Experts urger greater IT security awareness

The sixth Security World Conference and Expo began yesterday in Ha Noi.

At the two-day ‘Securing Your Organisation in a Connected World’ seminar, international and domestic IT experts forecast information security services would gain in importance. Many businesses had been affected by the spread of new virus variants. Cyber attacks had also boomed, influencing national security and business activities.

National websites have been under continuous attack with increasing sophistication; the most recent example being the denial of service attack on the Vietnamnet website on November 22. Internet crime via Vietnamese emails is increasing in frequency, making clear the need for improved network and information security.

According to a Viet Nam Information Security Association (VNISA) report, Viet Nam ranked fifth among 10 countries at highest risk of having its information security breached in 2010. According to a more recent survey of businesses by the association, 33 per cent said they had discovered network security attacks; 29 per cent were unaware their network had been attacked; and about 22 per cent responded that they did not understand the motivation behind the security attacks.

Due to limited awareness, a lack of investment in information security and poor information technology (IT) training, security risks were set to increase.

Nguyen Viet The, director of the IT Department General Department of Logistics and Technology, Ministry of Public Security, told participants that information security had a vital role to play in business, especially with the increasing use of on-line transactions. The added that in his opinion, instead of cutting information security budgets, businesses should invest more wisely.

According to Vu Quoc Khanh, director of the Viet Nam Computer Emergency Response Team, this year will be used to develop ideas, plans and programmes as part of the National Digital Information Security Project, including information security activities in important projects, investment, training and improving information security competence, investing in management processes, dealing with incidents, and the value of information security in this field.

Deepraj Emmanuel Datt, IBM Security Solutions ASEAN , said this year would be a make- or- break moment for ICT security.

The event is jointly organised by the IT Department under the General Department of Logistics and Technology of the Ministry of Public Security, and the Viet Nam Computer Emergency Response Team. — VNS

Tags: IT security, Security World Conference and Expo