Table of Contents
Introduction
Are you defining or restructuring your cyber security operating model and looking for a framework to help shape clear governance, accountability and delivery structures?
Our Target Operating Model (TOM) Resource provides a structured approach to designing, assessing and implementing a fit-for-purpose cyber security operating model which is aligned to your business strategy, risk appetite and long-term security objectives.
The Challenge
Many organisations struggle to articulate how cyber security should operate across teams, oversight bodies, and business functions. As a result:
- Roles and responsibilities are unclear, leading to accountability gaps.
- Governance structures are inconsistent, limiting executive oversight.
- Reporting lines are blurred, making it difficult to manage risk effectively.
- Resourcing decisions lack structure, resulting in inefficiency or duplication.
A well-designed Target Operating Model addresses these challenges by defining the governance, structures and ways of working needed to deliver and continuously improve your cyber capabilities.
What is a Cyber Target Operating Model?
A Cyber Target Operating Model (TOM) sets out how your organisation delivers cyber security which covers governance, accountability, reporting and delivery models across all major capability areas.
It provides a structured blueprint that defines:
- Governance: the oversight bodies, committees and decision-making processes that guide cyber strategy.
- Accountability: who owns which responsibilities and decisions across the three lines of defence.
- Reporting: how cyber metrics and risk information flow to executives and the board.
- Delivery Model: how cyber capabilities are provided, and whether they are in-house, outsourced, or hybrid.
- Organisational Design: how to structure the security function to deliver long-term maturity.
The TOM enables you to establish a clear, scalable model for cyber capability delivery that can evolve with your organisation’s maturity and threat landscape.
Why Use a Cyber Target Operating Model?
✅ Strategic Clarity: defines exactly how cyber security operates across governance, delivery and assurance layers.
✅ Stronger Accountability: aligns responsibilities to specific roles using an accountability framework (RACI), ensuring ownership and transparency.
✅ Effective Oversight: maps reporting lines and committee structures so senior leadership receives the right information at the right time.
✅ Operational Consistency: aligns teams, functions, and providers under a single, coherent delivery model.
✅ Long-Term Sustainability: supports organisational design and resourcing plans to scale cyber capabilities as maturity increases.
✅ Evidence for Assurance: provides a documented, defensible model that demonstrates how governance and compliance are achieved in practice.
How a Cyber Target Operating Model Works
Designing and implementing a TOM typically involves six structured steps:
- Define the Scope: determine which cyber domains, teams, and functions the model will include.
- Assess Current State: review existing governance, reporting, and delivery mechanisms to identify strengths and weaknesses.
- Develop Governance & Accountability Frameworks: establish oversight groups, define decision rights, and assign responsibilities (RACI).
- Design the Delivery Model: determine how each cyber capability (e.g. risk management, identity, resilience, vulnerability management) will be delivered and supported.
- Develop the Organisational Design: create a structure with clear sub-functions, reporting lines, and team roles aligned to capability needs.
- Create the Transition Plan: outline how to move from current to target state, including implementation steps, approvals, and communications.
Benefits of a Cyber Target Operating Model
🎯 Executive Clarity: provides a single, integrated view of how cyber security operates across the organisation. Executives can see where governance sits, how risks are managed, and how the security function supports strategic objectives.
🚨 Enhanced Governance: defines the roles, committees and oversight structures needed to manage cyber risk effectively. Ensures leadership receives the right insights, at the right cadence, to make informed decisions.
🛡️ Clear Accountability: eliminates ambiguity by explicitly defining who owns each responsibility, such as risk acceptance and incident response, fostering transparency and ownership at every level.
🏗️ Stronger Foundations for Growth: establishes a model that scales with the organisation’s maturity, ensuring cyber capabilities evolve as the business grows and technology landscapes change.
🔍 Improved Assurance and Compliance: creates a defensible framework that demonstrates governance maturity to regulators, auditors and stakeholders. Aligns with ISO and NCSC principles for cyber governance.
🚀 Operational Efficiency and Resilience: streamlines communication between cyber, IT and business units, reducing overlap and improving response times. Supports efficient delivery of controls and resilience programmes.
🤝 Confidence and Trust: reassures boards, regulators and partners that cyber security is being managed strategically, with governance, accountability and delivery working hand-in-hand.
What Next?
Download our free, editable Cyber Target Operating Model (TOM) template, complete with example structures, governance models and accountability frameworks to help you design your organisation’s cyber operating model.
No email required.
Use it to:
- Define how cyber security operates across governance and delivery layers.
- Clarify ownership and accountability across all capabilities.
- Build a scalable, mature, and effective security function.
Any questions? Get in touch and we’d be happy to help you tailor your operating model to your organisation.
