15 customisable OKR examples for It Security

What are It Security OKRs?

The OKR acronym stands for Objectives and Key Results. It's a goal-setting framework that was introduced at Intel by Andy Grove in the 70s, and it became popular after John Doerr introduced it to Google in the 90s. OKRs helps teams has a shared language to set ambitious goals and track progress towards them.

Formulating strong OKRs can be a complex endeavor, particularly for first-timers. Prioritizing outcomes over projects is crucial when developing your plans.

We've tailored a list of OKRs examples for It Security to help you. You can look at any of the templates below to get some inspiration for your own goals.

If you want to learn more about the framework, you can read our OKR guide online.

Building your own It Security 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 It Security OKRs examples

You'll find below a list of Objectives and Key Results templates for It Security. We also included strategic projects for each template to make it easier to understand the difference between key results and projects.

Hope you'll find this helpful!

1. OKRs to fully integrate Abnormal Security tool in SecOps ecosystem with IT partnership

Fully integrate Abnormal Security tool in SecOps ecosystem with IT partnership
Eliminate 75% of detected security threats using the Abnormal Security tool by term end
Use Abnormal Security tool to neutralize threats
Identify and analyze detected security threats
Complete training on Abnormal Security tool
Achieve 90% Abnormal Security tool deployment across all IT infrastructure within quarter
Identify systems not yet using the Abnormal Security tool
Develop a staggered implementation schedule for all remaining infrastructure
Monitor and report on deployment progress weekly
Conduct 3 collaborative training sessions to foster seamless use and understanding among SecOps team
Prepare training materials and exercises
Schedule 3 collaborative training sessions
Determine training topics relevant to SecOps team

Implement this OKR

2. OKRs to upgrade and streamline physical security operations

Upgrade and streamline physical security operations
Increase security coverage by 20% through additional surveillance systems
Investigate current surveillance system capabilities and limitations
Implement new surveillance systems accordingly
Research and identify potential additional surveillance technology
Decrease response times to security incidents by 25%
Implement a digital security management system with 100% staff training completion
Track and achieve 100% training completion
Choose a comprehensive digital security management system
Develop an all-staff training curriculum for the system

physical-security employee-training security-manager it-administrator physical-security-team it-support-team

Implement this OKR

3. OKRs to enhance the organization's information technology efficiency and security

Enhance the organization's information technology efficiency and security
Increase IT systems uptime to 99.9% across all operations
Introduce proactive system performance monitoring
Regularly update and patch all software systems
Implement robust and diverse backup servers for essential systems
Implement multi-factor authentication for 90% of users to enhance security
Guide users through the multi-factor adoption process
Choose a suitable multi-factor authentication system
Identify and classify users based on access levels and security requirements
Decrease system-related user complaints by 30% through proactive IT support improvements
Enhance technical troubleshooting protocols
Implement continuous monitoring for system performance
Develop comprehensive IT support training programs

information-technology security it-operations-manager it-support-specialist it-operations-team it-support-team

Implement this OKR

4. OKRs to implement and maintain SOCII compliance measures

Ensure ongoing SOCII compliance
Conduct regular testing and auditing to assess SOCII compliance status
Train and educate all relevant teams on SOCII compliance regulations and best practices
Monitor and promptly address any SOCII compliance gaps or violations identified
Establish a dedicated team to promptly address and resolve any identified SOCII compliance issues
Implement corrective measures to address identified SOCII compliance gaps promptly
Conduct regular audits to identify any SOCII compliance gaps or violations
Maintain a vigilant monitoring system to detect any new SOCII compliance violations
Implement and maintain necessary controls and processes to meet SOCII requirements
Conduct initial assessment of current controls and processes to identify gaps
Develop and document new controls and processes to fulfill SOCII requirements
Regularly monitor and evaluate controls and processes to ensure ongoing compliance
Train and educate employees on the importance and execution of SOCII controls

socii-compliance information-security-controls compliance-officer it-security-manager compliance-team it-security-team

