Performance measurement guide for information security nist. Objective measurement is important for monitoring security performance, especially since the modern threat landscape is constantly evolving. Cis controls measurement companion guide the cis controls have always included a set of metrics for every control in order to help our adopters manage their implementation projects. Without good metrics and the corresponding evaluation methods, security analysts and network operators cannot accurately evaluate and measure the security status of their networks and the success of their operations. Inventory attributes include information to support the.
The majority of organizations dont apply metrics to their cybersecurity efforts, and those that do often measure the wrong things. By submitting your personal data, you give us permission to send you emails. This report is thus intended to aid the reader in forming an overall, holistic view of the state of the art in information security metrics but is not meant to be treated as an exhaustive resource. Dec 15, 2014 the adage, what cant be measured cant be effectively managed, applies here. Metrics are important, no matter how far up the corporate ladder you are. The security metrics must be easy to understand and incorporated into program improvements. We want to send you emails containing educational and promotional information. The adage, what cant be measured cant be effectively managed, applies here. For the data geeks in the crowd, we also really like another book entitled datadriven security. Therefore, for information security, benchmarking by direct comparison with other organisations is probably futile in most cases.
Effective management of varying performance indices in information security can mean the difference between a practical and efficient project and a complete waste of money. To understand what measures to implement to effectively monitor the information security. For a senior executive who may not be well versed in the technical details of what each metric represents, the interpretation of how good or bad a number is can be a challenge. Consistency of benchmarking metrics is a real challenge for information security. Without good metrics, analysts cannot answer many security related questions.
Measuring and understanding cyber security effectiveness. Business process metrics associated with information security governance are related to the impact of information security activities on the success or failure of a particular business process, as well as the business activities of the organization as a whole. Technical security metrics provide an assurance in the capability of systems or products in detecting, protecting and responding to security. Metrics that are related to critical processes may be considered for management reporting.
Apr 26, 2017 security metrics can be considered as a standard or system used for quantitatively measuring an organizations security posture. Our community of professionals is committed to lifetime learning, career progression and sharing expertise for the benefit of individuals and organizations around the globe. We focus on one aspect of information risk metrics. However, lack of research on technical security metrics 16171819. Relevant each security metric must tie back to program or risk priorities in a meaningful way. Monitoring, measurement, analysis and evaluation second edition introduction. In this overview, analyst ramon krikken examines how risk and performance measurements differ and how contextualized security performance measurements can provide the security team and managers with actionable information. Ive generally been an adherent of the colloquialism on the off chance that you can gauge it, you can oversee it. Measuring information security performance with 10 by 10.
Performance and results act gpra, the government paperwork eli. Its also a good kpi for cisos to measure and show their board for long term. A number of existing laws, rules, and regulat performance measurement in general, and information security performance measurem particular, as a requirement. Check out these infosec metrics for executives and board members. Often the easiest way to communicate metrics to nontechnical colleagues is through an easytounderstand score. Since the measurement of information security is generally underdeveloped in practice and many organizations find the existing recommendations too complex, the paper presents a solution in the form of a 10 by 10 information security. The resulting metrics will be more intuitive and the assessment process will be more affordable, which will. One criterion it and systemic information security risk measurements and resulting metrics is that they should be sourced from data that are relatively common and easy to obtain. This isnt meant to be any kind of authority on security metrics, but rather a starting point for organizing your thoughts and further research.
But only a select number of these metrics hold enough weight to be reported to the csuite. More than 100 years ago, lord kelvin william thomson, lst baron kelvin, the. Security metrics are essential to comprehensive network security and csa management. Information security metrics an empirical study of current. Gpea, and the federal information security management ac. Jan 27, 2010 this bulletin summarizes the information that was presented in nist interagency report nistir7564, directions in security metrics research, by wayne jansen. Metrics relating to different information security areas use a diverse set of units of measure, and the numbers often need an interpretation unique to a given measure. Quality of security metrics and measurements request pdf. Measurement activities for security metrics must be based on timely access. The publication examines past efforts to develop security measurements that could help organizations make informed decisions about the design of systems, the selection of controls, and the efficiency of security operations. Please share specificsfor example, specific measurements over time, specific security changes you made in response to the metric, and whether those changes had the desired effect. Gathering security metrics and reaping the rewards.
To be truly useful, metrics should also indicate the degree to which security goals are being met and drive actions taken to improve an organizations overall security program. Key components of an information security metrics program. This paper deals with the importance of using objective measurement to manage security improvements and to steer an information security program. It explains how to develop and operate measurement processes, and how to assess and report the results of a set of information security metrics. If youve been in information security for a while you have been asked for, or have seen others get asked for, an authoritative list of security metrics. Developing metrics for effectiveinformation security. The importance of information security measurement is well defined and highlighted in both standards. Through a variety of measurements including service and roi measures, we were able to conclude that an inhouse guard service would better serve our clients rather. Performance measurement guide for information security. Security metrics is a contentious topicthere is no agreedupon method to measure security. The five metrics highlighted above are not, of course, the only ones.
Security measurements and metrics is an edited volume based on the quality of protection workshop in milano, italy september 2005. Isoiec 27004 concerns measurements or measures needed for information security management. The publication examines past efforts to develop security measurements that could help organizations make informed decisions about the design of systems, the selection of controls, and. Information security risk measurement and metrics criteria. Senior management has utilized past information and measurements to expand corporate securitys service lines, increase our budget, and enhance awareness across the organization. Dec 16, 2016 whether youre an engineer or consultant responsible for security and reporting to management or an executive who needs better information for decision making, security metrics have become an important vehicle for communicating the state of an organizations cyberrisk posture. As we explore the art of security metrics w e will teach you how to leverage this valuable tool to support the goals and objectives of your organization. Information security metrics is a powerful measurement system that helps us justify or refute company expenditure. Information security metrics for executives and board members.
