What advanced security metrics and indicators can you use to identify sophisticated threats?

1 Attack Surface Metrics

Understanding and reducing your attack surface is an important step to improving your security. Attack surface metrics can help you measure and monitor the size, complexity, and risk level of your attack surface, as well as identify the areas that need more attention and protection. You can use metrics such as the number and severity of vulnerabilities detected by scanners, audits, and tests; the number and type of assets exposed to the internet or external networks; the number and status of patches, updates, and configurations applied to assets; and the number and quality of security controls and policies implemented to protect assets.

2 Threat Intelligence Metrics

Leveraging threat intelligence is another way to improve your security. Threat intelligence provides information and analysis about the current and emerging threats, actors, and tactics that can affect your organization. You can use threat intelligence metrics to evaluate and improve the quality, relevance, and usefulness of your sources, processes, and outputs. Some of these metrics include the number and source of threat intelligence feeds and reports, the number and category of threat indicators collected and correlated, the number and accuracy of threat alerts generated, as well as the number and impact of decisions and actions driven by threat intelligence.

3 Security Incident Metrics

Optimizing your security incident response is a third way to improve your security. This process involves detecting, containing, analyzing, and resolving security incidents that compromise your confidentiality, integrity, or availability. To measure and improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and maturity of your security incident response capabilities, you can use security incident metrics such as the number and source of security incidents detected and reported, the number and type of security incidents escalated and classified, the time and resources spent on security incident response activities, and the number and outcome of security incident response actions and recommendations.

4 Security Awareness Metrics

Enhancing security awareness is another way to improve your security. Security awareness metrics can help you measure and improve the knowledge, attitude, and behavior of your human factor, which is often the weakest link in your security chain. Examples of security awareness metrics include the number and frequency of training and campaigns, the number and score of assessments and quizzes, the number and rate of incidents and violations, as well as the number and feedback of champions and advocates.

5 Security Maturity Metrics

A fifth way to improve your security is to assess and advance your security maturity, which is the degree of alignment, integration, and optimization of your security strategy, governance, and operations. Security maturity metrics can be used to measure and improve the maturity level of your security organization, processes, and technologies, while also benchmarking them against industry standards and best practices. Some of these metrics include the number and score of security maturity assessments and audits, the number and status of security maturity goals and initiatives, the number and value of security maturity investments and returns, as well as the number and rating of security maturity awards and recognitions.

6 Security Value Metrics

Demonstrating and communicating your security value is another way to improve your security. This is the contribution and impact of your security efforts and outcomes to your business objectives, performance, and reputation. Security value metrics can help measure and improve the value proposition and perception of your security function, as well as justify and optimize your security budget and resources. Examples of these metrics include the number and amount of cost savings and avoidance, the number and percentage of risk reduction and mitigation, the number and quality of security innovation and differentiation, and the number and sentiment of stakeholder satisfaction and loyalty.

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?