Belfer Center Presents Model for the Study of Cyber Power

In anticipation of the summer release of the inaugural Cyber Power Index from Harvard's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, the center has released a report to lay the groundwork, titled “Reconceptualizing Cyber Power.”

Authors Julia Voo (Belfer Center Research Director) and Belfer Fellows Irfan Hemani, Simon Jones, Winnona DeSombre, Dan Cassidy and Anina Schwarzenbach recommend portraying cyber power as not just an asset of traditional military power, but as one of societal and economic power as well. The report revisits such fundamental questions to the meaning of cyber power and how to measure it. Defined as "a country’s ability to pursue its objectives using cyber means," the report’s approach includes an examination of cyber capacity for defense, security, economic growth, prosperity, projection of influence and management of international image abroad. Considerations for measurement include defining international cyber norms and intelligence gathering.

To read the brief, click here.

To read the full report, “Reconceptualizing Cyber Power,” click here.