Implement this OKR

5. OKRs to strengthen the company's network security defenses

Strengthen the company's network security defenses
Train 90% of employees on new network security protocols within the next quarter
Assess current understanding of network security protocols among employees
Implement training, ensuring participation of at least 90% of employees
Develop comprehensive training program on new security protocols
Implement two-factor authentication for all user accounts by the end of next quarter
Purchase and set up chosen authentication system
Train users on new authentication system
Research best two-factor authentication systems for our needs
Reduce the number of detected security breaches by 80% compared to last quarter
Implement an updated, top-quality cybersecurity system
Provide comprehensive cybersecurity training for all staff
Conduct regular, intensive IT security audits

network-security two-factor-authentication network-security-officer it-training-coordinator it-security-team hr-training-team

Implement this OKR

6. OKRs to enhance physical security capabilities for premise protection

Enhance physical security capabilities for premise protection
Train 90% of security personnel on new security equipment usage
Identify and list all security personnel requiring training
Track and record training participation and completion
Schedule training sessions on new equipment
Implement surveillance system covering 100% of the premise area
Test system thoroughly and adjust as necessary
Identify blind spots and areas requiring camera installation
Purchase and install necessary surveillance equipment
Achieve zero security breaches in the test run of new measures
Conduct frequent security audits and vulnerability assessments
Implement strict access controls and authentication protocols
Regularly update and patch all security software and systems

physical-security-enhancements premises-protection security-personnel it-support-staff security-team it-infrastructure-team

Implement this OKR

7. OKRs to seamless integration and deployment of Productiv SaaS application

Seamless integration and deployment of Productiv SaaS application
Identify and reduce shadow IT instances by 25% using the Productiv app
Assemble team to identify current shadow IT instances
Establish plan to reduce shadow IT by 25%
Utilize Productiv app for IT management analysis
Validate Productiv SaaS's compatibility with our systems by the end of week 1
Execute a small-scale compatibility test using Productiv SaaS
Identify our system's requirements and Productiv SaaS's specifications
Analyze test results and articulate findings
Successfully train 90% of the IT team on managing the Productiv SaaS application
Identify key features in the Productiv SaaS application for training focus
Develop comprehensive training program for IT team members
Monitor and evaluate training progress and effectiveness

productiv-saas-application shadow-it it-manager it-system-analyst it-security-team it-training-team

Implement this OKR

8. OKRs to maintain up-to-date security patches on our infrastructure

Maintain up-to-date security patches on our infrastructure
Assess and catalog current state of security patches within two weeks
Create a comprehensive catalog of findings
Identify all systems and software requiring security updates
Verify and document the existing security patches
Implement 100% of identified necessary security updates by quarter's end
Develop and execute a schedule for updates
Complete and verify each security update
Identify all required security updates
Develop and initiate routine weekly checks to confirm security patch updates
Establish routine checks for these updates
Identify necessary security patches weekly
Implement and confirm successful patch updates

security-patches infrastructure-maintenance it-manager system-administrator it-security systems-management-team

Implement this OKR

9. OKRs to improve Identity Access Management for large scale clients

Improve Identity Access Management for large scale clients
Reduce access credential errors by 20%
Introduce regular password update reminders for employees
Implement a comprehensive access credential training program
Upgrade access security software to reduce login errors
Implement two-factor authentication for 90% of big customers
Deploy system to selected clients
Develop and test two-factor authentication system
Identify 90% of biggest clients requiring two-factor authentication
Increase security incident response speed by 30%
Train staff in faster threat identification procedures
Implement automated threat detection and response tools
Streamline incident reporting and escalation processes

identity-access-management two-factor-authentication security-manager it-administrator security-team it-operations-team

Implement this OKR

10. 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

cybersecurity incidents security-analyst it-manager security-team it-team

Implement this OKR

11. OKRs to enhance proactive investigation through expanded log analysis

Enhance proactive investigation through expanded log analysis
Lower the average response time to identified threats by 20%
Seek professional consultation on response strategy
Implement advanced threat detection software
Train staff to swiftly respond to threats
Train the team on the new tool to improve threat identification by 40%
Organize a comprehensive training session on the new tool
Measure improvements in threat identification post-training
Select team members to participate in threat identification training
Implement advance log analysis tool to automatically identify and flag potential threats
Research and select an advanced log analysis tool
Train IT team on threat identification and response
Install and configure the chosen tool

log-analysis threat-identification it-analyst security-consultant it-team security-team

