AHP-TOPSIS integration extended with Pythagorean fuzzy sets for information security risk analysis

Risk analysis (RA) contains several methodologies that object to ensure the protection and safety of occupational stakeholders. Multi attribute decision-making (MADM) is one of the most important RA methodologies that is applied to several areas from manufacturing to information technology. With the widespread use of computer networks and the Internet, information security has become very important. Information security is vital as institutions are mostly dependent on information, technology, and systems. This requires a comprehensive and effective implementation of information security RA. Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) are commonly used MADM methods and recently used for RA. In this study, a new RA methodology is proposed based on AHP-TOPSIS integration extended with Pythagorean fuzzy sets. AHP strengthened by interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy numbers is used to weigh risk parameters with expert judgment. Then, TOPSIS with Pythagorean fuzzy numbers is used to prioritize previously identified risks. A comparison of the proposed approach with three approaches (classical RA method, Pythagorean fuzzy VIKOR and Pythagorean fuzzy MOORA) is also provided. To illustrate the feasibility and practicality of the proposed approach, a case study for information security RA in corrugated cardboard sector is executed.