15 customisable OKR examples for Cyber Security Team
What are Cyber Security Team OKRs?
The Objective and Key Results (OKR) framework is a simple goal-setting methodology that was introduced at Intel by Andy Grove in the 70s. It became popular after John Doerr introduced it to Google in the 90s, and it's now used by teams of all sizes to set and track ambitious goals at scale.
Creating impactful OKRs can be a daunting task, especially for newcomers. Shifting your focus from projects to outcomes is key to successful planning.
We have curated a selection of OKR examples specifically for Cyber Security Team to assist you. Feel free to explore the templates below for inspiration in setting your own goals.
If you want to learn more about the framework, you can read our OKR guide online.
Building your own Cyber Security Team OKRs with AI
While we have some examples available, it's likely that you'll have specific scenarios that aren't covered here. You can use our free AI generator below or our more complete goal-setting system to generate your own OKRs.
Our customisable Cyber Security Team OKRs examples
We've added many examples of Cyber Security Team Objectives and Key Results, but we did not stop there. Understanding the difference between OKRs and projects is important, so we also added examples of strategic initiatives that relate to the OKRs.
Hope you'll find this helpful!
1. OKRs to discover and evaluate effective threat hunting tools
Discover and evaluate effective threat hunting tools
Identify and catalogue 15 highly-rated threat hunting tools by the end of quarter
Conduct research to identify 15 threat hunting tools
Evaluate tools based on user ratings and reviews
Document each tool, ratings and features in a catalogue
Perform thorough assessments on each identified tool, focusing on effectiveness and efficiency
Identify tools requiring assessment and list their functions
Evaluate effectiveness of each tool’s outcome
Analyze tool efficiency for job performance
Choose and pilot top 3 identified threat hunting tools in a controlled environment
Conduct pilot tests for each tool
Select top 3 threat hunting tools from identified list
Set up a controlled testing environment
2. OKRs to enhance Crowdstrike security measures
Enhance Crowdstrike security measures
Reduce false positive alerts by 45%
Regularly review and adjust alert threshold levels
Provide ongoing staff training for alert management
Implement more accurate alerting algorithms
Increase the protection against phishing attacks by 25%
Conduct weekly cybersecurity training for all staff
Update email filters to block suspected phishing emails
Implement two-factor authentication measures on all platforms
Improve detection speed of threats by 30%
Regularly update and maintain security software
Train staff on more efficient threat identification techniques
Increase investment in advanced threat detection tools
3. OKRs to improve Security Operation Centre Incident Response
Improve Security Operation Centre Incident Response
Reduce average incident response time by 15%
Deploy automated incident detection and response tools
Train team on efficient incident management practices
Regularly conduct response time drills
Increase team's cyber security certification levels by 30%
Plan and allocate budget for necessary certification exams and trainings
Identify current cybersecurity certification levels of all team members
Enroll team in targeted cybersecurity training programs
Implement new incident tracking software with 100% team adoption
Train team on new software usage
Evaluate and select suitable incident tracking software
Monitor and ensure full team adoption
4. OKRs to ensure information security solution meets large customer requirements
Ensure information security solution meets large customer requirements
Adjust our existing information security solution to match found requirements 100%
Develop and implement changes to fill identified gaps
Identify gaps in the current information security solution
Test and fine-tune the updated security solution
Identify and understand the requirements of 10 major customers by consulting directly
Schedule one-on-one meetings with each of the 10 major customers
Review and analyze all customer feedback to understand requirements
Prepare specific, clear questions for customer consultation
Successfully pass 10 customer audits confirming solution's compliance with their requirements
Review and understand all customer's requirements for each solution
Conduct internal audits to ensure compliance with requirements
Collect and organize evidence of compliance for audits
5. OKRs to strengthen cybersecurity to reduce incidents by 50%
Improve cybersecurity to minimize incidents
Create and test updated incident response and disaster recovery procedures
Develop and document updated incident response and disaster recovery plans
Identify stakeholders and their roles in incident response and disaster recovery
Train employees on updated procedures and conduct mock drills
Evaluate effectiveness of updated procedures and make necessary adjustments
Increase the number of cybersecurity training sessions attended by employees
Regularly communicate the importance of cybersecurity to employees
Develop engaging cybersecurity training content
Offer incentives for attending cybersecurity training sessions
Implement mandatory cybersecurity training for all employees
Conduct two external security audits to identify vulnerabilities
Review and implement audit findings
Monitor security vulnerabilities and take appropriate actions
Share relevant security information
Hire third-party audit firms
Implement two-factor authentication for high-risk data access
Implement authentication for high-risk data
Choose two-factor authentication method
Train employees on new authentication method
Test and monitor authentication effectiveness
6. OKRs to establish unparalleled data leak protection solution
Establish unparalleled data leak protection solution
Increase client satisfaction regarding data security by 25% through feedback surveys
Analyze survey responses for areas of improvement
Develop and execute strategies to address identified issues
Implement consistent client feedback surveys on data security
Develop and implement a cutting-edge encryption system by increasing R&D team by 15%
