The Four Must-Know Information Leakage KPI

In this age of information technology, when sharing of data can be done at a blink of an eye, it is, more than ever, essential for a business organization to protect its information system. Identity theft, trade secret revelation, data leakage, these are just some of the crimes and mishaps that we hear often times in newspapers and TV reports. Negligence is frequently the culprit. However, with the aid of security tools and measures, there should not be a single excuse. The problem actually lies with the management. How does the security department carry out strategies to prevent such anomaly? Is the information security system working? If so, are there adequate and appropriate key performance indicators considered?Information leakage key performance indicators are specific areas of a security system where performance is evaluated and measured. These indicators are more like yardsticks that will help managers figure out what went wrong and if the security measures that were formulated and implemented were practical and applicable. Moreover, the indicators will also help evaluate if there are also lapses on the part of the security team. The ultimate objective in identifying the right indicators is to avoid probable or further loss of confidential data.Every business organization knows that part of the information technology department is the security team. These are group of employees assigned to monitor the security of the data, come up with plans to prevent loss and leakage, and maintain the stability of the hardware and software systems. Even with a smaller size, the company must have this important section. Due to the complexity of every day transactions, the vastness of operations, and sometimes, diversity of data access, it almost impossible for these key people to fully guard the company’s sensitive information. In order for the team to fully execute its security measures, it must need to determine the four major dimensions or key performance indicators. The four dimensions are: data integrity, authorized processing, security control, and risk management.Data integrity refers to how the team maintains the individuality and originality of each record in the organization’s database. Again, because of the vastness of data being entered everyday, the team must make sure that there are no duplicates.Authorized processing is intended to monitor and maintain a stringent portfolio of employees allowed to access, input, and create reports from the database. In this dimension, some of the most common activities involved are interception protection, background screening, IATO, and authorization.The third dimension, risk management, refers to the act of preventing and controlling the risks that are related to information leakage. Sometimes, the security formulation can even lead to another loophole. This is why every angle must be considered, such as environmental checks, audit trails, and management involvement. Finally, there is security control. It involves processes, such as encryptions, system security plans, tracking effectiveness, and compliance level.And there goes the four information leakage KPI or key performance indicators. Remember that what is at stake in here is not just the company’s vital information, but the integrity and the security of the organization. To prove that your information security measures are right on track, follow these four KPIs.