Best Indicator of an Effective IT Security Awareness Program

D.

The BEST indicator of an effective IT security awareness program would be option D, which is a decreased number of reported security incidents. This is because an effective security awareness program should empower employees to recognize and report security incidents promptly, and take necessary measures to prevent them.

Option A, which is decreased success rate of internal phishing tests, is a possible indicator of an effective security awareness program. However, this may not be the best indicator, as it only measures employees' ability to identify phishing emails and does not necessarily reflect their overall security awareness.

Option B, which is the number of employees that complete security training, may not be a reliable indicator of an effective security awareness program. Completion of training does not guarantee that employees have retained the information, applied it in practice, or are aware of emerging security threats.

Option C, which is the number of disciplinary actions issued for security violations, is not necessarily a good indicator of an effective security awareness program. While disciplinary actions can serve as a deterrent to security violations, they do not reflect employees' understanding of the security policies and practices.

In conclusion, an effective security awareness program should result in a decrease in reported security incidents, as this indicates that employees are better equipped to recognize and prevent security incidents.