Security Configuration Compliance Rate
Percentage of systems meeting minimum security configuration standards
Current Value
94.7%
+2.3% from previous period
Industry average: 89%
Calculation Method
(Number of compliant systems / Total number of assessed systems) × 100%
Significance
This KPI measures how effectively your organization implements and maintains secure configurations across systems and applications, which is critical for reducing the attack surface.
Definition
Security Configuration Compliance Rate measures the percentage of IT assets (servers, workstations, network devices, cloud resources, etc.) that adhere to defined security configuration standards. These standards typically include hardening guidelines, misconfigurations checks, and compliance with secure configuration benchmarks like CIS, DISA STIGs, or internally defined baselines.
Significance
Proper security configuration is one of the most effective strategies for preventing breaches. Misconfigured systems and default settings are among the top vulnerabilities exploited by attackers. According to industry research, over 80% of breaches involve some form of misconfiguration.
This KPI helps security teams identify systems that deviate from secure baselines and prioritize remediation efforts to address the most critical configuration issues.
Calculation Method
The calculation includes:
- Count of systems that meet all required security configuration standards
- Total count of systems assessed
- Formula: (Compliant Systems / Total Systems) × 100%
Note: This metric is often broken down by:
• System type (servers, workstations, network devices, cloud resources)
• Environment (production, development, test)
• Compliance standard (CIS, DISA STIGs, internal policies)
• Configuration category (account settings, network settings, encryption, etc.)
Current Performance
Our configuration compliance rate has improved from 92.4% to 94.7% over the past 12 months.
• Servers: 97.2% compliance
• Workstations: 93.5% compliance
• Network devices: 96.8% compliance
• Cloud resources: 91.3% compliance
Benchmark
Industry average: 89% configuration compliance rate
Best practice target: >95% overall, with 100% for critical systems