Execute full implementation of new encryption system
Identify talent to expand R&D team by an additional 15%
Develop advanced encryption system prototype
Reduce successful cyber attacks on our system by 80%
Implement multi-factor authentication for all system users
Regularly update and patch system software
Conduct frequent cybersecurity training for employees
7. OKRs to enhance security measures to mitigate OTP attacks
Enhance security measures to mitigate OTP attacks
Reduce unauthorized access attempts by 50% through enhanced account lockout mechanisms
Increase employee awareness and adherence to security protocols through regular training sessions
Conduct bi-weekly security training sessions for all employees
Offer incentives or rewards for employees who consistently demonstrate adherence to security protocols
Provide employees with updated written materials outlining security protocols
Utilize interactive training methods, such as quizzes or simulations, to engage employees
Improve OTP delivery and verification mechanisms to ensure prompt and secure delivery
Implement multi-factor authentication for all critical systems and user accounts
Select and implement a reliable and user-friendly multi-factor authentication solution
Regularly monitor and review multi-factor authentication logs and make necessary enhancements
Notify all users of the upcoming implementation and provide necessary training and guidelines
Conduct a thorough inventory of all critical systems and user accounts
8. OKRs to minimize exposure to compliance and cybersecurity threats
Minimize exposure to compliance and cybersecurity threats
Enhance cybersecurity measures to decrease cyber breaches by 30%
Implement strict password policies and two-factor authentication system
Perform regular cyber security audits and fix identified vulnerabilities
Increase employee training on phishing scams and other cyber threats
Reduce compliance violations by 20% through implementation of stricter internal processes
Conduct regular audit checks to identify potential violations
Increase frequency of internal process assessments
Implement comprehensive employee training on stricter internal processes
Train 90% of employees on updated compliance rules and cyberthreat awareness
Develop an updated compliance and cyberthreat training program
Enroll all employees in the training program
Monitor employee participation rates to reach 90% completion
9. OKRs to enhance organizational cybersecurity compliance
Enhance organizational cybersecurity compliance
Get certification in ISO 27001 standard for information security management
Develop and implement an information security management system
Research and understand the requirements of ISO 27001 certification
Apply for ISO 27001 certification and prepare for audit
Achieve 90% reduction in cybersecurity incidents by bolstering intrusion detection systems
Engage staff in regular cybersecurity training sessions
Enhance existing security measures across all digital touchpoints
Implement advanced intrusion detection system software
Implement cybersecurity training for 100% of employees by quarter-end
Track employee attendance and progress
Develop comprehensive cybersecurity training curriculum
Schedule mandatory training sessions for all employees
10. OKRs to become a computer security expert
Become a computer security expert
Successfully pass the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) exam with a score of 80% or higher
Develop and execute a comprehensive security project, receiving positive feedback from industry experts
Collaborate with industry experts to gather insights and recommendations for improving security measures
Regularly monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of implemented security measures to ensure ongoing protection
Develop and implement robust security protocols and controls across all systems and processes
Conduct a thorough assessment of current security vulnerabilities and risks
Complete at least two online courses on computer security, scoring above 90% in each
Ensure mastery of course materials and aim to score above 90% in assessments
Devote dedicated hours per week to studying and completing the online courses
Research and identify two reputable online courses for computer security
Enroll in the selected online courses on computer security
Implement and manage effective security measures on personal computer resulting in zero malware incidents
Install a reliable antivirus software program on the personal computer
Enable automatic software updates for the operating system and all installed applications
Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading files from untrustworthy sources
Regularly update the antivirus software to ensure the latest protection against malware
11. OKRs to enhance and streamline security governance framework
Enhance and streamline security governance framework
Achieve 100% staff completion of cyber security training program
Enforce disciplinary measures for non-compliance
Assign mandatory cybersecurity training program to all staff
Monitor progress of staff training completion weekly
Conduct a comprehensive risk assessment across all departments
Evaluate and prioritize each potential risk
Develop a plan to mitigate identified risks
Identify the potential risks in each department
Implement advanced threat detection system in 90% of the network infrastructure
Test system coverage across the entire network infrastructure
Identify current gaps in the network's threat detection system
Procure and install advanced threat detection software
12. OKRs to enhance our organization's cybersecurity risk assessment approach
Enhance our organization's cybersecurity risk assessment approach
Implement corrective measures for at least 75% of identified risks
Establish appropriate solutions for identified risks
Apply corrective measures to prioritized risks
Identify and list all the existing business risks
Conduct training to improve cybersecurity knowledge for 90% of all team members
Source or develop effective cybersecurity education materials
Schedule and implement mandatory cybersecurity training sessions
Identify cybersecurity training needs and desired outcomes for team members
Identify and document 100% of existing and potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities
