Which form would be correct: cyber security, cyber-security or cybersecurity?

Solution 1:

Where different forms of a word exist and especially where they differ in different countries, and where your audience is international, it is probably worth choosing one and sticking to it, and mentioning the other two terms in a small note or addendum, if it's in a written document or report.

At least if you are consistent, it looks less messy and you can more easily do a 'global replace' later if it finally changes to one or the other.

So I don't think there is a 'right answer' at this point - it's just 'how you deal with it - without driving yourself crackers!

Solution 2:

First of all, let me state that the reasoning in this answer, or rather in the answer I cite in the form of an article on LinkedIn, is rather technical. I think the answer is appropriate, because the term cyber(_)security is itself a technical term. Therefore, a technical approach to your question is warranted.

This article on LinkedIn by L. Rawson argues that cybersecurity should be used exclusively as adjective and cyber security should be used exclusively as noun. I am going to quote the most important part of her argument, but I suggest anyone interested in her reasoning read the entire article. Citation:

"Now, in applying the Friedman and Callimahos technical rule, the single word was only used when it was an adjective, and the two words were ONLY used when the word was the object of a noun." source 1

I should add that she bases her reasoning on Military Cryptanalytics, a book by William F. Friedman. The NSA very conveniently put a version of this book on their website (warning, opens pdf file).

I should also say that in the LinkedIn article it is acknowledged that the terms are used interchangeably and that it is rather a matter of preference. I posted this specific view as an answer because I think it's sound reasoning (as opposed to just saying you like one spelling over the other).

Attribution

Source 1: Rawson, L. (2017, September 18). Which word should I use? Cybersecurity or Cyber Security. Retrieved March 20, 2018, from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/which-word-should-i-use-cybersecurity-cyber-security-linda-rawson/