Given the strong development of information warfare, cyber warfare, and the plots and tricks of hostile forces, cyber forces are required to firmly grasp their functions and tasks and continue to promote their core role in successfully protecting national sovereignty in cyberspace, making an important contribution to the firm protection of the Socialist Fatherland of Vietnam.

Cyber forces are an important part of the Vietnam People's Army, responsible for protecting military and defence information systems; protecting important national information systems; responding to the enemy for firmly protecting national sovereignty in cyberspace. Although it has just been established according to the requirements and tasks of protecting the Fatherland in the new situation, the cyber forces have always maintained high vigilance; improved professional expertise; proactively overcome difficulties; stayed united, creative, and successfully completed all tasks, thereby affirming their core role in the cause of protecting the Fatherland in cyberspace.

Thoroughly grasping the Party's resolutions and directives on Fatherland protection, especially Resolution No. 29-NQ/TW, dated 25 July 2018 of the Politburo (12th tenure) on "Strategy to protect the Fatherland in cyberspace", the Party Committee and Command of Command 86 have deployed policies and solutions in a synchronous and comprehensive manner to improve the operational effectiveness in cyberspace and achieved many important results. In the coming time, the task of protecting the Fatherland in general and in cyberspace in particular will pose very high requirements, while there are still limitations in forces and means in this environment. What’s more, hostile forces are stepping up their sabotage; strategic competition, information warfare, cyber warfare as well as mastery of cyberspace between major powers are becoming increasingly fierce, This requires that cyberforces promote their core role, implement synchronously and effectively the contents and solutions for firmly protecting the Fatherland in all situations.

Reviewing the network security work for the Office of the National Assembly

First of all, improving the effectiveness and efficiency of advisory work and state management on Fatherland protection in cyberspace. Based on lessons learned from the shortcomings and limitations pointed out in the review of 5 years implementing Resolution No. 29-NQ/TW on "Strategy for Fatherland protection in cyberspace", the cyber forces in the entire Military, directly the 86th Command, should continue to improve the quality of research, assessment, and forecast of situation, especially the methods of information, electronic, and cyber warfare in recent wars in the world; new plots, tricks, and methods of sabotage of hostile forces and cyber criminals, etc. On that basis, they should help the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence propose to the Party and State policies and plans to promptly and effectively handle situations to avoid being made passive and unattended. In particular, it is necessary to focus on advising solutions to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of cyberspace management through mechanisms, policies, and laws associated with economic, administrative, educational, and persuasive measures; regularly consolidate and perfect the state management apparatus for information technology, telecommunications, information security, network security and cyberspace warfare; build and perfect the coordination mechanism for information exchange and coordination in handling situations in cyberspace with central departments, ministries, branches, and localities; concretise and synchronously and effectively implement resolutions, conclusions, decrees, strategies, laws, etc. related to the task of protecting the Fatherland in cyberspace, particularly Decree No. 01/2023/ND-CP, dated 15 August 2023 of the Government on measures to carry out national defence tasks in cyberspace; tighten management, strengthen inspection, supervision to detect, prevent and promptly handle bad information and illegal acts in the management, provision and use of Internet services and online information, especially the cross-border information service providers; improve the capacity of advice and state management of functional agencies and governments at all levels, contributing to ensuring network safety and security and cyberspace operations.

Second, building and developing the cyber forces on par with mission requirements. To successfully complete the tasks amid the restructuring of the Military in the direction of "lean, compact, and powerful", cyber agencies and units should continue to thoroughly grasp and implement effectively Resolution No. 05-NQ/TW, dated 17 January 2022 of the Politburo; Resolution No. 230-NQ/QUTW, dated 02 April 2022 of the Central Military Commission on the organisation of the Vietnam People's Army in the 2021 - 2030 period and beyond associated with the implementation of Decree No. 98/2015/ ND-CP, 19 October 2015 of the Government on the organisation and operations of cyber forces, etc. Focus on building revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern cyber forces; a modern, professional, high-skill network safety and security force who are "truly loyal, disciplined, intellectual, sharp, and effective, capable of combating, winning, and protecting national sovereignty in cyberspace". Have measures for developing high quality human resources; strengthen training and exercise of independent cyber warfare plans and cyber warfare in combined types of combat, ensuring the initiative and avoiding surprises in any situations in cyberspace. Continue to build, expand and promote the role of part-time cyber forces in the entire Military, especially Force 47. Pay attention to investment to ensure synchronisation of the national technical infrastructure system and database, modern information technology facilities; complete the command automation system; actively carry out scientific and technological research and development and international cooperation, contributing to improving combat power and successfully completing all assigned tasks.

Third, promoting the core and specialised role of cyber forces in fighting and protecting national sovereignty in cyberspace. Cyber forces should continue to adhere to the motto of "Timely reconnaissance, effective prevention, and firm protection" and synchronously deploy plans for reconnaissance, defence, counterattack, to safeguard military and defence information systems, and national information systems. Strengthen specialised professional measures to manage, monitor, detect, rescue, prevent, and promptly handle security holes, spyware, and malicious code; neutralise cyber-attacks and high-tech criminals taking advantage of cyberspace to sabotage the Party's ideological foundation, as well as commit illegal acts and violate national security in cyberspace. Actively conducting propaganda and education to raise awareness and responsibility of both full-time and part-time cyber forces military-wide; accelerate the digital transformation process nationwide, build modern and synchronous national information, defence and security infrastructure; Put priority to the development of information technology systems and cyber hardware to protect key infrastructure of the country and that of the Military and the Police. Combine historical and cultural propaganda and education with promoting the fight and prevention of toxic culture, firmly protecting Vietnamese culture in cyberspace. Research and perfect the theory of cyber warfare both at the tactical, campaign and strategic levels, in accordance with the organisation, staffing, weapons and equipment. Build potential and posture for cyberspace operations, the solid and effective all-people defence posture associated with the people's security posture in cyberspace. Improve the level of management and administration of commanders at all levels in information warfare and cyberspace operations for firmly protecting national sovereignty in cyberspace.

Fourth, closely coordinating with friendly forces to create synergy to successfully fulfil the task of protecting the Fatherland in cyberspace. In order to complete this heavy, complex but glorious task, the cyber forces will continue to advise the Ministry of National Defence to strengthen the coordination with the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Information and Communications on the execution of state management functions on information security and network security; developing a safe and widespread national cyberspace; building cyberspace culture; preventing violations of the law, deviations from standards to protect the safe and healthy network environment; improving the capacity to prevent and combat information warfare and cyber warfare; developing application software, building and perfecting e-government, digital transformation, etc. Promulgate mechanisms on coordination and mobilisation of scientific, technical and technological resources of all levels and sectors for the task of protecting the Fatherland in cyberspace. In addition, closely coordinate with the Central Propaganda Commission, Steering Committee 35 at all levels, and military and civilian press agencies to build, perfect and improve the effectiveness of the steering mechanism to create a solid foundation to promote synergy to protect national sovereignty in cyberspace.

Senior Colonel, MSc. VU HUU HANH, Commander of Command 86