In an ever-evolving threat landscape, with new identities, environments, and attack methods, there are a wealth of KPIs that could be tracked. However, monitoring too many indicators can lead to confusion or misinterpretation, while measuring only a few could leave vulnerabilities undetected.
It is therefore crucial to establish an appropriate cybersecurity reporting framework and focus on what really matters to ensure an effective security strategy. Effectively assessing and communicating progress across all levels and areas of the business can be a significant challenge.
4 strategies for establishing KPIs
CyberArk has compiled 4 key things to consider as an organization matures its cybersecurity reporting strategy:
- Iterate constantly. KPIs should not be considered immutable. As business objectives, security tools, and processes change, the way they are measured must also be adjusted. Therefore, it is essential to regularly review the current state and determine whether some KPIs should be modified, removed, or new ones included. This is crucial because security is not an isolated aspect. In addition, the frequency of evaluation can vary significantly between different KPIs.
There are a large number of KPIs that could be tracked, however, monitoring too many indicators can lead to confusion or misinterpretation.
- Incorporate indicators of cultural change. To assess the effectiveness of a company’s security culture, a different set of metrics is needed, addressing aspects such as employee behaviors, cybersecurity awareness, and compliance with internal policies. One example is the phishing vulnerability percentage (PPP), which serves as a key measure to assess the organization’s exposure to phishing threats and social engineering. This often involves conducting phishing simulations, which provide actionable data to fine-tune cybersecurity training programs, help employees identify risk signals, and reinforce their behavior in this area. User behavior can also be analyzed through security tools to identify habits that could pose risks.
- Communicate to generate greater impact. With the growing threat of ransomware, supply chain attacks, and AI-based threats, cybersecurity has become a priority. Heatmaps are very useful tools for conveying key cybersecurity information, allowing CISOs to clearly present a variety of KPIs that show current risks. These maps also help visualize how risk evolves over time and what remains to be done to achieve security objectives.
- Do not underestimate the role of the human factor. Even the best reporting and dashboard tools have limitations, as cybersecurity is not an exact science. Protecting an organization from changing threats and measuring its ability to respond requires creativity, critical thinking and close collaboration.
