On May 8, 2025, Cisco released its 2025 Cybersecurity Readiness Index, revealing alarming statistics about the state of cybersecurity preparedness among businesses, particularly in Vietnam. The report, which surveyed 8,000 security and business leaders across 30 global markets, including Vietnam, highlighted that only 11% of surveyed businesses in Vietnam have reached the 'Mature' level of readiness necessary to effectively respond to current cybersecurity threats.
While this marks a 5% increase from 2024, experts at Cisco deem this improvement insignificant. "Despite some progress, the level of cybersecurity readiness remains low, especially in the context of hyper-connectivity and the ongoing challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI)," stated Mr. Nguyen Nhu Dung, General Director of Cisco Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
The report indicates that globally, 60% of businesses reported having suffered cyberattacks in the past year, with a staggering 87% of surveyed organizations acknowledging that they have encountered security incidents related to AI. This growing reliance on AI not only enhances operational capabilities but also introduces a new wave of security threats.
Interestingly, only 55% of business leaders believe their employees truly understand AI-related threats, and a mere 53% think their teams comprehend how malicious actors exploit AI for sophisticated attacks. This gap in awareness is pushing organizations into a precarious position, facing significant risks.
According to the report, 78% of survey participants predict their businesses will experience operational disruptions due to cybersecurity incidents within the next 12 to 24 months. This prediction underscores the urgent need for comprehensive cybersecurity strategies.
In Vietnam, 44% of employees are using approved third-party GenAI tools, yet only 25% have unrestricted access to public GenAI tools. Alarmingly, 40% of IT teams are unaware of how employees are interacting with GenAI, reflecting major challenges in oversight and management.
As hybrid work models become more prevalent, 90% of organizations face increased security risks when employees access networks from unmanaged devices. This situation is exacerbated when employees use unapproved GenAI tools, leading to heightened vulnerabilities.
Despite nearly all organizations (99%) planning to upgrade their IT infrastructure, only 52% allocate more than 10% of their IT budget to cybersecurity, a decrease of 1% from the previous year. This statistic highlights a critical misalignment in investment priorities, as the threat landscape continues to evolve.
The complexity of existing security infrastructures is another pressing issue, with 84% of businesses reporting that their current setups are too complicated. Many organizations utilize over ten separate security solutions, which hampers their ability to respond swiftly and effectively to threats.
Furthermore, 95% of survey participants identified the shortage of cybersecurity experts as a significant challenge, with 42% indicating they need to recruit more than ten specialists. This shortage is particularly concerning as businesses grapple with increasingly sophisticated threats.
As AI continues to revolutionize the cybersecurity landscape, the need for organizations to reassess their strategies becomes paramount. Mr. Jeetu Patel, Cisco's Product Director, emphasized that "as AI transforms businesses, we face a completely new category of risk on an unprecedented scale. This places increasing pressure on infrastructure and security teams. Organizations must urgently reevaluate their strategies now if they don't want to fall behind in the AI era."
In summary, the 2025 Cybersecurity Readiness Index serves as a wake-up call for businesses, particularly in Vietnam, to enhance their cybersecurity preparedness in the face of evolving threats. The findings suggest that while some progress has been made, the overall readiness remains alarmingly low, necessitating immediate action to bolster defenses and ensure a secure operational environment.
