A maturity model provides a structured framework for assessing and benchmarking the current state of an organisation's compliance, security, or governance processes against defined levels of capability. Models such as CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration) and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework typically define five levels, ranging from initial or ad hoc practices through to optimised processes with continuous improvement mechanisms in place.
Maturity assessments help organisations identify gaps, prioritise improvement initiatives, and communicate progress to stakeholders in a consistent manner. They are particularly valuable for demonstrating year-over-year improvement to boards, auditors, and regulators, and for benchmarking against industry peers to ensure the organisation's security posture keeps pace with evolving threats and regulatory expectations.