In the digital economy, trust is the prerequisite for ensuring that all electronic transactions are conducted securely and seamlessly. As financial, commercial, public administrative, healthcare, and educational activities are increasingly moving online, identity authentication, data integrity, and the legal validity of transactions have become indispensable requirements. Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), digital signatures and trust services are therefore no longer merely technical tools reserved for the information technology sector; they have become essential components of the national digital infrastructure.
The digital transformation process in recent years has demonstrated the growing importance of this infrastructure. Digital banking, e-commerce, social insurance, taxation, customs, the state treasury, and electronic contracts all rely on electronic authentication mechanisms to ensure the security and reliability of transactions. As of the end of June 2026, nearly 32 million digital signature certificates have been issued nationwide, bringing the digital signature adoption rate among the adult population to 45.62%. Billions of electronic transactions conducted each year demonstrate that digital signatures are becoming a fundamental pillar supporting the operation of the digital economy.
According to To Thi Thu Huong, Director of the National Electronic Authentication Centre (NEAC) under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Public Key Infrastructure, digital signatures and trust services play a foundational role in authenticating digital identities, ensuring data integrity and establishing trust in transactions conducted in the digital environment. As the scale of digital transactions continues to expand, the need to strengthen the protection of this infrastructure has become more urgent than ever.
The development of quantum computing is expected to bring breakthroughs in computational capabilities, opening numerous opportunities in scientific research, healthcare, finance, and artificial intelligence. However, this technology also fundamentally changes the assumptions underlying today's information security systems.
What concerns experts is not merely the point at which quantum computers become sufficiently powerful, but the possibility that data collected today could be stored for decryption in the future. The "harvest now, decrypt later" scenario means that encrypted data may still become vulnerable if it is retained over long periods. Financial records, medical data, personal identification information, trade secrets, and government data all require protection for many years, or even decades. Consequently, many countries have already begun preparing for the transition to post-quantum cryptographic standards. Cryptographic transition is not simply a matter of replacing a single algorithm; it requires synchronising the entire digital trust infrastructure, including technical standards, certificate management systems, and data security solutions.
Trieu Viet Phuong, President of the Viet Nam Institute of Standards, Metrology and Quality, noted that standards have traditionally been developed only after technologies become widely adopted. However, for strategic technologies such as quantum technology, standards need to be prepared from the research and experimental stages. Proactively aligning with international standards will enable the transition to proceed in a coordinated manner, reduce system upgrade costs, and improve the interoperability of Viet Nam's trust services in cross-border electronic transactions.
During the transition period, the key objective is to build cryptographic agility across the entire infrastructure, ensuring that systems can be updated and upgraded proactively as security requirements evolve without disrupting existing services. For sectors with stringent security requirements, such as finance, banking, and critical information infrastructure, the transition should be implemented according to an appropriate roadmap. The first step is to inventory all cryptographic assets, assess risk levels and identify systems requiring priority protection. Hybrid cryptographic models combining conventional algorithms with post-quantum algorithms should then be gradually tested on existing systems.
Hoang Nguyen Van, Deputy Director of the Institute for Digital Transformation Innovation (VIDTI), stated that the period leading up to 2030 will be crucial for government agencies, organisations, and businesses to complete their technical infrastructure, develop high-quality human resources, and build capabilities to master next-generation security technologies. Early preparation will help reduce transition costs, minimise risks, and ensure the uninterrupted operation of digital systems. Alongside upgrading technical infrastructure, improving standards for trust services, enhancing automation in digital certificate management and expanding international cooperation will also be key factors in strengthening the protection of digital infrastructure.
In the digital economy, if data is regarded as the new resource, then trust is the essential condition that enables this resource to be utilised effectively. Protecting digital signature infrastructure and trust services has therefore gone far beyond being merely a technical solution. It is about safeguarding the operational foundation of the digital government, digital economy, and digital society. Proactive preparation for the post-quantum era from today will help Viet Nam preserve its foundation of digital trust, ensure the security of electronic transactions, and create favourable conditions for sustainable development in the years ahead.
