cybersecurity maturity

Eamon Carroll

min read

What is cybersecurity maturity?

Cybersecurity maturity is the degree to which an organization’s security program is intentional, repeatable, measured, and continuously improved. It reflects not just which tools you have, but how consistently you manage risk, run security processes, and verify outcomes. High cybersecurity maturity typically shows up as clear ownership, documented procedures, tested controls, and metrics that drive decisions.

Why does cybersecurity maturity matter to organizations?

Cybersecurity maturity helps predict whether security will hold up under pressure—during incidents, audits, rapid growth, or major technology changes. A stronger security posture reduces the odds of preventable breaches and shortens response times when something goes wrong. It also supports GRC needs by making compliance evidence easier to produce and more trustworthy.

How is cybersecurity maturity measured or assessed?

A maturity assessment usually scores people, process, and technology against a defined set of practices. Common measurement methods include:

Interviews and workshops with control owners
Policy/procedure reviews and evidence sampling
Technical validation (scans, configuration checks, testing)
Metrics tracking (MTTR, patch SLAs, phishing rates)

The goal is to understand controls maturity and identify gaps between current and target cybersecurity maturity.

What are common cybersecurity maturity models?

Organizations often evaluate cybersecurity maturity using a cyber maturity model aligned to their industry and risk profile. Examples include:

NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) implementation tiers
CMMC (for certain defense supply chains)
ISO/IEC 27001-based program benchmarks
COBIT (governance-focused)

While each differs, they generally map to capability maturity and security program maturity concepts.

What are typical stages of cybersecurity maturity?

Most models describe similar stages, such as:

Ad hoc: Reactive, inconsistent, minimal documentation
Defined: Basic processes exist, uneven execution
Repeatable:Standardized processes and ownership across teams‍
Managed: Metrics-driven, measured performance, regular testing‍
Optimized: Continuous improvement, automation, proactive risk reduction

Progressing through these stages improves cybersecurity maturity and stabilizes day-to-day security operations.

Which controls indicate higher cybersecurity maturity?

Higher cybersecurity maturity is usually visible in controls that are both implemented and routinely validated, for example:

Asset inventory tied to ownership and risk classification
Patch and vulnerability management with enforced SLAs
Strong identity security (MFA, least privilege, access reviews)
Centralized logging, alerting, and tested incident response
Regular security assessments and penetration testing

These signal information security maturity because they demonstrate repeatability, measurement, and accountability.

How can organizations improve cybersecurity maturity over time?

Improving cybersecurity maturity typically requires a prioritized security roadmap based on risk. Practical steps include:

Set a target maturity level per business unit/system
Fix foundational gaps first (inventory, IAM, patching, backups)
Define KPIs and report them consistently to leadership
Automate where feasible (ticketing, detections, configuration baselines)
Reassess periodically to track improvement
Use a unified exposure management platform like Intruder to monitor the complete attack surface

Treat it as an ongoing program, not a one-time project, to build lasting security maturity.

What mistakes reduce cybersecurity maturity assessments’ accuracy?

Common pitfalls include treating documentation as proof, scoring based on intent rather than evidence, and ignoring third-party or cloud shared-responsibility gaps. Other issues:

Overweighting tools and underweighting processes
Using a one-size-fits-all model without risk context
Skipping technical validation (leading to inflated scores)

Accurate cybersecurity maturity evaluations combine evidence, testing, and business-aligned risk decisions to reflect the real security posture.