Nine Cybersecurity Metrics & KPIs to Track

A PwC report revealed that only 22% of CEOs feel their risk exposure data is comprehensive enough to guide decision-making — a figure that has remained stagnant for the past decade. Supporting this concern, an EY report highlights that 36% of financial services organizations are troubled by the “non-existent or very immature” metrics and reporting related to cybersecurity efforts.

These are companies that, in many cases, have spent millions on cybersecurity to meet compliance requirements. However, without tracking their progress, they’re failing to fully capitalize on their information security investments.

The importance of cyber security metrics

You can’t manage what you don’t measure, and without tracking specific cybersecurity KPIs, you can’t accurately assess your security posture. Cybersecurity benchmarking is a vital tool for monitoring your security efforts. Tracking key metrics is crucial for two main reasons:

1. Understanding the full scope of your infosec efforts: Without tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) and key risk indicators (KRIs), you won’t have a clear picture of how effective your cybersecurity initiatives are or how they’ve evolved over time. Without reliable historical data, your cybersecurity decisions will lack an informed foundation, leaving you to make decisions without clear direction.
2. Communicating with business stakeholders: Solid cybersecurity metrics are essential for justifying your infosec strategies — and budget — to leadership or board members. Metrics that are clear, relevant, and comprehensive help convey the value of your efforts to non-technical colleagues.

Effective cybersecurity benchmarking should tell a story that resonates, particularly when reporting to non-technical audiences. Additionally, you should consider setting benchmarks for your vendors and third parties, as their access to your networks can introduce significant risks to your organization.

Cyber security KPIs to track

Here are some examples of clear and actionable cybersecurity metrics that you can track and share with business stakeholders to provide insight into your organization’s security posture:

1. Level of Preparedness: The number or percentage of devices on your network that are fully patched and up to date. This shows how proactive your organization is in maintaining security defenses.
2. Unidentified Devices on the Network: Track the number of unknown or unauthorized devices, including employee-owned devices and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, connected to your network. These pose significant risks due to their potential lack of security.
3. Intrusion Attempts: Count the number of attempts made by malicious actors to breach your network. This highlights the frequency of attacks your organization is facing.
4. Mean Time to Detect (MTTD): Measure the average time it takes for your team to detect a potential security incident. Faster detection times indicate a more vigilant security process.
5. Mean Time to Resolve (MTTR): Track the time it takes to address and resolve a security threat once it has been identified. A lower MTTR reflects effective response protocols.
6. Days to Patch: Monitor the time it takes for your team to apply security patches after their release. Minimizing this gap reduces the window of opportunity for attackers.
7. Cybersecurity Awareness Training Results: Evaluate who has completed training, their understanding of the material, and how this knowledge is applied. This reflects the effectiveness of your training programs.
8. Number of Cybersecurity Incidents Reported: Measure how often employees and stakeholders report cybersecurity issues. Higher reporting rates suggest awareness and the effectiveness of your training efforts.
9. Security Ratings: Use a simple, easy-to-understand security score, such as SecurityScorecard’s A-F grading system, which evaluates your security posture across ten categories, including network security, patching cadence, IP reputation, and social engineering. This provides a snapshot of your organization’s security relative to industry standards.

These metrics not only offer valuable insights but also allow you to effectively communicate the state of your cybersecurity efforts to technical and non-technical stakeholders alike.

Choosing your cyber security metrics

There isn’t a definitive list of cybersecurity KPIs and KRIs that every business must track. The metrics you select should be tailored to your organization’s specific needs and its tolerance for risk.

However, it’s crucial to choose metrics that are clear and straightforward for anyone reviewing your reports. A useful guideline is ensuring that your business-side colleagues can grasp the metrics without needing additional explanations. To achieve this, avoid ambiguous KPIs—those with high margins of error—or overly complex metrics that might confuse non-technical stakeholders.

You may want to include a mix of metrics, such as:

• Technical security metrics: These track the performance of your systems and defenses.
• Recovery metrics: Examples include backup frequencies and recovery times.
• Non-technical metrics: These might measure aspects like the effectiveness of employee security training.

Above all, your cybersecurity benchmarking should deliver meaningful insights to business leaders, helping them understand your organization’s security posture and enabling informed decision-making.

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