined, effective defense strategies to counter external attacks.

Cisco's 2025 Cybersecurity Readiness Index also shows that cybersecurity readiness remains low while AI continues to transform industries.

The lack of cybersecurity preparedness in Vietnam is alarming, with 78% of survey respondents predicting that their businesses will be disrupted due to cybersecurity incidents within the next 12–24 months.

AI is playing an increasingly important role in cybersecurity: 96% of organizations are using AI to better understand threats, 96% are using AI to detect threats, and 81% are leveraging AI for response and recovery. This shows that AI is playing a pivotal role in strengthening cybersecurity strategies.

Risks of GenAI Deployment: GenAI tools are gaining traction, with organizations in Vietnam reporting that 44% of their employees are using approved third-party GenAI tools. However, only 25% of employees have unrestricted access to publicly available GenAI tools, and 40% of IT teams do not have visibility into how employees interact with GenAI, reflecting significant challenges in oversight.

Shadow AI concerns: 62% of organizations admit to lacking confidence in detecting employees using unregulated AI, or Shadow AI. This poses serious cybersecurity and data privacy risks.

Vulnerabilities from unmanaged devices: In hybrid work models, 90% of organizations face increased security risks when employees access the network from unmanaged devices, and this is exacerbated when employees use unapproved GenAI tools.

Shifting investment priorities: While nearly all organizations (99%) plan to upgrade their IT infrastructure, only 52% spend more than 10% of their IT budget on cybersecurity (down 1% from last year). This highlights the urgent need to invest in comprehensive defense strategies, especially in the context of increasing threats...

To address today’s cybersecurity challenges, organizations need to increase their investment in AI-enabled solutions, simplify their security infrastructure, and raise awareness of AI-related threats. Prioritizing AI for incident detection, response, and recovery is key, while addressing the shortage of skilled workers and managing the risks of uncontrolled devices and shadow AI.

“AI opens up new opportunities but also adds complexity to an already challenging cybersecurity landscape. Over the past year, we have seen businesses around the world, including those in Vietnam, struggling to cope with increasingly sophisticated threats such as the emergence of Shadow AI, as well as a shortage of human resources and complex security infrastructure. This shows that it is time for a new approach to cybersecurity issues - not only leveraging AI to enhance security but also ensuring that AI itself is operated securely and easily scaled,” said Nguyen Nhu Dung, General Director of Cisco Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

Yellow River

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/chuyen-doi-so/an-ninh-mang/muc-do-san-sang-ve-an-ninh-mang-cua-cac-to-chuc-tai-viet-nam-con-thap/20250508033441094