## 2 Methodology
### Motivation for Employing MCDM-AHP in Enhancing Cybersecurity Resilience for Smart Grids  
The use of multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) with the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) methodology in smart-grid cybersecurity is driven by its effectiveness in handling the complex and diverse security decisions within this critical field. Smart grids involve interconnected elements, numerous stakeholders, and a wide range of potential cybersecurity risks. MCDM-AHP provides a structured way to assess and prioritize cybersecurity choices by considering multiple criteria, encompassing both technical and non-technical factors. For smart-grid cybersecurity, MCDM-AHP enables a systematic evaluation of various security measures, considering aspects such as effectiveness, feasibility, cost, and potential impacts. This approach integrates expert insights, quantifies qualitative criteria, and accounts for the interdependencies between different security options. By utilizing MCDM-AHP, the intricate landscape of smart-grid cybersecurity can be navigated, ensuring a well-informed decision-making process that aligns with the ever-changing nature of cyber threats and grid operations. To sum up, the motivation for using MCDM-AHP in smart-grid cybersecurity stems from its capacity to offer a robust, comprehensive, and adaptable framework for assessing and selecting optimal cybersecurity strategies. This methodology aids in addressing the complex challenges presented by cybersecurity threats in smart grids, ultimately contributing to improved grid resilience, reliability, and security. Theoretical Framework of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) Using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)  
Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) is a decision-making approach that addresses complex problems involving multiple criteria and options. In traditional decision-making, a single criterion is often used to evaluate alternatives, but MCDM recognizes that real-world decisions are influenced by multiple factors. MCDM provides a systematic framework for evaluating and comparing alternatives based on multiple criteria simultaneously, taking into account their relative importance and interdependencies. It helps decision-makers incorporate diverse perspectives, consider trade-offs, and make informed decisions that align with their goals and preferences [94]. MCDM is applied across various fields due to its ability to handle complex decision problems with multiple criteria and alternatives. Some of the fields where MCDM has found extensive applications include business and management (i.e., project or supplier selection, investment decisions, facility location decisions and risk management, etc.) [95], industry [96, 97], economics [98, 99], environment [100], water treatment [101], transportation and logistics (i.e., route planning, network design, etc.) [103, 102], renewable energy development [104, 105] and planning [106, 107]--such as suitable areas for photovoltaic and concentrated solar power [108], onshore wind [109], offshore wind [110], and offshore floating photovoltaic systems [111]--, healthcare and medicine (i.e., patient treatment or medical equipment selection, resource allocation in hospitals, etc.) [112, 113], and education (i.e., performances, teachers' recruitment process, etc.) [114, 115]. In the energy sector, particularly in the context of smart grids, various multi-criteria approaches are employed to address complex decision problems [116]. While the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is recognized as a significant and widely used MCDM technique [117, 118], its application specifically to cybersecurity in smart grids is relatively limited (Section 1.3). AHP provides a structured and systematic approach to decision-making when multiple criteria or factors need to be considered. It allows decision-makers to evaluate and prioritize alternatives based on their relative importance and preferences [119, 120]. [PERSON] was the one who initially proposed this technique [121, 122], and it has been considerably improved since then.