NIST Special Publication 800-55

Citation
NIST, Security Metrics Guide for Information Technology Systems (NIST Special Publication 800-55) (July 2003) ([csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-55-Rev1/SP800-55-rev1.pdf full-text]).

Overview
This document provides guidance on how an organization, through the use of metrics, identifies the adequacy of in-place security controls, policies, and procedures. It provides an approach to help management decide where to invest in additional security protection resources or identify and evaluate nonproductive controls. It explains the metric development and implementation process and how it can also be used to adequately justify security control investments. The results of an effective metric program can provide useful data for directing the allocation of information security resources and should simplify the preparation of performance-related reports.