Fragmentation remains the main bottleneck
Data is becoming an important resource for public management, governance and service delivery. But fragmented systems, weak standardisation and information security risks continue to limit its use.
Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Deputy Director of the Department of Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation at the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Policy and Strategy, said incomplete data connection and sharing was the main bottleneck. Grassroots officials still work with separate software systems, increasing their workload and limiting the use of data in governance.
Data systems need to be reviewed, cleaned and standardised, while links to the National Data Centre should be strengthened. Uniform management and regulated use of information could reduce repeated declarations by citizens and businesses and help agencies improve administrative procedures. Data updates need clear verification, assigned responsibility and safeguards against using information for the wrong purpose.
Interoperability is useful only when it produces a concrete benefit for users. A technology platform will underperform if procedures are complex, interfaces are difficult to use or citizens do not receive the services they expect. Solutions should target bottlenecks, cut costs, raise productivity and improve access. For public applications, clear interfaces, convenient operation and stable performance directly affect use.
App development should be assessed not only by whether systems are built, but also by their results in use. Process time and convenience, information reuse and public feedback should be among the main measures of digital service quality.
Dinh Duc Thu, Deputy CEO of VNPT VinaPhone, said technical standards for connecting systems already exist, but their implementation remains incomplete. Different developers can create apps with overlapping functions, while data between platforms is still not being fully used.
Once data is standardised and systems are connected, state agencies will find it easier to use information in governance. For the public, this should mean fewer documents, declarations and procedural steps.
Security and uptime must be built in
When many apps use the same information, one vulnerability in an account, access right or interface can affect several linked systems. Information security needs to be built in from the start, embedded in operations and supported by contingency plans.
Pham Trung Thanh, a security expert and member of the Technology and International Cooperation Committee of the National Cybersecurity Association, pointed to risks in digitising records, centralising data and connecting systems through APIs. More connection points require tighter control over accounts, access keys and data-use rights. Stolen credentials can widen the threat across linked systems.
Agencies need to map the data they manage, classify it by sensitivity, control access and monitor it regularly. Backups must be tied to a recovery plan. A backup alone does not guarantee a restart after an incident: data recovery capabilities and the time needed to maintain or restore services must be tested periodically.
For systems supporting essential services, contingency plans should match the importance of the data and operational requirements. Backups must be protected from malware modification or deletion and checked for usability when the main system fails.
Sources: VietnamPlus / Vietnam News Agency
