What are Incident Response Team metrics? Finding the right Incident Response Team metrics can be daunting, especially when you're busy working on your day-to-day tasks. This is why we've curated a list of examples for your inspiration.
Copy these examples into your preferred app, or you can also use Tability to keep yourself accountable.
Find Incident Response Team metrics with AI While we have some examples available, it's likely that you'll have specific scenarios that aren't covered here. You can use our free AI metrics generator below to generate your own strategies.
Examples of Incident Response Team metrics and KPIs 1. Mean Time to Resolve (MTTR) Average time taken to resolve major incidents, calculated from the time the incident is reported until it is fully resolved
What good looks like for this metric: 2-4 hours
Ideas to improve this metric Implement automated incident response tools Conduct regular training for incident response teams Refine incident categorisation and prioritisation processes Establish a dedicated major incident team Analyse past incidents to identify improvement areas 2. Major Incident Recurrence Rate Percentage of major incidents that recur within a specific timeframe after resolution
What good looks like for this metric: Below 5%
Ideas to improve this metric Conduct thorough root cause analysis Implement permanent fixes rather than temporary solutions Regularly review and update the incident management process Enhance collaboration between incident and problem management teams Utilise knowledge management to share solutions and prevent recurrence 3. Incident Resolution Quality Quality of incident resolution measured through stakeholder feedback and post-incident reviews
What good looks like for this metric: Above 90% positive feedback
Ideas to improve this metric Develop a clear incident resolution checklist Provide additional training on customer service skills Standardise post-incident review processes Gather and act on stakeholder feedback Implement continuous improvement initiatives 4. Stakeholder Communication Effectiveness Effectiveness of communication with stakeholders during major incidents, measured through feedback and surveys
What good looks like for this metric: Above 80% satisfaction
Ideas to improve this metric Establish a communication plan template Utilise multiple communication channels Train staff in effective communication techniques Regularly update stakeholders during incidents Review and refine communication strategies based on feedback 5. Incident Detection Time Time taken to detect incidents from the moment they occur to the moment they are identified
What good looks like for this metric: Within 10 minutes
Ideas to improve this metric Implement advanced monitoring and alerting systems Conduct regular audits of detection tools and processes Improve correlation of events and patterns Train staff to recognise potential incidents quickly Increase the frequency of system health checks
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1. Incident Detection Time The time taken from the moment a threat is detected to the initiation of an incident response
What good looks like for this metric: Typically less than 15 minutes
Ideas to improve this metric Implement automated alerting systems Conduct regular threat hunting exercises Enhance staff training on threat identification Integrate with advanced threat intelligence platforms Utilise machine learning for anomaly detection 2. Containment Time The duration between detection and containment of a threat to minimise its spread and impact
What good looks like for this metric: Ideally under 30 minutes
Ideas to improve this metric Automate endpoint isolation procedures Improve network segmentation Establish predefined incident response playbooks Regularly test response strategies Foster collaboration between IT and security teams 3. False Positive Rate The percentage of alerts that are incorrectly identified as threats
What good looks like for this metric: Should be below 5%
Ideas to improve this metric Refine rule sets and detection algorithms Incorporate feedback loops to learn from past alerts Leverage threat intelligence feeds Enhance contextual information in alerts Invest in more precise detection technologies 4. Number of Lateral Movement Attempts Counts of attempts by threats to move laterally within a network after initial access
What good looks like for this metric: Ideally zero attempts
Ideas to improve this metric Deploy micro-segmentation techniques Monitor for unusual access patterns Strengthen user privilege controls Use lateral movement detection tools Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing 5. Incident Recovery Time The time required to fully restore systems and operations post-incident
What good looks like for this metric: Within 24 hours for minor incidents
Ideas to improve this metric Maintain regular backups and restore procedures Invest in resilient infrastructure Document and streamline recovery processes Facilitate cross-department cooperation Regularly update and test recovery plans
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1. Time to Triage The average time taken to assess and categorize a security alert once it is received.
What good looks like for this metric: 1-2 hours
Ideas to improve this metric Automate initial alert categorization Train staff on efficient triage process Implement clear triage protocols Regularly review triage processes Utilize prioritization tools 2. False Positive Rate The percentage of security alerts that were incorrectly flagged as threats.
What good looks like for this metric: Under 10%
Ideas to improve this metric Refine detection rules and algorithms Regularly update threat intelligence Enhance user training on alert interpretation Increase context provided with alerts Engage in regular false positive audits 3. Alert Volume by Severity The number of security alerts received categorized by severity level (informational, low, medium, high).
What good looks like for this metric: Varies by organization size
Ideas to improve this metric Optimise threat detection thresholds Enhance network traffic analysis Implement targeted monitoring Use data aggregation tools Evaluate alert relevance regularly 4. Incident Resolution Time The time taken from triaging an alert to resolving the underlying security threat.
What good looks like for this metric: 4-8 hours
Ideas to improve this metric Set clear response protocols Utilize automated resolution tools Conduct regular training sessions Ensure scalable resources Engage in post-incident analyses 5. Alert Re-assignment Rate The percentage of alerts that must be reassigned due to incorrect initial triage.
What good looks like for this metric: Under 5%
Ideas to improve this metric Provide comprehensive training for triagers Establish clear escalation pathways Use specialised triage teams Regularly assess alert primacy guidelines Conduct bi-annual skill assessments
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Tracking your Incident Response Team metrics Having a plan is one thing, sticking to it is another.
Having a good strategy is only half the effort. You'll increase significantly your chances of success if you commit to a weekly check-in process .
A tool like Tability can also help you by combining AI and goal-setting to keep you on track.
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Planning resources OKRs are a great way to translate strategies into measurable goals. Here are a list of resources to help you adopt the OKR framework:
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