Standards for participants in the network security protection force from August 19, 2026

Legal Consulting Department of Lao Dong Newspaper answers:

Article 8, Decree 326/2026/ND-CP regulating the network security protection force (effective from August 19, 2026), stipulates the standards for individuals participating in the network security protection force as follows:

1. Individuals participating in specialized forces protecting network security and standing forces protecting network security deployed at ministries, branches, provincial-level People's Committees, agencies, organizations directly managing important information systems on national security must ensure standards according to the provisions of the Law on Network Security, relevant legal regulations and the following standards:

a) Professional standards according to job positions include competency frameworks, requirements for diplomas, professional certificates, skills, experience and work products according to regulations of competent authorities;

b) For locations accessing important information systems, sensitive data or conducting digital surveys, management agencies shall appraise reliability, control conflicts of interest and access management according to the minimum principle.

2. Individuals participating in reserve forces and standing forces protecting network security that are not specified in Clause 1 of this Article meet the following criteria:

a) Having political qualities, ethics, and a sense of discipline suitable to task requirements;

b) Not falling into the case of conflict of interest as prescribed by law;

c) Having professional capacity suitable to the assigned tasks;

d) Be aware of complying with regulations and commitments on protecting state secrets, work secrets, and information security.

3. The Ministry of Public Security shall preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and relevant agencies to promulgate within its authority or submit to competent authorities for promulgation regulations on capacity frameworks, job position standards, evaluation criteria for task performance results, processes for assessing reliability and controlling conflicts of interest for network security protection forces.

Thus, from August 19, 2026, people who want to join the network security protection force need to meet the above standards.