Successfully Measuring the Effectiveness of Your Security Controls

March 7, 2023

Successfully measuring the effectiveness of your security controls are an integral component of an effective cybersecurity strategy. They help you manage risks, safeguard data, systems and people.

The effectiveness of these controls can assess in several ways. These include preventative, detective, corrective, compensatory and deterrent methods.

1. Identify Your Primary Objective

Before you begin the process of assessing and implementing security controls, it is essential to know your primary objective. With this understanding, you can select the appropriate security controls tailored towards your organization’s individual needs as well as regulatory requirements.

Opting for the wrong control can lead to unnecessary expense and effort, so it’s essential that you consider your security objectives thoroughly.

Gaining the support of your end users is essential for successfully enforcing and monitoring security controls. Employees who understand the purpose behind these measures are much more likely to adhere to them and comply with its requirements.

2. Create a Measuring Plan

A measuring plan is an invaluable tool that can assist you and your team in monitoring all activities. It also promotes consistency when it comes to tracking and reporting results.

Measurement tools come in many forms, from pressure gauges to thermometers. If you don’t already own them, here is a list of common ones.

The initial step in developing your measuring plan is to identify the primary goals for your marketing campaign. Doing this correctly will make measurements much simpler to comprehend and more insightful.

3. Create a Measuring Tool

Measurement tools are indispensable tools that enable engineers to precisely assess the quantity of various materials and objects. They are indispensable in all types of construction projects, large or small.

Calipers are indispensable tools in any engineering or machine shop. They can use to measure length, diameter and thickness of various objects.

Measure the effectiveness of your security controls by creating a measurement dashboard and reporting on it. But before you do, it is essential to understand who your target audience is and what they expect from such an overview.

4. Create a Measuring Dashboard

A measuring dashboard is the ideal way to demonstrate how effective your security controls are. They offer real-time data that enables you to identify opportunities and challenges, then make informed decisions.

Dashboards offer great versatility, making them suitable for a range of professionals and non-professionals alike. Not only that, but they’re excellent at presenting data to executives and other key stakeholders.

To construct a measuring dashboard, you must first identify its purpose and target audience. Subsequently, select suitable visualizations and design.

5. Create a Measuring Report

Today, business leaders prioritize protecting sensitive data, customers and employees from cyber security risks and scams. Thanks to modern cyber security controls and risk management teams that have developed in order to safeguard company information from attacks such as viruses or scams, many are now confident in their safeguards against these threats.

One of the best ways to assess the success of your security controls is by creating a measuring report. This document should share with your organization’s executive management, providing them with insight into the results of their cybersecurity initiatives.

Create a measuring report that incorporates both quantitative and qualitative measures. Doing so will provide your team with a balanced mix of methods, which is more likely to resonate with your audience.

 

Ammar Fakhruddin

ABOUT AUTHOR

Ammar brings in 18 years of experience in strategic solutions and product development in Public Sector, Oil & Gas and Healthcare organizations. He loves solving complex real world business and data problems by bringing in leading-edge solutions that are cost effective, improve customer and employee experience. At Propelex he focuses on helping businesses achieve digital excellence using Smart Data & Cybersecurity solutions.


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