IT security is inherently intangible and challenging to measure accurately. Assessing the effectiveness of security systems or the benefits of security provisions can be difficult.

To address this, risk analyses and evaluations are conducted to assess individual risks based on their probability and impact. By categorizing risks as low, medium, or high, companies can gauge their ability to manage, mitigate, or prevent them.

In the security industry, best practices have emerged for measuring the effectiveness of security strategies. Security metrics are benchmarked against standards to quantify the risk of damage or loss from malicious attacks. These metrics are crucial for identifying improvement areas, pinpointing significant vulnerabilities, and effectively allocating a cybersecurity budget.

One method for measuring IT security is to track reports of cyberattacks and threats over time. By mapping these events and responses, companies can better evaluate the effectiveness of their security systems. Surveying key security personnel can provide insights into risk perception, contributing to security benchmarking. Some experts suggest tracking security return on investment by gathering input from frontline cybersecurity workers and compiling comprehensive security performance data.

Accuracy in security measurement can be enhanced by dissecting security into its components. For instance, endpoint security focuses on securing data endpoints like smartphones, tablets, and PCs. Other aspects include network security, where professionals use checkpoints to establish benchmarks.

Security tools can track traces of malicious activity and other data indicative of vulnerabilities (e.g., the number of patches applied, intrusion attempts, changes in privileges, system alerts). This data, combined with information from log management software, can be used to create reports that measure security improvements over time.

For many IT professionals, security measurement involves aggregating data about cyber threats, inputting it into a database, and generating informative reports. These sophisticated analyses drive the evaluation of security practices and assist decision-makers in managing changes in security strategies. Overall, IT security encompasses a "security life cycle" with multiple steps and stages to respond to threats dynamically.