Implement this OKR

12. 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

cybersecurity compliance it-security-manager compliance-officer it-security-team compliance-team

Implement this OKR

13. OKRs to implement network DLP to limit disruption and data loss

Implement network DLP to limit disruption and data loss
Increase DLP coverage across all critical systems by 60%
Regularly review and update DLP protection strategy
Implement DLP solutions on identified systems
Identify all critical systems lacking DLP protection
Ensure 80% of employees are trained in DLP policy compliance by end of quarter
Identify employees needing DLP policy training
Monitor and record employees' training progress
Schedule mandatory DLP compliance training sessions
Reduce data security incidents by 40% with DLP integration
Implement DLP software across all company systems
Train employees on data loss prevention practices
Continually monitor and update DLP systems as needed

data-loss-prevention employee-training it-security-manager hr-manager it-security-team human-resources-team

Implement this OKR

14. OKRs to improve website security through effective deployment of content security policy

Improve website security through effective deployment of content security policy
Reduce the number of security breaches and incidents related to content vulnerabilities
Develop and implement comprehensive content security policies and guidelines
Regularly update and patch content management systems and software to mitigate security risks
Provide ongoing training and awareness programs to educate employees about content vulnerabilities
Conduct regular security audits to identify and address content vulnerabilities
Increase overall security rating of the website as measured by independent security auditing tools
Implement SSL/TLS certificates to enable secure HTTPS communication for the website
Conduct penetration tests to identify and fix potential weak points in the website's security
Implement strong and unique passwords, two-factor authentication, and regular user access reviews
Regularly update and patch all software and plugins to address known vulnerabilities
Implement and activate content security policy across all website pages
Define and document the content security policy guidelines and restrictions
Conduct a thorough website audit to identify potential security vulnerabilities
Test and validate the implemented content security policy for effectiveness and accuracy
Modify website code to include the content security policy header on all pages
Enhance user experience by minimizing false positive alerts from the content security policy
Implement machine learning algorithms to optimize content security policy detection
Analyze log data to identify patterns and fine-tune alert triggers
Review and update content security policy rules for better accuracy
Collaborate with developers to eliminate false positives through code improvements

website-security content-security-policy security-manager web-developer it-security-team web-development-team

Implement this OKR

15. OKRs to implement and maintain a comprehensive data protection program

Strengthen data protection program
Ensure compliance with relevant data protection laws and regulations
Regularly review and update data protection practices
Develop and implement policies and procedures for compliance
Identify all applicable data protection regulations
Train employees on data protection laws and regulations
Conduct a thorough risk assessment and mitigation plan
create contingency plan
develop mitigation strategies
assess likelihood and impact
identify potential risks
Implement regular employee training and awareness programs
Schedule regular training sessions
Identify training needs and design a program
Evaluate program effectiveness and make necessary improvements
Encourage employee participation and reward progress
Regularly review and update data protection policies and procedures
Train employees on updated policies and procedures
Document all data protection policies and procedures
Regularly audit adherence to policies and procedures
Assign responsibility for policy and procedure review and updates

data-protection compliance data-protection-officer it-security-analyst data-protection-team it-security-team

Implement this OKR

It Security 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's audit dashboard will highlight opportunities to improve OKRs

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's check-ins will save you hours and increase transparency

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 It Security OKRs in a strategy map

Your quarterly OKRs should be tracked weekly in order to get all the benefits of the OKRs 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

Most teams should start with a spreadsheet if they're using OKRs for the first time. Then, once you get comfortable you can graduate to a proper OKRs-tracking tool.

Tability's Strategy Map makes it easy to see all your org's OKRs

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 It Security OKR templates

We have more templates to help you draft your team goals and OKRs.

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.

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