15 min read
Every CISO wants to know: Are we actually reducing risk, or just reporting faster? In 2025, measuring security performance goes beyond counting alerts or tracking patch rates. CISOs are under more pressure than ever to show results, not just activity, and that means focusing on the cyber security KPIs that truly reflect risk posture, response capability, and program maturity.
It’s not about tracking everything, it’s about tracking the right things. From dwell time and escalation rate to detection speed and severity trends, today’s most effective security programs rely on metrics that tie directly to outcomes. And while a cybersecurity dashboard can visualize that data, the real value comes from what you do with it.
At RedLegg, we work with organizations to translate metrics into strategy. Whether through MDR services that provide real-time case visibility or VCISO programs that support long-term planning, we help security teams turn dashboards into decisions.
Recent research, like UpGuard’s 2025 Cybersecurity Metrics Guide, shows how the industry is shifting away from vanity metrics and toward business-aligned KPIs. This blog builds on that shift, adding insight from RedLegg’s own experience helping clients prioritize, respond, and evolve.
The Problem with the Metrics We’ve Been Using
Traditional dashboards tend to flood teams with numbers: total alerts, endpoint coverage, firewall counts. These metrics may sound impressive, but they rarely help answer the questions security leaders are asking:
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Are we improving?
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Are we responding fast enough?
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Where are we most exposed?
The problem isn’t the quantity of metrics; it’s the lack of clarity and alignment. Without context, even accurate data can lead to poor decision-making. Security teams often find themselves reacting to numbers without knowing which ones truly indicate progress.
That’s why many organizations are now rethinking their cyber security KPIs, shifting focus from volume-based reporting to outcome-driven measurement. Metrics should inform action, track performance over time, and align with broader business goals. If a KPI isn’t helping the team get better, faster, or more resilient, it might be time to replace it.
The New Role of the Cybersecurity Dashboard
Dashboards were once designed as visual status boards, a way to see what was happening in your environment. But in 2025, the best cybersecurity dashboards serve a much bigger role: they help guide conversations, set priorities, and support strategic planning.
Instead of just showing alert volume or endpoint coverage, modern dashboards should offer:
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Trend visibility: Are things improving over time? Are detection and response times getting faster?
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Escalation insight: What types of incidents are getting escalated, and why?
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Actionable patterns: Are there recurring issues that need long-term fixes, not short-term workarounds?
We’ve seen organizations succeed when they treat their cybersecurity dashboard as more than a reporting tool; it becomes an operational compass. A well-built dashboard can highlight where automation is needed, where training gaps exist, and where detection logic needs refinement.
At RedLegg, we support clients in building and interpreting dashboards that move beyond noise. Through collaborative reviews and advisory sessions, we help teams align what they see with what they need to do.
Core Metrics That Matter in 2025
To cut through the noise, here are the cyber security KPIs that help security leaders make smarter, faster, and more strategic decisions. Where possible, we’ve included anonymized examples from RedLegg’s internal reporting to show how these metrics come to life in practice.
Mean Time to Detect (MTTD)
Tracks how quickly your team begins investigating alerts. A low MTTD means your SOC is seeing and reacting to threats early minimizing attacker dwell time. For example, we’ve seen MTTDs as low as under 5 minutes in some environments.
Mean Time to Respond (MTTR)
Measures how fast threats are resolved or escalated. A strong MTTR helps limit the impact of an incident. In one report, we saw critical incidents resolved in under 30 minutes.
Case Volume & Severity Distribution
Shows how many threats you're handling and how serious they are. One recent month saw over 2,000 cases, more than half of them high severity. This metric is essential for staffing and prioritization.
Escalation Volume & Patterns
Not all threats should go to Tier 2 or 3. Tracking how many cases get escalated, and their severity, helps identify workflow issues or alert tuning gaps. In recent months, over half of the escalated cases were medium severity, suggesting opportunities to strengthen triage processes and alert classification.
MITRE ATT&CK Coverage
Maps alert to attacker tactics and techniques. This helps teams understand where adversaries are focusing and adjust detection coverage accordingly. Our internal reporting shows common trends in tactics like Persistence, Privilege Escalation, and Defense Evasion, guiding blue team priorities.
Alert Category Breakdown
Shows whether users, email, hosts, or network sources are triggering the most alerts. In recent reporting, user-based alerts consistently led in volume, supporting the need for stronger identity monitoring.
Recurring Threat Patterns
Highlights frequent alert types or repeated attack behaviors. For example, “Account Added to Privileged Group” appeared across multiple months, signaling potential misconfigurations.
False Positive Rate
Too many false alarms can exhaust your team and cause real threats to be missed. This metric supports tuning, tooling reviews, and process refinement.
Patch Cadence
Measures how quickly vulnerabilities are remediated. Faster patching reduces exposure and aligns with regulatory expectations.
📊 Want a quick visual recap?
Here are the top 5 cybersecurity KPIs that drive strategic impact in 2025:
These five stand out for their ability to inform decisions, track real outcomes, and align technical performance with business priorities.
From Data to Direction: What CISOs Should Do Next
The takeaway? Metrics shouldn’t be just numbers. When aligned with business goals and tied to real-world outcomes, they become powerful drivers for strategic improvement.
CISOs should:
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Review metrics in context, not isolation
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Regularly assess escalation, detection, and resolution trends
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Use dashboards as a conversation starter, not just a reporting tool
With the right cyber security KPIs and a strategic cybersecurity dashboard, security leaders can align faster, respond smarter, and reduce long-term risk.
At RedLegg, we help teams go beyond visibility. Through real-world metrics and practitioner insight, we turn data into action.
Turn visibility into action. RedLegg’s Managed Detection & Response integrates strategic KPIs, analyst support, and real-time dashboards to help your team detect faster and respond smarter.
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