Creating robust cybersecurity workforce ecosystem
Creating robust cybersecurity workforce ecosystem
https://en.nhandan.vn/creating-robust-cybersecurity-workforce-ecosystem-post163731.html
Publish Date: 2026-06-25 10:34:00
Source Domain: en.nhandan.vn
Using an unordered list, summarize the following article with between 4 and 8 key points. However, while cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, Viet Nam continues to face a significant gap between market demand and the capacity of its education and training system. This underscores the urgent need to build a strong cybersecurity talent ecosystem capable of safeguarding the nation’s digital space.
A large gap between demand and training capacity
According to the National Cybersecurity Association (NCA), the frequency and complexity of cyberattacks are increasing with sophisticated methods, targeting critical digital infrastructure, personal data and public services. This reality shows that cybersecurity has become a systemic challenge, requiring a workforce with the expertise to detect, analyse and respond effectively to emerging threats. Experts estimate that Viet Nam will face a shortage of more than 700,000 cybersecurity professionals in the coming years, highlighting the substantial gap between market demand and the current supply of qualified personnel.
The Government has introduced several programmes and strategies to develop the cybersecurity workforce, including the Project on Cybersecurity Human Resource Training until 2025, with a vision to 2030, and the National Cybersecurity and Information Security Strategy for Proactive Response to Cyber Threats until 2025, with a vision to 2030.
Whereas cybersecurity was once primarily a concern for technology companies, financial institutions and banks, it has now become essential across every sector of society. Public agencies and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in particular, remain vulnerable due to limited information security capacity, creating strong demand for professionals with practical expertise and rapid incident response capabilities.
Explaining the persistent shortage of cybersecurity professionals, Associate Professor Dr Nguyen Huu Hieu, Rector of the University of Science and Technology – The University of Da Nang, noted that while Viet Nam previously struggled simply with a shortage of personnel, today’s greater challenge is the absence of unified professional standards.
Although many organisations have established dedicated cybersecurity teams, they still lack a standardised occupational competency framework, clearly defined graduate outcomes and practical skills assessment mechanisms aligned with internationally recognised standards such as ISO/IEC 27001, the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, and leading professional certifications.
Meanwhile, cyber threats continue to evolve rapidly. AI-generated malware, highly personalised phishing attacks and identity fraud are becoming increasingly prevalent, posing serious risks to information security. Against this backdrop, demand for cybersecurity professionals is expected to continue rising sharply.
According to Associate Professor Dr Nguyen Truong Thang, Director of the Institute of Information Technology under the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology, the current shortage stems from several factors. Cybersecurity programmes have been introduced rapidly at a number of leading universities, but there remains an insufficient number of lecturers who combine research expertise, teaching experience and practical industry knowledge.
Training infrastructure and specialised laboratories also remain limited, while integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data and cloud computing requires substantial investment. As a result, there is still a considerable gap between the quantity and quality of cybersecurity professionals required by the market and the actual training capacity of Viet Nam’s educational institutions.
Linking “three stakeholders” to create breakthroughs in human resource development
The Politburo’s Resolution No.57-NQ/TW identifies cybersecurity and data security as indispensable pillars of digital transformation, emphasising information security, the protection of national cyber sovereignty and the safeguarding of digital data.
Training cybersecurity personnel is not only a core task in building a digital workforce, but also a strategy for protecting national digital sovereignty in the process of national development.
Over the next five to ten years, demand for cybersecurity professionals is expected to increase significantly, both in terms of quantity and quality, specialization, and interdisciplinary approach.
“Therefore, students need to be trained in a ‘security by design’ approach, embedding security thinking from the earliest stages of system architecture, algorithm development and data management. Academic programmes will also place greater emphasis on practical training, attack-and-defence simulations and solving cybersecurity challenges in real-world environments,” said Associate Professor Dr Nguyen Hai Dang, Vice Rector of the University of Science and Technology of Ha Noi.
Experts agree that building a cybersecurity workforce ecosystem capable of meeting both quantitative and qualitative demands will require close cooperation among the Government, universities and businesses.
The State should continue to act as the chief architect in developing cybersecurity human resources, formulating strategies, perfecting the national professional competency framework, and standardizing information security professional certifications. Attractive policies regarding salaries, benefits, and career advancement opportunities should also be implemented.
Universities, particularly those specialising in engineering and technology, must evolve beyond their traditional role as educators to become creators of knowledge and national digital capability. They should strengthen international partnerships with leading universities and organisations worldwide to enhance the quality of cybersecurity education.
Businesses, meanwhile, should be recognised not merely as employers but as strategic partners within the cybersecurity talent ecosystem.
Technology corporations, cybersecurity firms, banks and major data centres should participate from the earliest stages of curriculum design, provide real-world attack-and-defence scenarios, and collaborate in lecturer training and applied research.
In the digital age, cybersecurity is not just a technological issue but also a matter of protecting national sovereignty in cyberspace. Therefore, investing in cybersecurity human resources should be seen as an investment in the country’s digital self-reliance. The special cooperation between these “three stakeholders” helps bridge the gap between the classroom and the market, contributing to the formation of a complete human resource value chain, where businesses serve as both a learning environment and a space for innovation. NGOC HIEU – CONG VINH Translated by NDO
