How do you gauge network security success?

1 Define your objectives

Before you can assess your network security performance, you need to have a clear idea of what you are trying to achieve. What are your network security objectives, and how do they align with your business goals and risk appetite? For example, you may want to reduce the number of security incidents, improve the detection and response time, comply with regulatory standards, or enhance the user experience. You should also define the scope and boundaries of your network security assessment, such as the devices, systems, networks, and data that you want to protect and monitor.

2 Choose your metrics

Once you have your objectives, you need to select the metrics that will help you measure your progress and outcomes. Metrics are quantifiable data points that reflect your network security performance, such as the number of attacks, the severity of breaches, the cost of incidents, the availability of services, or the satisfaction of users. You should choose metrics that are relevant, reliable, accurate, and consistent, and that can be collected and analyzed easily and regularly. You should also avoid metrics that are too vague, complex, or misleading, or that do not provide actionable insights.

3 Establish your baselines

To gauge your network security success, you need to have a baseline to compare your current performance with. A baseline is a reference point that represents your network security status at a given time or period, such as before implementing a new tool, policy, or strategy. You can establish your baselines by collecting and analyzing your historical data, using industry benchmarks, or conducting audits and assessments. You should also document your baselines and update them periodically to reflect any changes in your network security environment.

4 Monitor your indicators

To track your network security performance, you need to monitor your indicators regularly and consistently. Indicators are signals or events that show how your network security is functioning, such as alerts, logs, reports, or feedback. You should use tools and methods that can capture and display your indicators in real time, such as dashboards, graphs, charts, or notifications. You should also review and verify your indicators to ensure their validity and accuracy, and to identify any anomalies, trends, or patterns.

5 Evaluate your results

To measure your network security success, you need to evaluate your results and compare them with your objectives and baselines. You should use methods and techniques that can analyze and interpret your data, such as statistics, ratios, scores, or ratings. You should also use criteria and standards that can assess your data quality, such as validity, reliability, accuracy, or consistency. You should also consider the context and factors that may affect your results, such as the type, frequency, or source of attacks, or the impact, duration, or scope of incidents.

6 Improve your practices

To improve your network security success, you need to use your results to identify and implement improvements in your practices. You should use methods and tools that can help you prioritize and address your gaps, weaknesses, or issues, such as root cause analysis, risk assessment, or action plans. You should also use methods and tools that can help you enhance your strengths, opportunities, or benefits, such as best practices, recommendations, or feedback. You should also monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and value of your improvements, and adjust them as needed.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?