The influence of national cybersecurity capabilities on e-government development: A PLS-SEM analysis

Diaz-Parra R. · Issues in Information Systems (2026) · DOI: 10.48009/4_iis_2026_149

Resumen

The increasing dependence on digital government services has intensified the need for robust national cybersecurity capabilities to ensure secure, resilient, and sustainable digital public infrastructures. Despite the growing relevance of cybersecurity in digital governance, limited empirical research has examined how multidimensional cybersecurity capabilities collectively influence e-government development across countries. This study investigates the relationship between the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) and the E-Government Development Index (EGDI) using a cross-country dataset composed of 119 countries. Grounded in the Resource-Based View (RBV) and Dynamic Capabilities Theory, the study conceptualizes cybersecurity capability as a strategic national resource that enables governments to sustain digital transformation and improve public digital service delivery. The proposed model was analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The GCI was modeled as a formative construct composed of legal, technical, organizational, cooperation, and capacity development indicators, while EGDI was modeled as a reflective construct represented by online services, telecommunications infrastructure, and human capital indicators. The findings reveal a strong and statistically significant positive relationship between cybersecurity capability and e-government development (β = 0.661, p < 0.001), explaining 43.7% of the variance in EGDI (R2 = 0.437). The results indicate that stronger cybersecurity capabilities are associated to digital government maturity and institutional digital resilience. The study contributes to the digital government and information systems literature by empirically validating cybersecurity capability as a strategic enabler of e-government development in international contexts. Additionally, the findings provide practical implications for policymakers seeking to strengthen cybersecurity governance and sustainable digital transformation strategies.

Instituciones: Universidad ESAN