Introduction: With the expansion of the Internet and the emergence of profound changes in interpersonal communication, social interactions and systems, as well as transformations in public governance, cyberspace has been introduced to policymakers as a new domain of governance. Due to the distinctive characteristics of cyberspace, the stages of the policy-making cycle in this context have been confronted with new approaches. The present study aims to identify the requirements for establishing a sustainable ecosystem for evaluating cyberspace policy in the Islamic Republic of Iran and emphasizes the necessity of effective governance in this complex domain.
Methods:  This research is exploratory in nature and was conducted using a qualitative approach and a content analysis method. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 11 experts in the field of cyberspace policymaking.
Results: Analysis of the findings indicates that the cyberspace policy evaluation ecosystem in Iran is unstable and faces numerous challenges. Within the policy-making cycle, and based on theoretical frameworks of multi-stakeholder governance and cyber resilience, transformation requirements are identified at three pivotal levels: the institutional level, the technological level, and the conceptual and participatory level. At the institutional level, the establishment of a cross-sectoral evaluation body is proposed to enable monitoring, resolve role conflicts, and integrate policies. At the technological level, emphasis is placed on the development of indigenous infrastructure and technologies to enhance cyber resilience. At the conceptual and participatory level, the redefinition of indigenous evaluation indicators that simultaneously encompass cybersecurity, economic considerations, and socio-cultural values, along with the design of mechanisms for active stakeholder participation, is proposed and examined.
Discussion:  The discussion concludes that the instability of the ecosystem stems from intertwined governance, institutional, and resilience-related deficiencies. Therefore, a holistic and integrated reform strategy is essential. This research offers a roadmap for policymakers to develop an evidence-based, agile, and legitimate evaluation system, which is crucial for effective digital governance within Iran’s complex socio-technical context.