18 Data Security Metrics & KPIs You Need To Track

Wondering what data security metrics you should be tracking? Do you have a checklist of the most important metrics and KPIs to track your efforts?

As the saying goes, you can’t manage what you can’t measure. And the same holds true for cybersecurity as well.

It’s hard to improve your security posture without measuring the effectiveness of your security controls.

In this post, you’ll learn what security metrics and KPIs are, why they matter and the 18 metrics you should track in your organization.

Table of contents:

What are data security metrics?

Data security metrics are specific, quantifiable metrics that provide insights into various aspects of an organization’s data security posture. These metrics are typically low-level and focused on specific areas, such as the number of data breaches, the percentage of systems with security patches applied, or the time taken to respond to security incidents. Data security metrics are often used to monitor and assess the effectiveness of individual security controls, processes, or activities.

KPIs in data security

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in cybersecurity are higher-level, strategic indicators that measure the overall performance and effectiveness of an organization’s cybersecurity program. KPIs are derived from a combination of relevant data security metrics and other factors, providing a more comprehensive view of the organization’s security posture.

KPIs are designed to align with the organization’s strategic goals and objectives, enabling stakeholders to track progress toward achieving those goals. They are typically more business-oriented and focused on measuring the impact and outcomes of cybersecurity efforts rather than just individual security controls or processes.

For example, while the “number of data breaches” is a data security metric, a KPI might be the “percentage reduction in data breaches” or the “cost of data breaches as a percentage of revenue,” which provides a broader and more strategic perspective.

Why are data security metrics and KPIs important?

Data security metrics and KPIs play an important role in enabling organizations to measure, monitor, and improve their cybersecurity posture effectively. On one hand, data security metrics provide quantifiable measurements that assess the effectiveness of specific security controls, processes, and activities. These granular metrics help identify vulnerabilities, weaknesses, or areas that require attention and improvement, allowing organizations to prioritize their security efforts and allocate resources more efficiently.

On the other hand, KPIs offer a more strategic view, measuring the overall performance and effectiveness of an organization’s cybersecurity program. KPIs are designed to align with the organization’s strategic goals and objectives, enabling stakeholders to track progress toward achieving those goals and demonstrating the value of security initiatives and investments. By providing quantifiable and objective information, data security metrics and KPIs facilitate data-driven decisions related to cybersecurity investments, risk management strategies, and resource allocations.

18 data security metrics and KPIs to track

Below is a list of data security metrics that organizations can track to evaluate the effectiveness of their security controls. To help improve performance across the metrics, each metric is presented in question form.

1. Number of data breaches or security incidents:

• How many data breaches or security incidents occurred in the past year?
• What type of data was exposed or compromised in each incident?
• What were the root causes of these incidents?
• How quickly were the incidents detected and mitigated?
• What was the financial and reputational impact of these incidents?
• Were there any regulatory or compliance implications?
• Have the vulnerabilities that led to the incidents been addressed?
• Has incident response planning and training been updated accordingly?
• Were there any common patterns or trends across the incidents?
• What preventive measures can be implemented to reduce future incidents?

2. Mean Time to Detect (MTTD) security incidents:

• What is the average time it takes to detect a security incident?
• Are there any specific types of incidents with longer detection times?
• How are security incidents detected and reported?
• What processes and tools are in place for incident detection?
• Are there any challenges or bottlenecks in the incident detection process?
• How is incident detection integrated with other security controls (e.g., monitoring, logging)?
• Are there any regulatory or compliance requirements related to incident detection?
• How is incident detection training and preparedness evaluated?
• Are there any opportunities for automation or streamlining the incident detection process?
• How does the organization’s MTTD compare to industry benchmarks or best practices?

3. Mean Time to Respond (MTTR) to security incidents:

• What is the average MTTR for different types of cybersecurity incidents within our organization?
• How does our MTTR compare to industry benchmarks or best practices?
• What are the main factors contributing to any delays in our incident response times?
• How effective are our detection tools and technologies in identifying threats promptly?
• What is the impact of our employee training programs on reducing the MTTR?
• How do changes in our IT infrastructure or security tools affect our MTTR?
• What is the role of automation and orchestration in improving our MTTR?
• How do we prioritize incidents, and how does this prioritization impact our MTTR?
• What improvements can be made to our incident response plan to reduce the MTTR?
• How do we measure the effectiveness of our post-incident review process in reducing future MTTRs?

4. Mean Time to Recover (MTTR) from a security incident:

• What is the average time to recover for different types of cybersecurity incidents within our organization?
• How do we define and measure recovery in the context of our incident response plan?
• What factors contribute to variations in MTTR for different incidents, and how do we address these factors?
• How do we ensure that our backup and recovery processes are effective in minimizing MTTR?
• What role does cross-departmental coordination play in reducing our MTTR, and how can we improve this coordination?
• How do we incorporate lessons learned from past incidents into our recovery strategies to reduce future MTTR?
• What tools and technologies are we using to automate and expedite the recovery process, and how effective are they?
• How do we prioritize system and data recovery to minimize business impact and ensure a swift return to normal operations?
• What is our process for conducting post-recovery reviews, and how do we use these reviews to improve our MTTR?
• How do we ensure that our recovery strategies remain effective and up-to-date with evolving threats and business needs?