Document identified vulnerabilities in a detailed report
Continually monitor for potential new vulnerabilities
Conduct a comprehensive cybersecurity audit across all systems
13. OKRs to embed security consciousness in business operations
Embed security consciousness in business operations
Reduce security breaches by 25% through rigorous employee training
Implement mandatory cybersecurity training for all employees
Schedule regular refresher courses on data protection
Update security policies and disseminate to staff
Establish a quarterly security audit to identify potential vulnerabilities
Schedule regular audits with a professional auditor
Define the scope of each quarterly security audit
Create a process to address identified vulnerabilities
Achieve 100% compliance on mandatory security awareness training by all employees
Organize regular training sessions for all personnel
Monitor and document each employee's training progress
Distribute security awareness training materials to all employees
14. OKRs to enhance log analysis for reduced risk and improved security compliance
Enhance log analysis for reduced risk and improved security compliance
Implement an automated log analysis system that reduces manual processes by 60%
Research and select suitable automated log analysis software
Train staff in the operation and maintenance of the new system
Identify current manual processes involving log analysis
Improve security compliance score by 15% through proactive risk management measures
Provide staff with cybersecurity training and awareness programs
Implement robust password policies and two-factor authentication
Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and audits
Decrease reported risks by correcting identified vulnerabilities by 25%
Develop and implement corrective measures for identified risks
Regularly monitor systems and adjust security as needed
Conduct thorough vulnerability assessments on all systems
15. OKRs to enhance the organization's cybersecurity infrastructure
Enhance the organization's cybersecurity infrastructure
Implement multi-factor authentication for all internal systems by the end of Q2
Implement selected multi-factor authentication solution
Assess current authentication methods across all systems
Identify suitable multi-factor authentication solutions
Conduct cybersecurity training programs for 90% of employees
Identify the key cybersecurity principles for training content
Organize training schedules for employees
Evaluate post-training comprehension and application
Carry out system vulnerability assessment every week to spot and fix any gaps
Implement necessary fixes to detected vulnerabilities immediately
Analyze assessment results to identify security gaps
Schedule weekly system vulnerability assessments
Cyber Security Team OKR best practices to boost success
Generally speaking, your objectives should be ambitious yet achievable, and your key results should be measurable and time-bound (using the SMART framework can be helpful). It is also recommended to list strategic initiatives under your key results, as it'll help you avoid the common mistake of listing projects in your KRs.
Here are a couple of best practices extracted from our OKR implementation guide 👇
Tip #1: Limit the number of key results
Having too many OKRs is the #1 mistake that teams make when adopting the framework. The problem with tracking too many competing goals is that it will be hard for your team to know what really matters.
We recommend having 3-4 objectives, and 3-4 key results per objective. A platform like Tability can run audits on your data to help you identify the plans that have too many goals.
![Tability Insights Dashboard](https://tability-templates-v2.vercel.app/_next/static/media/tability-insights-board.e70f9466.png)
Tip #2: Commit to weekly OKR check-ins
Setting good goals can be challenging, but without regular check-ins, your team will struggle to make progress. We recommend that you track your OKRs weekly to get the full benefits from the framework.
Being able to see trends for your key results will also keep yourself honest.
![Tability Insights Dashboard](https://tability-templates-v2.vercel.app/_next/static/media/checkins-graph.b2aec458.png)
Tip #3: No more than 2 yellow statuses in a row
Yes, this is another tip for goal-tracking instead of goal-setting (but you'll get plenty of OKR examples above). But, once you have your goals defined, it will be your ability to keep the right sense of urgency that will make the difference.
As a rule of thumb, it's best to avoid having more than 2 yellow/at risk statuses in a row.
Make a call on the 3rd update. You should be either back on track, or off track. This sounds harsh but it's the best way to signal risks early enough to fix things.
How to turn your Cyber Security Team OKRs in a strategy map
Quarterly OKRs should have weekly updates to get all the benefits from the framework. Reviewing progress periodically has several advantages:
- It brings the goals back to the top of the mind
- It will highlight poorly set OKRs
- It will surface execution risks
- It improves transparency and accountability
Spreadsheets are enough to get started. Then, once you need to scale you can use a proper OKR platform to make things easier.
![A strategy map in Tability](https://tability-templates-v2.vercel.app/_next/static/media/tability_strategy_map.2ad25843.png)
If you're not yet set on a tool, you can check out the 5 best OKR tracking templates guide to find the best way to monitor progress during the quarter.
More Cyber Security Team OKR templates
We have more templates to help you draft your team goals and OKRs.
OKRs to enhance productivity and operation efficiency in IT management
OKRs to master English language skills
OKRs to enhance diversity and inclusion initiatives
OKRs to effectively scale up our operations
OKRs to enhance positive online presence to boost brand reputation
OKRs to enhance brand presence on various social platforms
OKRs resources
Here are a list of resources to help you adopt the Objectives and Key Results framework.
- To learn: What is the meaning of OKRs
- Blog posts: ODT Blog
- Success metrics: KPIs examples
What's next? Try Tability's goal-setting AI
You can create an iterate on your OKRs using Tability's unique goal-setting AI.
Watch the demo below, then hop on the platform for a free trial.