Overview

The SECURE Cybersecurity Model provides a specialized framework for evaluating cybersecurity solutions and vendors. This comprehensive approach ensures that security investments deliver maximum protection while maintaining operational efficiency and compliance.

Cybersecurity evaluation requires specialized criteria that go beyond traditional technology assessment. The SECURE model addresses the unique challenges of security solution evaluation, including threat landscape alignment, compliance requirements, and operational security considerations.

Framework Components

S - Security

30%

Evaluates core security capabilities, threat protection, detection and response capabilities, and security architecture.

Evaluation Criteria:

  • Core security capabilities and features
  • Threat detection and prevention
  • Incident response and forensics
  • Security architecture and design
  • Vulnerability management

E - Enterprise Integration

20%

Assesses integration with existing security infrastructure, SIEM compatibility, and enterprise security ecosystem alignment.

Evaluation Criteria:

  • SIEM and security tool integration
  • API and connector capabilities
  • Identity and access management integration
  • Network and infrastructure compatibility
  • Data flow and processing integration

C - Compliance

20%

Evaluates regulatory compliance capabilities, audit support, reporting features, and compliance framework alignment.

Evaluation Criteria:

  • Regulatory compliance (GDPR, HIPAA, SOX, etc.)
  • Industry standards alignment (ISO 27001, NIST)
  • Audit trail and logging capabilities
  • Compliance reporting and dashboards
  • Certification and attestation support

U - Usability

15%

Assesses user experience, ease of use, training requirements, and operational efficiency for security teams.

Evaluation Criteria:

  • User interface and experience design
  • Ease of configuration and management
  • Training and onboarding requirements
  • Operational efficiency and workflow
  • Documentation and support quality

R - Risk

10%

Analyzes risk management capabilities, threat intelligence, risk assessment features, and risk mitigation strategies.

Evaluation Criteria:

  • Risk assessment and scoring
  • Threat intelligence integration
  • Risk monitoring and alerting
  • Risk mitigation recommendations
  • Business impact analysis

E - Economics

5%

Evaluates cost-effectiveness, total cost of ownership, ROI, and economic value proposition of the security solution.

Evaluation Criteria:

  • Total cost of ownership (TCO)
  • Return on security investment (ROSI)
  • Licensing and pricing model
  • Implementation and maintenance costs
  • Cost-benefit analysis

Implementation Process

1

Define Security Requirements

Establish security objectives, threat landscape, compliance requirements, and success criteria.

2

Assess Current Security Posture

Evaluate existing security infrastructure, identify gaps, and define integration requirements.

3

Conduct SECURE Evaluation

Evaluate cybersecurity solutions using the SECURE framework across all six dimensions.

4

Score and Rank Solutions

Calculate weighted scores and create solution ranking based on evaluation results.

5

Make Security Investment Decision

Select preferred solution and develop implementation and integration plan.

Scoring Methodology

Each SECURE component is scored on a scale of 1-10, with specific criteria for each score level. The final SECURE score is calculated using weighted averages:

Security: 30%
Enterprise Integration: 20%
Compliance: 20%
Usability: 15%
Risk: 10%
Economics: 5%

Note: Security capabilities receive the highest weight (30%) as they are the primary value driver for cybersecurity solutions.