5. Percentage of systems with updated security patches:

• How do we track all our assets?
• What percentage of systems are currently running the latest security patches?
• How frequently are security patches evaluated and deployed?
• How are systems prioritized for patching based on risk?
• Are there any challenges or obstacles to timely patching?
• How are patch exceptions or deviations documented and managed?
• Are there any legacy systems or applications that cannot be patched?
• How is patch compliance monitored and reported?
• Are there any automated tools or solutions used for patch management?
• How are patch updates communicated and socialized within the organization?

6. Percentage of data encrypted at rest:

• What percentage of sensitive data is encrypted at rest (e.g., in databases, file servers)?
• What encryption algorithms and key management practices are used?
• Are there any exceptions or exemptions for data encryption requirements?
• How do we handle encryption for data in cloud environments versus on-premises storage?
• Are there any challenges or obstacles to implementing data encryption?
• How is the encryption key management process documented and audited?
• Are there any compliance or regulatory requirements related to data encryption?
• How do we respond to and recover from incidents involving compromised encryption or data breaches of encrypted data?
• What is our strategy for keeping encryption protocols and algorithms up to date with current best practices**?**
• How does the organization’s data encryption practices compare to industry standards or best practices?

7. Percentage of data encrypted in transit:

• What percentage of data is encrypted during transmission (e.g., over internal networks, internet)?
• What encryption algorithms and protocols are used for data in transit?
• Are there any exceptions or exemptions for data encryption requirements for data in transit?
• How is the encryption implementation for data in transit validated and tested?
• Are there any challenges or obstacles to implementing data encryption for data in transit?
• How is the encryption key management process for data in transit documented and audited?
• Are there any compliance or regulatory requirements related to data encryption for data in transit?
• Are there any performance or compatibility concerns with data encryption for data in transit?
• How is data encryption for data in transit integrated with other security controls (e.g., access controls, logging)?
• How does the organization’s data encryption practices for data in transit compare to industry standards or best practices?

8. Percentage of critical vulnerabilities remediated:

• What percentage of critical vulnerabilities identified were remediated within the target timeframe?
• How are vulnerabilities prioritized and classified as critical?
• What processes are in place for vulnerability assessment and management?
• Are there any challenges or obstacles to timely remediation of critical vulnerabilities?
• How are vulnerability remediation efforts tracked and reported?
• Are there any legacy systems or applications with unresolved critical vulnerabilities?
• How are vulnerability remediation efforts aligned with risk management practices?
• Are there any compliance or regulatory requirements related to vulnerability management?
• How are vulnerability remediation efforts communicated within the organization?
• Are there any opportunities for automation or streamlining the vulnerability management process?

9. Phishing click-through rate:

• What is the overall phishing click-through rate for the organization?
• How does the click-through rate vary across different departments or user groups?
• How frequently are phishing simulations conducted?
• What processes are in place for reporting and responding to phishing incidents?
• How effective are the security awareness and training programs related to phishing?
• Are there any notable trends or patterns in the types of phishing attacks observed?
• How are the results of phishing simulations analyzed and acted upon?
• Are there any compliance or regulatory requirements related to phishing training?
• How are phishing simulation results communicated to users and management?
• Are there any opportunities for improving the effectiveness of phishing awareness training?

10. Percentage of security policy compliance:

• What percentage of the organization is compliant with established security policies?
• How is policy compliance measured and monitored?
• Are there any specific policies with lower compliance rates?
• What processes are in place for policy review and updates?
• How are security policies communicated within the organization?
• Are there any challenges or obstacles to achieving policy compliance?
• How are policy exceptions or deviations documented and managed?
• Are there any compliance or regulatory requirements related to security policies?
• How is policy compliance integrated with other security controls (e.g., access controls, monitoring)?
• Are there any opportunities for improving policy compliance through automation or training?

11. Cost of security incidents:

• What was the total financial cost of security incidents in the past year?
• How are the costs of security incidents calculated and tracked?
• What are the major cost components (e.g., investigation, remediation, legal fees, fines)?
• Are there any indirect costs or impacts (e.g., reputational damage, productivity losses)?
• How do the costs of security incidents compare to the organization’s security investments?
• Are there any trends or patterns in the types of incidents driving higher costs?
• How are the costs of security incidents factored into risk management and budgeting decisions?
• Are there any compliance or regulatory requirements related to reporting security incident costs?
• How are the costs of security incidents communicated to stakeholders and management?
• Are there any opportunities for reducing the overall cost of security incidents?

