The privacy metric template adapted from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is designed as a foundational tool, not a rigid, one-size-fits-all solution. A key feature and core principle of NIST frameworks is their flexibility. The template is intended to be customized to fit the specific context, privacy objectives, risk appetite, and legal requirements of an individual organization. This adaptability ensures that the metrics developed are relevant, meaningful, and effective for monitoring the organization's unique privacy program.

A. While the template includes fields for measurement methods, its primary characteristic emphasized in privacy program management is its adaptability, not just its instructional content.

C. NIST frameworks and associated materials are updated periodically based on evolving technology and risks, not on a strict annual schedule tied to government policy changes.

D. The NIST template is designed for broad applicability across various sectors, including U.S. federal agencies and private entities, not exclusively for those with international operations.

1. Densmore

R. (2019). Privacy Program Management: Tools for Managing Privacy Within Your Organization (Third Edition). International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). In Chapter 7

"Measure

" the section on "Metrics" explicitly states

"The template is intended to be tailored to the organization’s particular needs." (p. 238).

2. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). (2020). NIST Privacy Framework: A Tool for Improving Privacy through Enterprise Risk Management

Version 1.0. The introduction emphasizes the framework's voluntary and flexible nature

stating it can be "customized by different sectors and individual organizations to best suit their needs and goals." (p. v).

3. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). (2017). NISTIR 8062: An Introduction to Privacy Engineering and Risk Management in Federal Systems. Section 3.3

"Performance Measurement

" discusses developing metrics that are relevant to an organization's specific mission and objectives

which inherently requires tailoring the approach.