Businesses struggle with IT security

Viet Nam is listed in the top 10 countries responsible for the spread of spam (junk mail) internationally, said Ngo Vi Dong, Chairman of the Association of Information Security in HCM City at a workshop on business security and safety.

The workshop was held by Da Nang City People’s Committee in co-ordination with the Information Technology Enterprise Institute of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Information Security Association this week.

According to Dong, “Security is a key concern for businesses everywhere. The construction of network security systems and information protection is vital for enterprises. Information regarding the fate of a business can be stolen at any time. However, security solutions among private rural enterprises in our country remain limited, revealing loopholes in the safety of IT systems.”

By the end of March 2010, Viet Nam had over 300 websites attacked and exploited by hackers, the number of malicious websites had multiplied five-fold on 2008, and network attacks had doubled within two years.

Banks and online payment facilities and networks were the most commonly targeted sites. While Viet Nam suffers from high levels of spam, new virus variants, and increasingly sophisticated cyber crimes, including cases of stolen data have become more complex, Dong warned.

Under these circumstances, security and information safety are becoming top priorities in the development of Vietnamese business strategies.

According to research conducted by the Information Security Association of Viet Nam, although spending on information security in businesses has recently increased, the introduction of effective and practical measures is more vital than major outlays in IT security investment.

The conference focused on discussing solutions and processes that would help improve the application of information technology in enterprises across the country. It also shared information on the effects of viruses, some web application failures and prevention measures and solutions for common IT problems. — VNS

Tags: Vietnam infotech, Vietnam IT security