New legal framework on data management and network security for businesses

On July 1, 2026, the Cybersecurity Law No. Not only setting requirements for state agencies, the law also significantly expands the responsibility of enterprises in the management, operation and protection of information systems. For businesses that are exploiting the digital platform, providing online services or processing customer data, compliance from this point is no longer an option but a mandatory legal obligation.

One of the notable points of the Cybersecurity Law 2025 is the unified approach between protecting personal data and ensuring network security. Instead of viewing personal data as an independent management content, the law places data processing activities in the overall network security protection task of the information system. According to Clause 4, Article 40, the owner of the information system is responsible for applying management measures and technical solutions to ensure network security for all data processing activities, including personal data.

This regulation forces businesses to change their compliance mindset. If in the past, data protection was mainly expressed through privacy policies or privacy commitments, from July 1, 2026, enterprises must prove that their technology system is capable of protecting data in reality. That includes the ability to prevent unauthorized access, early detection of attack risks, and securely control the storage, transmission and data exploitation. In other words, the protection of personal data is no longer just a legal requirement but has become a mandatory technical standard in the operation of the information system.

In parallel with strengthening technical infrastructure requirements, the Law on Cybersecurity 2025 also emphasizes the management responsibility of enterprises. Accordingly, the heads of agencies and organizations are responsible for organizing the implementation of network security protection activities within their management. This regulation shows that the responsibility of compliance no longer belongs only to the information technology or information security department, but has been raised to the responsibility of the management.

The meaning of this regulation is especially clear in the context that many businesses still tend to assign all security activities to the technical department. From a legal perspective, the development of a risk management mechanism, assigning responsibilities, promulgating the incident response process and allocating resources to implement network security protection measures is the responsibility of the business leadership. This requires the manager to actively participate in the process of developing a data management strategy and risk control from the beginning, instead of just handling when the incident has occurred.

Not stopping at identifying the responsible subject, the law also establishes a system of measures to protect cyber security in the direction of risk prevention. According to the law, activities such as appraisal and assessment of network security conditions, inspection, supervision, application of technical standards, data backup and evaluation of the effectiveness of protection measures must be implemented in the process of managing information systems.

This approach reflects the modern governance trend, in which businesses must maintain monitoring and risk assessment on a regular basis instead of just remediating after incidents. Investing in technical solutions will not be enough if the enterprise lacks a mechanism to periodically check, detect security holes and promptly implement remedial measures. This is also the basis for the management agency to assess the compliance level of the enterprise when there is a network security incident.

In addition to preventive measures, the Law on Cybersecurity 2025 also strengthens the obligation to coordinate between enterprises and state management agencies. Accordingly, the owner of the information system must report the network security incident to the specialized agency under the Ministry of Public Security or the Ministry of National Defense according to its competence, and at the same time coordinate in the process of checking, verifying and handling the incident upon request.

This regulation shows that cybersecurity incidents are no longer seen as merely an internal problem of the enterprise. In the context of data and digital infrastructure increasingly closely tied to socio-economic activities, a cyber security incident can affect the legitimate rights and interests of many entities, even affecting national security. Therefore, enterprises need to develop a process to detect, record and handle problems right from the first stage to ensure the ability to react quickly and effectively coordinate with the competent authority.

It can be seen that the Cybersecurity Law 2025 has shifted its focus from handling violations to risk management and incident prevention. This means that investing in cybersecurity is no longer considered a mere technology cost but has become a core content in corporate governance. A secure data management system, transparent information protection process and an effective incident response mechanism not only help businesses meet legal requirements but also contribute to reducing risks and strengthening the trust of customers, partners and investors.

In the context of strong digital transformation, compliance with the Cybersecurity Law 2025 is therefore not only a legal obligation but also a factor in building sustainable competitiveness. Enterprises who actively improve their data management and cybersecurity systems right now will have many advantages in risk control, protection of reputation and adaptation to the increasing legal requirements of the digital economy.