FPT and IBM join forces to build proactive cybersecurity strategies for businesses in the AI era

Recently, FPT, in collaboration with IBM Vietnam, hosted a seminar titled “Cybersecurity Strategies in the AI Era: Gaining the Edge with Proactive Defense.” The event brought together cybersecurity experts, business leaders, and representatives from both public and private sectors to discuss emerging trends, strategies, and practical solutions that enable organizations to proactively respond to cyber threats in the age of AI.

Mr. Vu Minh Quang from FPT delivered the opening remarks at the seminar “Cybersecurity Strategies in the AI Era: Gaining the Edge with Proactive Defense.”

In 2024 alone, more than 659,000 cybersecurity incidents were recorded, impacting nearly half of public and private organizations, according to OpenGov Asia. Another survey by FACTS Asia revealed that 46% of businesses in Vietnam experienced at least one cyberattack over the past year. Against this backdrop, the question is no longer “Should we invest in cybersecurity?” but rather “What is the right strategy and the right technology to safeguard organizations, data, and customer trust in the AI era?”

Delivering the opening remarks, Mr. Vu Minh Quang, Consulting Director of the Enterprise Sector at FPT IS under FPT Corporation, emphasized: “Cybersecurity is not only a shield that protects data but also the foundation for building trust and driving digital economic growth. This is also the mission that FPT, together with global technology partners like IBM, has always pursued – to create a safe, trusted, and sustainable digital foundation for businesses and society. FPT and IBM will continue to be leading partners, helping enterprises turn cybersecurity challenges into opportunities and transform it into a new competitive advantage in the AI era.”

The seminar “Cybersecurity Strategies in the AI Era: Gaining the Edge with Proactive Defense” focused on three in-depth topics, offering a comprehensive perspective – from global trends to practical solutions tailored for the Vietnamese market.

1. “Dual Boundaries” – A Unified Strategy for AI Defense and Management

In the opening presentation, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Global Cybersecurity Consultant at FPT IS under FPT Corporation, emphasized that while AI brings tremendous opportunities, it also opens up a new battleground for cybercriminals. To survive and thrive, organizations must simultaneously defend against AI-driven threats from the outside while effectively harnessing AI from within.

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Binh from FPT shared updates on the latest cybersecurity trends and offered insights into how organizations can “defend against AI from the outside while effectively harnessing it from within.”

According to Mr. Binh, external threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated: hackers can now craft emails, websites, video calls, or even voice imitations that appear completely authentic and target victims with precision. AI is also being used to automatically generate malware at unprecedented speed, making it difficult for traditional defense systems to keep pace. At the same time, internal risks are no less severe – from data leaks and misuse of AI models to industry regulation breaches (in sectors such as banking, insurance, and healthcare) and excessive reliance on AI that may compromise operational resilience.

“That’s why business leaders can no longer focus solely on short-term profits or efficiency; cybersecurity and regulatory compliance must be elevated to a strategic priority,” Mr. Binh emphasized.

Addressing the challenge of “defending against AI from the outside while effectively harnessing it from within,” the FPT representative introduced the AI-Ready SOC (Security Operations Center) — a 24/7, internationally certified cybersecurity monitoring and incident response service. FPT’s SOC leverages machine learning to detect anomalies, analyze big data, and correlate findings with global cybersecurity intelligence sources, enabling early detection and prevention of AI-driven attacks.

In parallel, FPT also offers consulting and implementation services for ISO 27001, as well as PCI DSS assessment and certification, helping businesses standardize their risk management systems and ensure compliance with international security standards.

According to Mr. Binh, SOC and GRC form the two key pillars of FPT’s unified security strategy — but they alone are not enough. Businesses also need a comprehensive cybersecurity ecosystem spanning data, applications, networks, and endpoints, which FPT has built based on the Zero Trust model — never trust by default, always verify. This ecosystem empowers organizations not only to strengthen their defenses but also to safely leverage AI as a new source of competitive advantage in the digital era.

2. AI Security and Sustainable Data Protection Strategies

From a data management perspective, Mr. Nguyen Manh Linh, Data Security Solution Consultant of IBM Vietnam, emphasized that data is both the most valuable and the most vulnerable asset of any organization. As businesses operate in hybrid cloud environments where data is dispersed across multiple locations and formats – both structured and unstructured – the challenges of ensuring data security become increasingly complex.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Linh from IBM introduced the Guardium Data Protection platform, which leverages artificial intelligence to enable early risk detection, enhance incident response capabilities, and ensure long-term data protection

IBM introduced the Guardium Data Protection platform, which classifies data, provides a comprehensive visibility dashboard, identifies vulnerabilities, ranks risks, and continuously monitors activity from login to logout. The technology enables organizations to implement multiple protective measures such as temporary isolation and data masking, thereby minimizing the risk of data leakage.

Mr. Linh also highlighted the risks posed by AI itself: 76% of AI applications remain unsecured, while 51% of IT leaders express concern about emerging AI-driven attack methods. IBM’s approach is a multi-layered security strategy that protects not only data but also AI models and the entire AI lifecycle.

Another key highlight is Quantum Computing, which is predicted to have the capability to break many existing encryption algorithms. IBM is at the forefront of research and development of new cryptographic methods to “future-proof” data security in the years to come.

3. IBM Cyber Vault & FlashSystem – The Data Safety Net Against Ransomware Attacks

In the closing session, Mr. Tran Quang Huy, Storage Solutions Consultant at IBM Vietnam, presented the Cyber Vault & FlashSystem solution suite – designed as a “safety net” to help businesses defend against next-generation ransomware attacks.

Mr. Tran Quang Huy from IBM introduced two next-generation ransomware protection solutions that enable businesses to detect threats early, recover quickly, and maintain continuous operations

The solution integrates early threat detection, secure data isolation, and rapid recovery capabilities, ensuring business continuity even in the event of a cyberattack. By incorporating AI into the process, detection and response times are significantly shortened, minimizing damage and enhancing the long-term resilience of IT systems.

Beyond technology showcases, the seminar also featured a dynamic panel discussion where experts and business representatives exchanged practical insights. Key topics included balancing cost and efficiency, securing data across multi-cloud environments, and safely applying AI to drive business value.

Participants highly appreciated the partnership between FPT and IBM – combining FPT’s deep understanding of the Vietnamese market with IBM’s world-leading cybersecurity technologies. This collaboration marks a concrete step forward in strengthening Vietnamese enterprises’ defensive capabilities and building a secure, trusted digital foundation.

Concluding the event, representatives from FPT and IBM reaffirmed their commitment to a long-term strategic partnership, delivering proactive, end-to-end cybersecurity solutions powered by AI to enable early risk detection and sustainable data protection. “Cybersecurity is not merely a defensive shield — it is a cornerstone for the sustainable growth of businesses in the AI era,” emphasized the FPT leadership.