Introduction of a Model for Measuring and Evaluating the Cyber Power of a Defense Organization in Islamic Republic Of Iran

Nowadays, cyber defense power is of prime importance for a military organization in the country. Regarding the fact that four spheres of land, sea, air and space use cyberspace to perform their operations in a better and more efficient way; a model for assessment of cyber power of the defense organization can provide managers and decision makers a correct insight into the variables affecting cyber defense power. The aim of this paper is to identify and model the components of cyber power assessment for a defense organization, which finally leads to introduction of 5 components, 26 indices and 78 items for measurement. The introduced model is extracted by studying the cyber evaluation models and national cyber strategic plans, the components of cyber defense power. It has been discovered and validated using the structural equation modeling method with the least partial squares approach with formative measures. This technique employs empirical data (expert judgment) for modelling. The method of analysis in this kind of modeling is statistical analysis that measures the relationship and significance of the components of the model using various and accurate statistical tests. The results show the significant levels of metrics (research questions) of each main constructs (dimensions) and minor constructs (components) of at least 90% to a maximum of more than 99% (close to 1). These values ​​are also established for the significance of the connection of the main constructs to each other and the connection of the minor constructs to the main ones. Also, the values ​​of R2 for the main constructs indicate the explanation of variance by the predictor variables and the optimal limit obtained for them. Thus, the validity of the selected variables and the pattern drawn for them (relationships and how the variables influence) have been confirmed.