Understanding the Regulatory Landscape in Vietnam’s Cybersecurity Space

Vietnam has made significant strides in recent years to strengthen its national cybersecurity framework. With rapid digital transformation, increasing foreign investment, and growing threats from cyberattacks, the Vietnamese government enacted the Law on Cybersecurity (LoC) in 2018, which officially took effect on January 1, 2019.

The law’s primary objective is to protect national security, ensure social order, and safeguard personal data and information systems in cyberspace. To further operationalize this law, Decree No. 53/2022/ND-CP was issued in August 2022 and came into effect on October 1, 2022. It provides detailed guidance on how to implement specific provisions of the Cybersecurity Law, including obligations related to patch and vulnerability management.

Key Provisions of Vietnam’s Law on Cybersecurity

The Law on Cybersecurity applies to both domestic and foreign entities that provide services over telecommunications networks, the Internet, and value-added services in cyberspace in Vietnam. Key requirements include:

• Data localization: Enterprises must store certain types of data (e.g., personal information of Vietnamese users) within Vietnam.
• Local office requirements: Foreign companies must establish a representative office in Vietnam if they collect or process user data or operate in cyberspace-related fields.
• Compliance with technical standards and security measures: Organizations are required to proactively adopt cybersecurity solutions to protect critical systems.
• Incident reporting and coordination with authorities: Prompt reporting of cybersecurity incidents to the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) is mandated.

What Is Decree 53/2022?

Decree 53/2022 offers practical implementation steps and guidance on enforcing the Law on Cybersecurity. It outlines the roles of governmental agencies, specifies the obligations of enterprises, and introduces clear mechanisms to identify and protect critical information infrastructure.

One of the most significant areas addressed in Decree 53 is technical requirements for information system security, which includes patch and vulnerability management mandates.

Patch and Vulnerability Management Mandates Under Decree 53/2022

Enterprises operating in Vietnam—especially those classified as managing critical information systems (like banking, finance, energy, telecom, and transportation)—are expected to:

1. Implement a Continuous Vulnerability Assessment Program

Organizations must conduct regular assessments of their information systems to identify weaknesses that could be exploited. This includes:

• Performing automated and manual vulnerability scans
• Monitoring public vulnerability disclosures (CVEs, threat intelligence feeds)
• Evaluating third-party risks

2. Ensure Timely Patch Management

Decree 53 requires organizations to:

• Track vulnerabilities and security patches relevant to their software and systems
• Apply patches promptly, prioritizing based on severity and criticality
• Establish a formal patch management process, with risk assessments and documentation

3. Maintain Incident Response Capabilities

The regulation emphasizes that organizations must not only detect vulnerabilities but also have the capability to:

• Respond to exploit attempts
• Report incidents to the Ministry of Public Security within specified timeframes
• Retain logs and forensic data for future analysis

4. Periodic Security Audits and Compliance Checks

Organizations are expected to perform internal security audits and be ready for external inspections by regulatory authorities. They must demonstrate compliance with patch and vulnerability management best practices.

Non-Compliance Risks

Organizations failing to comply with the mandates in Decree 53 and the Law on Cybersecurity may face:

• Administrative penalties
• Service suspension or operational bans
• Reputational damage
• Criminal liability in severe cases

For multinational businesses operating in Vietnam, non-compliance could also lead to strained governmental relations and potential legal barriers to continued operation in the country.

How SecOps Solution Helps Enterprises Comply

SecOps Solution is a leading provider of agentless patch and vulnerability management services, ideal for businesses seeking fast, secure, and regulation-compliant cybersecurity infrastructure in Vietnam.

Key Capabilities Aligned with Decree 53/2022:

Agentless Vulnerability Management

• Scans networks without needing software agents
• Identifies OS-level, software, and configuration vulnerabilities
• Automatically prioritizes threats using CVSS, EPSS, and exploitability context

Automated Patch Management

• Discovers missing patches across endpoints, servers, and applications
• Automatically downloads and applies patches based on risk-based priorities
• Supports rollback and change tracking for audit compliance

Compliance-Ready Reporting

• Generates detailed vulnerability and patch status reports
• Provides audit logs and dashboards for regulatory review
• Assists with documentation and evidence for government inspections

Support for Critical Infrastructure

• Specifically designed to secure banking, telecom, energy, and government systems
• Helps classify critical information assets and prioritize their protection

Why Choose SecOps Solution?

• Zero-agent architecture means faster deployment with lower operational disruption.
• Fully compliant with Vietnam’s cybersecurity law and Decree 53 requirements.
• Customizable risk prioritization to align with business and regulatory needs.
• Comprehensive visibility into IT assets and their security posture.

SecOps Solution empowers organizations to move from reactive to proactive cybersecurity, all while satisfying the stringent requirements set by Vietnamese regulations.

Final Thoughts

Vietnam’s cybersecurity laws—especially the Law on Cybersecurity and Decree 53/2022—are part of a global trend toward stronger national digital defense frameworks. These regulations make it clear: patch and vulnerability management are no longer optional—they are legal mandates.

As regulatory scrutiny intensifies, organizations must modernize their cybersecurity operations to stay compliant, resilient, and competitive. Solutions like SecOps Solution offer a powerful and efficient path to ensure both technical excellence and regulatory compliance, especially for businesses dealing with sensitive or critical information systems in Vietnam.

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SecOps Solution is a Full-stack Patch and Vulnerability Management Platform that helps organizations identify, prioritize, and remediate security vulnerabilities and misconfigurations in seconds.‍‍

To learn more, get in touch.