Validation of CyberTest 2023 - CyberTest Future Soldiers & CyberTest Future Officers

Authors:

  • Pär-Anders Albinsson
  • Patrik Lif

Publish date: 2023-10-17

Report number: FOI-R--5494--SE

Pages: 39

Written in: Swedish

Keywords:

  • cyber soldier
  • cyber test
  • validation
  • reliability
  • CTFS
  • cyber defence

Abstract

Sweden has invested in strengthening its cyber defense and has established training programs for conscripted cyber soldiers and specialist officers with a cyber focus. To select suitable candidates, the Swedish Defense Research Agency (FOI) has developed the test batteries CyberTest Future Soldiers (CTFS) and CyberTest Future Officers (CTFO). These tests, which consist of several components, undergo regular quality assurance and have previously demonstrated predictive capabilities. The validation of CTFS 2023 is presented in this report. The validation indicates that the test overall maintains good quality and identifies several areas for improvement. These areas include enhancing the quality of certain questions, increasing the difficulty level of some components, considering the removal or adjustment of a few components, and exploring new components. The quality review process for the tests has improved their quality over time. We emphasize that these tests will need to be regularly adapted to keep pace with the rapid developments within the field of cyber soldiers.