What Is the Security Culture Maturity Model, and How Does It Benchmark Your Security Behavior and Culture Program?

Cyber threats exploit human error faster than most realize. According to the 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report by Ventures, the median time for a user to fall for a phishing email—clicking a malicious link and entering their data—is less than 60 seconds. This highlights how quickly attackers can bypass defenses when security awareness is lacking.

To counter this, organizations need a structured approach to shaping secure behaviors. The Security Culture Maturity Model (SCMM) provides a framework to assess, benchmark, and strengthen an organization’s security culture. When combined with a Security Behavior and Culture Program (SBCP), it helps organizations systematically reduce human risk by identifying weaknesses, reinforcing positive security behaviors, and tracking progress over time.

In this blog, we’ll explore what SCMM is, how it works, and why it’s a game-changer for organizations looking to reduce human risk in cybersecurity. We’ll also outline practical steps for implementing SCMM to drive lasting behavioral change.

What Is the Security Culture Maturity Model (SCMM)?

The Security Culture Maturity Model (SCMM) is a structured framework designed to evaluate and improve an organization’s security culture. It assesses key factors that shape cybersecurity awareness and behavior, including:

• Knowledge – Employees' understanding of cybersecurity risks and best practices
• Engagement – How actively employees participate in security initiatives
• Communication – The effectiveness of security messaging and information flow
• Accountability – The degree to which employees take responsibility for security practices
• Integration – How well security is embedded into daily operations and decision-making

Tune into the Keepnet Security Awareness Podcast on SCMM for expert insights on building and measuring a strong security culture.

Where Does SCMM Come From?

SCMM is rooted in well-established organizational and behavioral science principles, drawing from:

• Edgar Schein’s Organizational Culture Theory – Explains how workplace culture is shaped by shared values, beliefs, and behaviors at different levels, influencing security attitudes and practices.
• The COM-B Model (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation—Behavior) – Explains how human behavior is influenced by training, motivation, and environmental factors.
• Maturity Models (like CMMI) – Originally developed for software and business process optimization, now adapted to assess and improve security culture.

Although SCMM is not an official ISO standard, it aligns closely with frameworks like ISO 27001 and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), making it a practical and widely accepted approach to strengthening security culture.

How SCMM Works: A Practical Overview

The Security Culture Maturity Model (SCMM) helps organizations assess their security culture by categorizing them into five levels. Each level reflects how well employees understand and follow security practice

• Initial – Security is unstructured and reactive. Employees have little awareness of cyber risks and frequently make security mistakes.
• Developing – Some awareness exists, but employees do not consistently follow security best practices. Mistakes still happen regularly.
• Defined – Security policies and training programs are in place, and employees show improvement. However, security is still not a natural part of their daily routines.
• Managed – Security culture is proactive. Employees follow security best practices consistently, and the organization tracks measurable progress.
• Optimized – Security is deeply ingrained in the company’s culture. Employees actively promote security best practices and serve as security advocates.

By identifying its current maturity level, an organization can pinpoint weaknesses and develop a clear strategy to improve its security culture.

Why Use SCMM to Benchmark Your Security Behavior and Culture Program (SBCP)?

A Security Behavior and Culture Program (SBCP) helps organizations reduce cyber risks by encouraging secure behaviors. The Security Culture Maturity Model (SCMM) enhances this process by providing a structured way to measure and improve security culture. SCMM helps organizations by:

• Assessing the current state – Organizations can evaluate security awareness using data-driven methods like phishing simulations, incident reporting metrics, and employee surveys to identify strengths and weaknesses.
• Identifying security gaps – SCMM pinpoints areas where employees struggle with security, whether in awareness, training, communication, or policy adherence.
• Providing a structured roadmap – Organizations can use SCMM’s maturity levels to set clear goals for improving their security culture and guiding their SBCP initiatives.
• Tracking measurable progress – Companies can monitor key metrics such as phishing report rates, policy compliance, and incident response effectiveness to measure cultural improvements over time.

By using SCMM, organizations gain a clear path to strengthening their security culture, ensuring that security awareness translates into consistent, proactive behavior.

To explore more on developing a strong security culture, check out the Keepnet article on Building a Security-Conscious Corporate Culture: A Roadmap for Success.

How SCMM Improves Security Culture in Action

The Security Culture Maturity Model (SCMM) helps organizations transform how employees respond to security threats. Below is a comparison of how an employee might react to a cybersecurity threat before and after the organization has developed a mature security culture using SCMM.

Table 1: Employee Responses to Security Threats Before and After SCMM Implementation

By progressing through SCMM’s maturity levels, organizations turn security awareness into action, reducing cyber risks and fostering a culture where employees actively contribute to cybersecurity.

Implementing SCMM: A Step-by-Step Guide

To successfully integrate the Security Culture Maturity Model (SCMM) into your Security Behavior and Culture Program (SBCP), follow these four key steps:

• Assess – Evaluate your current security culture using surveys, behavioral analytics, phishing simulations, and incident data to identify strengths and weaknesses.
• Plan – Use SCMM’s maturity levels to set clear improvement goals and develop a structured roadmap tailored to your organization’s needs.
• Execute – Implement targeted initiatives such as phishing simulations, gamified security training, and employee recognition programs to encourage secure behaviors.
• Measure and Improve – Continuously track key security metrics (e.g., phishing report rates, training completion rates, security incidents) and adjust your strategy based on progress.

By following this structured approach, organizations can progress through SCMM’s maturity levels, transforming security culture from reactive to proactive.

Why SCMM Is Critical for Modern Security Challenges

One of the biggest challenges companies face is managing the human factor in security. Technology alone cannot prevent breaches—employees must consistently follow secure practices.

The Security Culture Maturity Model (SCMM) provides a structured, data-driven approach to assessing, improving, and sustaining a strong security culture. By integrating SCMM with your Security Behavior and Culture Program (SBCP), you can embed security into everyday operations, ensuring employees become proactive defenders rather than potential risks.