<img src="https://secure.imaginativeenterprising-intelligent.com/795074.png" style="display:none;">

Part 4 - Measuring Success with Zero Trust

January 28, 2025 Network Solutions

measure success victory zero trust

This article describes the best practices of Zero Trust. 

This is the third in a four part series.

Part 1 – Steps to Implementing Zero Trust

Part 2 – Zero Trust Best Practices

Part 3 – Common Challenges and Solutions of Zero Trust

Part 4 – Measuring Your Zero Trust Success

Key KPIs for Evaluating Zero Trust Initiatives

How do you know if your Zero Trust strategy is actually working? Like any initiative, its success depends on measurable outcomes. The key lies in tracking the right performance indicators.

Here are the most effective KPIs to evaluate the success of your Zero Trust implementation, helping you ensure your investment delivers real, tangible results.

  1. Reduced Security Breaches: The Ultimate Litmus Test

One of the clearest signs that your Zero Trust framework is succeeding is a measurable drop in security breaches. By enforcing strict authentication, limiting access, and continuously monitoring activity, Zero Trust significantly reduces opportunities for malicious actors to infiltrate your network.

How to Measure It:
Track the number and severity of security incidents before and after implementing Zero Trust. Break this down further into specific areas, such as compromised credentials or unauthorized access attempts, to pinpoint where your strategy is having the most impact.

Why It Matters:
A steady decline in breaches shows your defenses are working. Fewer incidents also mean less downtime, fewer financial losses, and reduced reputational damage.

  1. Improved Threat Detection and Response Times

In today’s fast-paced cybersecurity landscape, speed is critical. Zero Trust initiatives should improve your ability to detect and respond to threats in real time, minimizing potential damage.

How to Measure It:
Monitor metrics like the average time to detect (MTTD) and the average time to respond (MTTR) to security incidents. Compare these metrics to industry benchmarks or your pre-Zero Trust baseline.

Why It Matters:
Shorter detection and response times indicate that your security team is empowered with the right tools and processes. It also highlights how well your Zero Trust policies are working to contain threats before they escalate.

  1. Reduced Lateral Movement

A cornerstone of Zero Trust is preventing attackers from moving laterally within your network. Micro-segmentation and strict access controls ensure that even if a breach occurs, the damage is contained.

How to Measure It:
Evaluate the frequency of lateral movement attempts within your network and the success rate of containment efforts. Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools can provide this data in real time.

Why It Matters:
Limited lateral movement shows your network segmentation policies are effective, adding another layer of protection to your critical assets.

  1. Increased Use of Secure Access Methods

Zero Trust emphasizes secure access for users, devices, and applications. Adoption rates of technologies like multi-factor authentication (MFA), Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) are strong indicators of progress.

How to Measure It:
Track the percentage of users actively engaging with MFA and the percentage of applications protected by ZTNA. Additionally, monitor the number of legacy VPN connections replaced by modern Zero Trust solutions.

Why It Matters:
High adoption rates mean your workforce is embracing secure practices, which is crucial for the long-term success of your Zero Trust initiative.

  1. Reduction in Privilege-Related Incidents

Zero Trust operates on the principle of least privilege, limiting users and devices to only the access they need. This reduces the likelihood of privilege abuse or accidental misconfigurations leading to security gaps.

How to Measure It:
Monitor the number of incidents involving over-privileged accounts, unauthorized privilege escalations, or improper access permissions. Track changes to privilege settings over time to ensure policies are consistently enforced.

Why It Matters:
A drop in privilege-related incidents confirms that your access controls are both effective and well-maintained.

  1. User and Device Compliance Rates

A strong Zero Trust framework ensures that users and devices meet compliance standards before accessing resources. This involves verifying device health, patch levels, and adherence to security policies.

How to Measure It:
Track the percentage of devices that pass compliance checks and the number of users adhering to security protocols, such as timely password updates or mandatory MFA.

Why It Matters:
High compliance rates indicate that your policies are being implemented effectively, reducing potential entry points for attackers.

  1. Business Impact Metrics

Zero Trust isn’t just about security—it’s about enabling secure productivity. Metrics like system uptime, employee satisfaction with security tools, and the overall cost of implementing Zero Trust versus the cost of incidents avoided provide a business-oriented perspective on your initiative’s success.

How to Measure It:
Gather feedback from employees on the usability of security measures and monitor the financial savings achieved through fewer incidents and improved operational efficiency.

Why It Matters:
Balancing security with usability ensures that Zero Trust doesn’t hinder your organization’s productivity or growth.

The Bigger Picture

Implementing Zero Trust is a journey, not a destination. Tracking these KPIs provides valuable insights into your progress and highlights areas where your strategy might need refinement. Success isn’t just about preventing attacks; it’s about creating a sustainable, secure, and agile organization ready to tackle whatever the future holds.

By focusing on measurable outcomes, you’ll not only strengthen your security posture but also demonstrate the value of Zero Trust to stakeholders across your organization.

Network Solutions, Inc. (NSI), founded in 1989 is a Managed Services and Cisco Gold Provider demonstrating advanced competencies across Cisco's solutions, including networking, security, collaboration, and data center technologies. This designation reflects NSI's commitment to delivering reliable, high-quality services backed by Cisco’s latest technology and best practices, ensuring that customers receive expert guidance and support for their implementations.

To learn more about Network Solutions or our NSI ADVANCE Managed Services, including 

or any other business technology solution, contact the experts at Network Solutions below!

Schedule a Consultation

Share This: