Data Protection Effectiveness
Measures effectiveness of data security controls across the organization.
Current Value
78%
+6% from previous period
Industry average: 65%
Calculation Method
(Number of sensitive data repositories with adequate controls / Total number of sensitive data repositories) × 100%; DLP alert-to-incident ratio; Data classification coverage
Significance
This KPI measures how well your organization protects sensitive data across its lifecycle. It considers coverage of data protection controls, their effectiveness, and progress in addressing data protection gaps.
Definition
Data Protection Effectiveness assesses how comprehensively your organization identifies, classifies, and protects sensitive information using technical controls, policies, and access management. It measures both control coverage and effectiveness.
Significance
As data proliferates across cloud services, endpoints, and third-party systems, maintaining visibility and control over sensitive information becomes increasingly challenging.
This KPI helps organizations understand where sensitive data resides, who has access to it, whether appropriate controls are in place, and how effective those controls are at preventing unauthorized access or disclosure.
Calculation Method
Multiple measurement components:
- Control coverage = (Number of sensitive data repositories with adequate controls / Total number of sensitive data repositories) × 100%
- Data classification coverage = (Amount of data classified / Total data volume) × 100%
- DLP effectiveness = (Number of true positive DLP alerts / Total DLP alerts) × 100%
- Access governance score = % of sensitive data repositories with appropriate access reviews and privileged access controls
Benchmark
Industry average: 65% data protection effectiveness
Best practice targets: >90% control coverage for crown jewel data; >80% for all sensitive data; <5% overprovisioned access rights