Cybersecurity Metrics: What to Measure and Why It Matters

November 28, 2024 / Uncategorized / By
Reading Time: 7 minutes

Imagine your business is a medieval castle. You’ve got towering walls, a deep moat, and a drawbridge. But how do you know if your defences are strong enough to keep out the marauding cyber dragons? Enter the realm of cybersecurity metrics! 

Why Metrics Matter: More Than Just Numbers 

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let’s clarify why you should care about these metrics. Think of them as your enchanted mirror – they reflect the true state of your cybersecurity defences. Without them, you’re fighting in the dark, waving your sword at shadows. 

Metrics help you: 

 

Identify Vulnerabilities: Know where your walls are crumbling. 
Optimize Resources: Ensure you’re not wasting gold on unnecessary defences. 
Prove ROI: Show stakeholders that your cybersecurity investments are worth every penny. 

The Fab Five Metrics to Monitor 

  1. Incident Response Time (IRT) 

  • Why It Matters: When a cyber dragon attacks, how quickly can your knights respond? The faster the response, the less damage done. 

  • Measure This: Track the time from detection to response. Aim to reduce this over time. 

 

  1. Mean Time to Recovery (MTTR) 

  • Why It Matters: This measures how long it takes to bounce back after an attack. A lower MTTR means your kingdom (business) is resilient and robust. 

  • Measure This: Calculate the average time it takes to restore normal operations after an incident. 

  1. Number of Detected Threats 

  • Why It Matters: This shows how often your fortress is being tested by potential intruders. A high number could indicate a targeted assault or just a sign of the times. 

  • Measure This: Keep a tally of all threats detected by your security systems. 

  

  1. Patch Management Efficiency 

  • Why It Matters: Regular updates are like reinforcing your castle walls. Keeping track of how efficiently and quickly patches are applied can prevent breaches. 

  • Measure This: Monitor the percentage of systems updated within a specified time frame after a patch release. 

 

  1. Employee Awareness Training 

  • Why It Matters: Even the strongest walls can be breached if your knights and villagers aren’t vigilant. Human error is often the weakest link in cybersecurity. 

  • Measure This: Track the participation rate and results of regular cybersecurity training sessions. 

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Bonus Metric: Cost Per Incident 

 

This one’s a doozy, but oh-so-important. Calculate the financial impact of each security incident. This includes downtime, lost revenue, and recovery costs. Knowing this helps you understand the true cost of weak defences. 

 

Making Metrics Work for You 

Collecting these metrics is just the start. The real magic happens when you analyse and act on them. Here’s how to make them work for you: 

  • Regular Reviews: Schedule monthly or quarterly reviews to discuss metrics with your team. Look for trends and areas for improvement. 

  • Set Benchmarks: Establish benchmarks for each metric and strive to improve them. Celebrate small victories! 

  • Invest Wisely: Use metrics to justify investments in new security tools or training programs. Numbers speak louder than words to stakeholders. 

Our Solutions  

 

We’re dedicated to providing a suite of solutions tailored to empower your business in effectively managing a variety of cybersecurity risks. Among our offerings, we highlight key solutions designed to enhance your organization’s security posture:  

 

1. Cybersecurity Risk Assessment  

Complete an annual risk assessment to properly identify all areas of your digital fortress. Apply the appropriate detection, protection, response and recovery tools to ensure the best possible security strategy for your business. The main benefit from this simple approach is to understand and have the information to guide conversations and decisions with your IT lead, guru or provider.   

 

2. Device Level Ransomware protection  

Next-gen Antivirus is crucial to stop ransomware from spreading IF it hits your network. The software installed on each computer will monitor and protect it from spreading, also allowing roll-back of attacks if authenticated by the user. We like Sentinel One as a great fit for small business, who is also a leader on Gartner Magic Quadrant. Bit-Defender Gravity Zone is also a popular favourite.  Reach out and we can help you protect those devices.   

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3. Email Security Defaults   

 

Microsoft has released a preset email security default blanket for all users even at the lowest license level when starting the trial for Defender for Office 365 Plan 1. Enable the defaults to add a layer of protection to fight against emails with bad attachments and links before they ever hit your inbox! You will also be alerted to emails from senders you have never received an email from to help trigger the reaction to analyse it before engaging. We can also add a layer of encrypted email and journaling based on your industry requirements. Tuning communication allowances will help ensure that emails between groups and external parties is aligned with your identified needs.   

  

4. Catch Phish  

Our Catch Phish tool streamlines email analysis, simplifying the identification of potential threats. With a single click, users can submit suspicious emails for rapid analysis, leveraging our proprietary SLAM methodology (Sender, Links, Attachments, & Message details). The tool provides insights into flagged content, facilitating training for employees. It enables seamless forwarding of quarantined emails to Managed Service Providers for threat handling, ensuring swift response & mitigation measures.  

  

  

5. Employee Training  

In our comprehensive employee training program, we prioritize strengthening your organization’s cybersecurity defences against phishing attacks. Through interactive modules and practical exercises, we equip your workforce with the knowledge and skills needed to identify and appropriately respond to phishing attempts. By enhancing your team’s awareness and vigilance, we bolster your data security and overall resilience in the face of evolving cyber threats.  

6. Dark Web Monitoring  

With our Dark Web Monitoring service, we equip your organization with essential tools for safeguarding sensitive data. Through continuous monitoring of dark web forums, we offer insights into potential data breaches & compromised credentials. Our tool delivers real-time threat intelligence, for identification of any risks. Also, instant notifications keep you informed about any instances of compromised data, including passwords, allowing prompt action to mitigate potential damages.  

  

 

Wrapping Up 

There you have it, folks! Cybersecurity metrics are your magical toolkit to ensure your business fortress is secure. By measuring the right things and understanding their significance, you can defend your kingdom from the ever-looming cyber threats. 

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