Vanta, a leading AI-powered trust management platform, has released its Trust Maturity Report, providing insights into the security programs of over 11,000 organizations. Aligned with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, the report identifies key factors driving security maturity while highlighting persistent challenges like budget constraints.
Vanta’s report maps security maturity across 11,000+ organizations using NIST CSF.
Risk assessments are critical, with 100% of Adaptive firms conducting them.
Budget constraints affect 67% of Repeatable and 35% of Adaptive organizations.
92% of advanced-tier firms monitor threats continuously with alerts.
AI adoption enhances efficiency, with 71% of Adaptive firms using it.
Trust and leadership alignment are key drivers of mature security programs.
The report categorizes organizations into four maturity tiers: Partial, Risk-Informed, Repeatable, and Adaptive. Partial organizations rely on ad hoc processes, while Risk-Informed teams formalize risk management inconsistently. Repeatable organizations maintain standardized practices, and Adaptive ones leverage automation and analytics for continuous optimization. Higher maturity correlates with stronger risk practices and resilience.
Risk assessments mark a significant divide between maturity tiers. Jadee Hanson, CISO at Vanta, stated, “Security maturity doesn’t happen by accident—it’s driven by deliberate, strategic investment in risk management, culture and ongoing incremental improvements to people, process, and technology.” Only 43% of Partial organizations conduct risk assessments, compared to 100% of Risk-Informed and higher-tier firms, driven by compliance and customer demands.
Incident preparedness is a clear maturity indicator. While 56% of Partial organizations have untested incident response plans and 12% have none, 92% of Repeatable and Adaptive organizations monitor threats continuously. Additionally, 100% of Repeatable firms have business continuity plans, 85% conduct regular drills, and 78% test plans frequently, ensuring robust response capabilities.
Adaptive organizations lead in AI integration, with 71% using it to streamline decision-making and align with frameworks like ISO 42001. AI reduces rework and enhances scalability, enabling mature firms to manage complex risk landscapes effectively. This contrasts with Partial organizations, which lag in AI adoption due to limited resources and processes.
Budget constraints remain a universal hurdle, affecting 48% of Partial, 66% of Risk-Informed, 67% of Repeatable, and 35% of Adaptive organizations. As maturity increases, challenges shift to implementing automation (20% for Adaptive) and securing executive alignment (15%), underscoring the need for strategic investment and collaboration.
Vanta’s Trust Maturity Report emphasizes that achieving security maturity is an ongoing process driven by risk assessments, AI adoption, and leadership alignment. Despite budget challenges, organizations that prioritize trust and strategic investments can build resilient, scalable security programs to navigate today’s complex risk landscape.
Vanta is the leading trust management platform that helps simplify and centralize security for organizations of all sizes. Over 11,000 companies including Atlassian, Duolingo, Icelandair, Ramp and Synthesia rely on Vanta to build, maintain and demonstrate their trust—all in a way that's real-time and transparent. Founded in 2018, Vanta has customers in 58 countries with offices in Dublin, London, New York, San Francisco and Sydney.
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