Cyberspace represents a strategic environment, a “special territory” of the Fatherland. The work of safeguarding national sovereignty in cyberspace faces numerous difficulties and challenges, requiring the mobilisation of a combined strength. In this regard, the establishment of a robust “all-people national defence posture in cyberspace” is a key and fundamental task.

The world is currently experiencing the 4^th Industrial Revolution, marked by the rapid development of technology, giving rise to the digital age. In this era, every element can be digitised, archived, and exchanged within the cyberspace environment. In the military and defence domain, cyberspace has become the 6^th operational theatre, alongside land, air, sea, space, and the electromagnetic spectrum. Cyberattacks are on the rise in terms of both frequency and impact, causing severe consequences and significant damage to the targeted entities.

Cyber warfare involves cyberattacks conducted by one or multiple countries or territories against another country or territory. These attacks aim to inflict damage to information systems, processes, resources, and other critical infrastructure. They can disrupt political and socio-economic systems, undermining the psychological well-being of the population to gain advantages in military, political, and economic aspects, violating the independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of a nation. A distinctive feature of cyber warfare is that it is not limited by spatial and temporal factors. Cyberattacks can be launched from any connected region worldwide, at any time, night or day, making it challenging to identify the source of the attack and hold the perpetrators accountable. Cyberattacks are often prepared and tested in closed network environments, maintaining a high level of secrecy and making detection difficult. When launched, these attacks are sudden and coordinated, rendering the targeted entities unable to respond to promptly. Attackers typically employ sophisticated techniques to remain anonymous and conceal their traces.

In recent years, cyberattacks have occurred at various levels, scales, and with different objectives. The frequency of these attacks is steadily increasing, posing a significant threat to all nations. On the flip side, this domain is also being utilised by many countries, particularly technologically advanced ones, for spying and gathering crucial information related to economic, military, and defence strategies. They aim to assert control, disrupt, or paralyse information systems and economic, military, defence, and security activities. These actions have negative impacts on the socio-economic aspects of the targeted nations, affecting public morale and mentality. Simultaneously, conventional military operations are conducted in coordination with such attacks to achieve their goals more quickly and effectively.

For our country, in order to successfully realise the requirements of cyber operation and contribute to the firm defence of the independence and sovereignty of our Fatherland across all domains, protecting our national interests and the people, maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for national development, the establishment of an “all-people national defence posture in cyberspace” is a crucial and urgent task that requires uniformed and effective study and implementation.

The “all-people national defence posture in cyberspace” can be perceived as the deployment of forces and technological equipment for cyber warfare within the national cyberspace of Vietnam. It is closely integrated with the all-people security posture in cyberspace, forming a robust and secure national defence and security posture in cyberspace. The establishment of the all-people national defence posture in cyberspace must be based on a foundation of modern science and technology. This involves maximising the nation’s scientific and technological capability to support cyber warfare operations, meeting both immediate and long-term requirements.

Youth union of Quang Nam province holds forum on protecting the Fatherland in cyberspace (Photo credit: baoquangnam.vn)

In peacetime, cyber operations aim at safeguarding the security of the information systems serving governing and management activities of the Party and the State, military and defence information systems, and other crucial national information systems. It involves combating and preventing activities that use cyberspace to incite “peaceful evolution,” riots, and subversive activities, and maintaining combat readiness to deal with cyberattack scenarios. Therefore, even in peacetime, it is necessary to build a solid posture and infrastructure to proactively prepare for potential cyberattacks. It is critical to deploy related forces in a broad and comprehensive posture, this includes the disposition of cyber infrastructure and weapons, specialised cyber forces, and an extensive “cyber militia” force, creating a proactive stance for defence and the ability to attack anytime, anywhere. In addition, there is a need to create honeypots to absorb the adversary’s resources, limiting damage from their attacks. Simultaneously, cyber operations forces must be place in position to be able to launch attacks against adversary in all fronts. Also, there should be coordinated plans for collaboration with various forces in the information technology sector, Force 47, the 35^th Steering Committees of ministries and departments, businesses, information technology companies, students, and scholars from educational institutions, etc. This aims to establish a broad and dispersed defensive posture, drawing and diffusing the adversary’s cyberattack capabilities towards key network infrastructure targets.

In terms of equipment and infrastructure, it is necessary to focus on constructing defence systems for networks and information technology infrastructure, and an independent power supply system to support cyber warfare missions. Furthermore, there is a need to strengthen solutions to protect the national cyberspace infrastructure, with a focus on the vital information system for national security, in accordance with the provisions of cybersecurity laws.

