Cyber Security Incident Rate
Number of confirmed security incidents in a period
What is Cyber Security Incident Rate?
Cyber security incident rate is the number of confirmed security incidents in a period. It shows how often the organisation suffers events that compromise, or threaten to compromise, its systems or data.
Tracking incidents helps understand exposure and whether security investment is reducing risk, though a low count can also mean incidents are not being detected.
How this KPI is measured
- Function
- Information Technology
- Sub-function
- Cyber Security
- Industry
- All Industries
- Type
- Lagging
- Impact
- Risk
- Unit
- #
- Measurement frequency
- Monthly
- Formula
- Count of confirmed security incidents in period
How to calculate it
Count the confirmed security incidents in the period.
For example, if the security team confirmed 14 incidents in a quarter, the rate is 14.
Define incident clearly, classify by severity and type, and record both incidents found by staff and by tools. Read alongside detection time, since better detection often raises the count at first.
Where it is used
Understanding risk exposure
See how often incidents occur.
Guiding security investment
Target common causes.
Reporting to leaders
Show security trends.
How to improve it
Tips and common mistakes
- A low count may reflect poor detection, not good security.
- Report severity as well as number.
- Follow legal duties to report serious incidents.
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