A viable alternative, which we support, is to use a form of maturity model as a benchmark. I have been an information security professional for the last 15 years with exposure to many of the worlds largest companies. Info measures are used to facilitate decision making and improve performance through collection, analysis, and reporting of relevant performancerelated d the means for tying the implementation, efficiency, and effectiveness of securi. These should be your two most important kpis when measuring information security.
Organizations should measure their information security performance if they wish to take the right decisions and develop it in line with their security needs. Process metrics provide information about the functioning of processes. It provides an approach to help management decide where to invest in additional security protection resources or identify and evaluate nonproductive controls. It explains the metric development and implementation process and how it. This bulletin summarizes the information that was presented in nist interagency report nistir7564, directions in security metrics research, by wayne jansen. An information security metrics primer daniel miessler.
The security metrics of a system are organized hierarchically in the tool, so that more general and conceptual security metrics on the higher levels are connected to detailed, lowlevel measurements. Sep 25, 2019 ive generally been an adherent of the colloquialism on the off chance that you can gauge it, you can oversee it. A more amorphous measurement, for example, is the number of teams that come to security proactively, which can indicate the level of engagement the developers have with security issues. Metrics are tools that are designed to facilitate decisionmaking and improve performance and accountability through collection, analysis, and reporting of relevant performancerelated data.
This document provides guidance on how an organization, through the use of metrics, identifies the adequacy of inplace security controls, policies, and procedures. Guy dulberger is an information security executive with over 15. Regulatory, financial, and organizational factors drive the requirement to measure it security performance. Dec 08, 2017 19 security pros discuss the most important cybersecurity metrics that your organization should measure. This volume discusses how security research can progress towards quality of protection in security comparable to quality of service in networking and software measurements, and metrics in empirical software engineering. It explains how security can be made a shared responsibility between your it staff and other departments. Effective measurement requirements for network security. This normally results in chaotic wheel invention, i. How to measure cybersecurity effectiveness before its too. However, too many process metrics may not serve the purpose of monitoring.
The securitymetrics data retention policy is to keep data for five years after no further activity from you. If you cant measure your security efforts, you wont know how youre tracking. The requirement to measure information security performance is driven by re and organizational reasons. Apr 23, 2014 to make it short, isms metrics measure the value and effectiveness of the processes that make up your information security management system. Jul 08, 2019 information security metrics for executives and board members.
Its also a good kpi for cisos to measure and show their board for longterm. In this lesson, well see what it is, and examine two kinds of metrics. It explains how to develop and operate measurement processes, and how to assess and report the results of a set of information security. Although managers have been following kpis for quite some time now, in information security, this is an uncommon and still developing practice to track cyber security metrics. Iso how to measure the effectiveness of information security. Information security risk an overview sciencedirect topics. The security metrics and measurements that make it to the boardroom should be presented in a language the board understands, and should speak directly to whether the.
Thus, isms metrics enable you to show changes over time, in order to e. Effective security metrics effective metrics are often referred to as smart, i. According to the sans institute, leveraging a comprehensive security metrics program enables. To help you determine what metrics to measure, we reached out to a panel. Analysis, visualization, and dashboards by jay jacobs and bob rudis. Security metrics information security management system. Download your copy of the iso 27001 isms metrics guide here. Security and analytics experts share the most important.
The standard is intended to help organizations evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of their iso27k information security management systems. Timerelated measurement activities for security metrics must be based on timely access to and reporting of data. Heres how to ensure your cybersecurity projects pay off. Pdf cyber security metrics and measures researchgate. Information security metrics and its relation to risk. You need to be tracking cybersecurity metrics for two important reasons.
How to measure cybersecurity effectiveness before its. Hayden goes into significant detail on the nature of data, statistics, and analysis. Timerelated measurement activities for security metrics must be. This overview provides guidelines for how to achieve programlevel key.
And you cant measure your security if youre not tracking specific cybersecurity. In this paper, an overview of the security metrics and its definition, needs, attributes, advantages, measures, types, issuesaspects and also classifies the security metrics and. These volunteers and industry leaders bring deep technical understanding and threat experience to identify the. These metrics are generally used for compliance conformance that is related to internal controls. Measurements appear to be first thing security professionals consider, however, for the most part, the exact opposite thing to be. Remember, metrics are an opportunity to tell a story about the value security professionals provide to the business and how a mature security program is a riskreduction, businessenablement platform. Without good metrics and the corresponding evaluation methods, security analysts and network operators cannot accurately evaluate and measure the security status of their networks and the success of. There are many different metrics that the ciso or cio collects to measure the performance and effectiveness of its cybersecurity program. Process security metrics measure processes and procedures imply high utility of security policies and processes relationship between metrics and level of security not clearly defined compliancegovernance driven generally support better security actual impact hard to define. Most of the research papers focused on information security metrics for general it systems.
Adopters could use our sample metrics as a starting point to identify key information to help them track progress and to encourage the use of automation. The results showed that few measurements related to information security were performed and that there was a general lack of systems for measurement. To make it short, isms metrics measure the value and effectiveness of the processes that make up your information security management system. Securityscorecards security posture score gives your company a simple af letter grade on 10 security categories network security, dns health, patching cadence, cubit score, endpoint security, ip reputation, web.