Cyber Capability:
According to a report by International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), an influential think tank, India’s offensive cyber capability is “Pakistan-focused” and “regionally effective”, and not tuned towards China.
Countries Under Observation:
- The report has done a qualitative assessment of cyber power in 15 countries.
- Four members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance – the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
- Three cyber-capable allies of the Five Eyes states – France, Israel and Japan.
- Four countries viewed by the Five Eyes and their allies as cyber threats – China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.
- Four states at earlier stages in their cyber power development – India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.
The report has divided the 15 states into three tiers of cyber power:
- First Tier: States with world-leading strengths across all the categories in the methodology. The United States of America is the only country in this tier.
- Second Tier: States that have world-leading strengths in some of the categories. Australia, Canada, China, France, Israel, Russia and the United Kingdom are in this tier.
- Third Tier: States that have strengths or potential strengths in some of the categories but significant weaknesses in others. India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, North Korea and Vietnam are in this tier.
- This report provides confirmation of the likely durability of US digital-industrial superiority for at least the next ten years.