To effectively achieve the goals and requirements of the establishment of a robust “all-people national defence posture in cyberspace”, we must conduct vigorous study, issue proposal, and implement the following fundamental measures:

1. Intensify propaganda, dissemination, and enhance awareness and skills regarding cyber safety and security. This is a key and fundamental solution aimed at equipping the entire population and all forces with knowledge and skills related to cyber safety and security. The focus must be placed on the widespread dissemination of resolutions and directives from the Party, the Central Military Commission, and Ministry of National Defence regarding the defence of the Fatherland, with an emphasis on Resolution No. 44/NQ-TU of the Central Party Committee (13^th Tenure) on Strategy for Fatherland protection in the new situation; Cybersecurity Law; Network Information Security Law; Decision No. 964/QD-TTg, dated 10 August 2022, of the Prime Minister on the approval the National Cyber Safety and Security Strategy that proactively responds to challenges from cyberspace until 2025, with a vision to 2030; aiming by 2030 to become a self-reliant nation in cybersecurity to protect Vietnam’s prosperity in cyberspace, etc. This aims at raising awareness, responsibility, and skills regarding cyber safety and security issues at all levels, sectors, forces, and among the entire population to ensure the firm protection of national sovereignty in cyberspace; creating a combined strength, with sufficient proactive capabilities to respond to challenges from cyberspace.

2. Establish an all-people national defence posture linked with the all-people security posture in protecting national sovereignty in cyberspace. To implement this solution, the Ministry of National Defence needs to focus on drafting and refining policies and laws related to national defence and national sovereignty in cyberspace. In addition, it should closely coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Information and Communications, and other relevant ministries and agencies to actively detect and prevent risks to cyber safety and security to protect national sovereignty in cyberspace and counteract information warfare and cyber warfare operations. Furthermore, we should organise specialised forces to ensure information safety and cybersecurity for Party and State agencies, vital information systems for national security, and military information systems. Simultaneously, it is critical to propose the construction of technical systems, the deployment of appropriate measures to prevent and defeat hostile forces’ schemes aiming at exploiting cyberspace to violate our national sovereignty. Also, there is a need to implement mechanisms and policies to mobilise units, businesses, and individuals to fulfill their responsibility and duties of protecting national sovereignty in cyberspace, and countering information warfare and cyber warfare operations.

The Ministry of Public Security should also establish mechanisms, sets up hotlines, and develops systems for receiving and processing information about cybercrime, allowing citizens to promptly report violations to responsible authorities. Furthermore, it is essential to innovate the content, form, and measures for building the movement “All People Protecting the Homeland Security” to align with the characteristics of the digital age. In addition, there is a need to study and create a model for the entire population to protect national security in cyberspace and establish a national early warning system to timely detect, coordinate, and respond to cybersecurity incidents. Also, we must conduct information gathering and sharing on cybersecurity with the coordination between the State’s agencies and private businesses, both domestically and internationally and establish a unified cybersecurity control and monitoring platform.

The Ministry of Information and Communications should promote the development of secure Internet applications to protect the people in the online environment, propagational applications (apps) to enhance awareness and disseminate knowledge about information security for users and platforms supporting the protection of children in the online environment, as well as provides guidance for organisations and individuals to adjust online habits and behaviors in the in accordance to safety standards.

3. Harness the strength of the all-people national defence posture and people’s warfare in strengthening and enhancing the all-people national defence posture in cyberspace in the event of a cyber war. In the event of a cyber war, alongside the core forces of the Military and the Police, it is essential to mobilise external resources from organisations, individuals, and experts in the field of information security and cybersecurity to create a combined capability. Additionally, we must mobilise technical material resources, repair capabilities, and industrial production capabilities from the national economy and the corps of information technology personnel within the reserve force to ensure equipment and military information technology support per state mobilisation orders. Throughout this process, it is critical to deploy cyber operations plans developed during peacetime and make optimal use of the information technology system and battlefield equipment prepared in advance. On that basis, the plans need to be supplemented and adjusted as needed to fit the actual operational conditions. In modern warfare scenarios where the enemy employs high-tech weapons, the flexible and innovative deployment and arrangement of cyber forces must ensure secrecy, safety, and minimise losses caused by enemy firepower. In addition, there must be efforts to implement national mobilisation within the authority, responsibility, procedures, and protocols; and mobilise human resources to defend national sovereignty in cyberspace as stipulated by laws. It is of utmost importance to mobilise all national or local resources for defence missions to create a combined strength, ensuring the firm defence of the Fatherland in all situations.

Major General, Dr. NGUYEN MINH THANG, Political Commissar of the 86^th Command