12. Number of security awareness training sessions conducted:

• How many security awareness training sessions were conducted in the past year?
• What topics were covered in the training sessions?
• What percentage of employees attended the training sessions?
• How is the effectiveness of the training sessions measured and evaluated?
• Are there any compliance or regulatory requirements related to security awareness training?
• How are training materials and content updated and refreshed?
• What delivery methods are used for security awareness training (e.g., in-person, online, phishing simulations)?
• How are training needs and requirements determined?
• How is the impact of security awareness training measured on overall security posture?
• Are there any opportunities for improving the effectiveness or reach of security awareness training?

13. Percentage of third-party risk assessments completed:

• What percentage of third-party vendors, partners, or service providers have undergone risk assessments?
• How are third-party risk assessments prioritized and conducted?
• What criteria or standards are used for evaluating third-party risk?
• Are there any challenges or obstacles to completing third-party risk assessments?
• How are the results of third-party risk assessments documented and tracked?
• Are there any compliance or regulatory requirements related to third-party risk management?
• How are third-party risks integrated into the organization’s overall risk management practices?
• How are third-party risk assessment results communicated to stakeholders and management?
• How are third-party relationships and risks monitored on an ongoing basis?
• Are there any opportunities for improving or streamlining the third-party risk assessment process?

14. Number of security violations or incidents involving third-party access:

• How many security violations or intrusion attempts involved third-party access or integrations in the past year?
• What types of third-party relationships or access were involved in these incidents?
• What were the root causes of these third-party-related incidents?
• How were these incidents detected and mitigated?
• What was the impact or damage caused by these third-party-related incidents?
• Are there any trends or patterns in the types of third-party-related incidents?
• How are third-party access controls and monitoring implemented?
• Are there any compliance or regulatory requirements related to third-party access management?
• How are third-party access and integration risks communicated and managed?
• Are there any opportunities for improving third-party access management and monitoring?

15. Number of privileged user accounts:

• How many privileged user accounts exist within the organization?
• What criteria are used to determine which accounts are considered privileged?
• How are privileged user accounts provisioned and managed?
• Are there any processes in place for regularly reviewing and auditing privileged user accounts?
• How are privileged user activities monitored and logged?
• Are there any challenges or risks associated with managing privileged user accounts?
• Are there any compliance or regulatory requirements related to privileged user account management?
• How are privileged user account policies and procedures communicated and enforced?
• Are there any opportunities for improving privileged user account management through automation or controls?
• How does the organization’s privileged user account management process compare to industry standards or best practices?

16. Percentage of systems with up-to-date antivirus/anti-malware protection:

• What percentage of systems have up-to-date antivirus/anti-malware protection installed?
• How do we automate and enforce the deployment of antivirus/antimalware updates across all systems?
• What is our process for monitoring and reporting on the status of antivirus/antimalware updates across the organization?
• How do we handle systems that are not compliant with our antivirus/antimalware update policies?
• What measures are in place to ensure that remote and mobile devices receive timely antivirus/antimalware updates?
• How do we assess the effectiveness of our antivirus/antimalware solutions in protecting against current threats?
• How are antivirus/anti-malware exceptions or deviations documented and managed?
• Are there any legacy systems or applications that cannot be protected by antivirus/anti-malware software?
• Are there any compliance or regulatory requirements related to antivirus/anti-malware protection?
• Are there any opportunities for improving antivirus/anti-malware protection through automation or integration with other security controls?

17. Number of malware infections or incidents:

• How many malware infections or incidents occurred in the past year?
• What types of malware were involved in these incidents (e.g., infostealers, trojans, ransomware)?
• What were the root causes of these malware incidents?
• How were these malware incidents detected and mitigated?
• What was the impact or damage caused by these malware incidents?
• Are there any trends or patterns in the types of malware incidents?
• How are malware incidents prevented and detected (e.g., antivirus, sandboxing, user awareness)?
• Are there any compliance or regulatory requirements related to malware incident reporting or response?
• How are malware incidents communicated and escalated within the organization?
• Are there any opportunities for improving malware prevention, detection, and response processes?

18. Percentage of data backup success rate:

• What is the overall success rate for data backups?
• How frequently are data backups performed?
• What types of data are included in the backup processes?
• Are there any challenges or issues with data backup processes or technologies?
• How are data backup exceptions or failures documented and addressed?
• Are there any compliance or regulatory requirements related to data backups?
• How are data backup processes tested and validated?
• How are data backups secured and protected?
• How is the restoration process for data backups tested and validated?
• Are there any opportunities for improving data backup processes or technologies?

How to choose the right cybersecurity metrics

There is no universal list of data security metrics that all businesses should track. The specific metrics you choose to monitor will largely depend on your organization’s unique needs and risk tolerance. However, it is crucial to select KPIs that are clear and understandable to anyone reviewing your reporting, including non-technical stakeholders.

A good rule of thumb is that if your non-technical colleagues can’t understand them, you either need to switch KPIs or do a better job of explaining them. Another tip, benchmarks and industry comparisons are extremely effective ways to make complex metrics more understandable.

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