Comparative eco-efficiency assessment of cybersecurity solutions

The heavy reliance on information and communication technology (ICT) has prompted the importance of cyber security more than ever in history. Although there are various studies that explored the importance of cyber-security solutions, the impact of production and usage of these solutions on the natural environment and their economic impact has been rarely researched. The objective of this research is to investigate the environmental and economic impact of cybersecurity solutions. An extensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been performed on three cybersecurity solutions to assess and compare their environmental impact. Based on global warming potential, the embodied carbon footprint was determined. Carbon footprint and operational costs were used to calculate Life Cycle Cost (LCC) analysis and these data were then used to compare the eco-efficiency of the three cybersecurity solutions. This research compares three cybersecurity solutions: Next Generation DataGuard (NGD), Current State of Art Solution (CSAS), and a Generic Cybersecurity Solution (GCS), to identify an economically viable and environmentally friendly cybersecurity solution. The result of the analysis indicated that NGD was approximately 58% and 88% more energy-efficient than CSAS and GCS, respectively. Also, the LCC of NGD was approximately 6%-12% lower than CSAS and 22%-40% lower than GCS in selected provinces in Canada. The eco-efficiency of CSAS was approximately 60% less than NGD. Next Generation DataGuard is found to be a successful solution in this research among the three solutions. This study will be useful to researchers, cybersecurity industries, and policymakers to develop informed decisions on cybersecurity solutions.