12 Most Important ISO 17025 KPIs


The top KPIs for ISO 17025 implementation are critical in evaluating the technical competence and quality of testing and calibration laboratories. They measure the accuracy, consistency, and reliability of test and calibration results.

These metrics help laboratories in maintaining high-quality standards, complying with regulatory requirements, and ensuring customer trust.

This article showcases the Most Critical 12 KPIs for ISO 17025 and Associated Benchmarks.

1. Data Integrity Error Rate

Data Integrity Error Rate is a critical KPI that measures the accuracy and reliability of data across systems.

High error rates can lead to misguided strategic alignment and poor data-driven decision making, ultimately affecting financial health. Organizations with robust data integrity practices can enhance operational efficiency and improve ROI metrics.

By minimizing errors, businesses can better forecast outcomes and track results effectively. Learn more about the Data Integrity Error Rate KPI.

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We have 4 benchmarks for this KPI available in our database.

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What is the standard formula?
(Number of Data Integrity Errors / Total Data Processed) * 100


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2. Data Security Breach Frequency

Data Security Breach Frequency serves as a critical performance indicator for organizations, highlighting the frequency of unauthorized access to sensitive data.

A high breach frequency can compromise financial health, erode customer trust, and lead to regulatory penalties. Organizations must track results closely, as frequent breaches indicate weak operational efficiency and inadequate risk management strategies.

By benchmarking against industry standards, businesses can identify vulnerabilities and improve their data protection measures. Learn more about the Data Security Breach Frequency KPI.

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We have 4 benchmarks for this KPI available in our database.

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What is the standard formula?
Total Number of Data Security Breaches / Time Period


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3. Data Confidentiality Breach Incidents

Data Confidentiality Breach Incidents serve as a critical performance indicator for assessing an organization's data security posture.

A high frequency of breaches can lead to significant financial penalties, reputational damage, and loss of customer trust. Tracking these incidents allows executives to gauge the effectiveness of their data protection strategies and compliance with regulatory requirements.

By benchmarking against industry standards, organizations can identify vulnerabilities and improve their overall data governance. Learn more about the Data Confidentiality Breach Incidents KPI.

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We have 12 benchmarks for this KPI available in our database.

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What is the standard formula?
Total Number of Confidentiality Breach Incidents

4. Data Backup Completion Rate

Data Backup Completion Rate is a critical performance indicator that reflects an organization's ability to safeguard its data assets.

High completion rates ensure operational efficiency and mitigate risks associated with data loss, which can lead to significant financial repercussions. This KPI directly influences business outcomes such as compliance with regulations, customer trust, and overall financial health.

By tracking this metric, organizations can make data-driven decisions that enhance their strategic alignment and improve their ROI metrics. Learn more about the Data Backup Completion Rate KPI.

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We have 3 benchmarks for this KPI available in our database.

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What is the standard formula?
(Number of Successful Data Backups / Total Number of Data Backups Attempted) * 100


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5. Data Recovery Success Rate

Data Recovery Success Rate is a critical performance indicator that measures the effectiveness of an organization’s data recovery efforts.

It directly influences operational efficiency and financial health by ensuring that data is restored quickly and accurately after incidents. High recovery rates can lead to improved business outcomes, such as reduced downtime and enhanced customer trust.

Conversely, low rates may result in significant financial losses and reputational damage. Learn more about the Data Recovery Success Rate KPI.

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We have 1 benchmark for this KPI available in our database.

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What is the standard formula?
(Number of Successful Data Recoveries / Total Data Recovery Attempts) * 100


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6. Compliance with Data Retention Policies

Compliance with Data Retention Policies is crucial for mitigating legal risks and ensuring operational efficiency.

Adhering to these policies influences business outcomes such as data integrity, regulatory compliance, and overall financial health. Organizations that effectively manage data retention can enhance their reporting dashboard, leading to improved data-driven decision-making.

This KPI serves as a performance indicator, allowing executives to track results and align strategies with compliance requirements. Learn more about the Compliance with Data Retention Policies KPI.

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We have 2 benchmarks for this KPI available in our database.

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What is the standard formula?
(Number of Data Sets Retained in Compliance / Total Number of Data Sets Required to be Retained) * 100

7. Data Governance Policy Adherence Rate

Data Governance Policy Adherence Rate is a crucial KPI that reflects an organization's commitment to data integrity and compliance.

High adherence rates enhance operational efficiency, reduce risks associated with data breaches, and improve overall financial health. Companies with robust data governance frameworks often experience better decision-making and strategic alignment across departments.

This metric serves as a leading indicator of an organization's ability to manage data effectively, ultimately influencing business outcomes. Learn more about the Data Governance Policy Adherence Rate KPI.

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We have 3 benchmarks for this KPI available in our database.

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What is the standard formula?
(Number of Data Governance Standards Met / Total Number of Data Governance Standards) * 100

8. Data Processing Accuracy

Data Processing Accuracy is crucial for ensuring reliable insights that drive operational efficiency and strategic alignment.

High accuracy minimizes errors, enhances forecasting accuracy, and ultimately supports better financial health. Organizations that prioritize this KPI can expect improved decision-making and stronger business outcomes.

By maintaining a target threshold, companies can track results effectively and optimize their performance indicators. Learn more about the Data Processing Accuracy KPI.

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We have 4 benchmarks for this KPI available in our database.

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What is the standard formula?
(Number of Accurately Processed Data Points / Total Data Points Processed) * 100

9. Data Availability Rate

Data Availability Rate is crucial for ensuring that decision-makers have timely access to reliable data, which directly influences operational efficiency and strategic alignment.

High data availability supports effective forecasting accuracy and enhances business intelligence capabilities. Conversely, low availability can hinder performance indicators and lead to poor financial health.

Organizations that prioritize this KPI can improve their reporting dashboard and management reporting processes, ultimately driving better business outcomes. Learn more about the Data Availability Rate KPI.

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We have 6 benchmarks for this KPI available in our database.

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What is the standard formula?
(Time Data is Available / Total Planned Data Availability Time) * 100


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10. Data Retrieval Time

Data Retrieval Time is a critical performance indicator that reflects the efficiency of data access across systems.

It directly influences operational efficiency, management reporting, and data-driven decision-making. A shorter retrieval time enhances analytical insight, allowing organizations to respond swiftly to market changes.

Conversely, prolonged retrieval times can hinder strategic alignment and delay critical business outcomes. Learn more about the Data Retrieval Time KPI.

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We have 6 benchmarks for this KPI available in our database.

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What is the standard formula?
Total Time for Data Retrieval / Total Number of Retrievals

11. Data Cleansing Cycle Time

Data Cleansing Cycle Time is a critical KPI that measures the efficiency of data quality processes.

It directly influences operational efficiency, reporting accuracy, and strategic alignment across the organization. A shorter cycle time indicates effective data management practices, enabling timely and data-driven decision-making.

Conversely, prolonged cycle times can lead to increased errors and misinformed business outcomes. Learn more about the Data Cleansing Cycle Time KPI.

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We have 2 benchmarks for this KPI available in our database.

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What is the standard formula?
Total Time for Data Cleansing / Total Number of Data Sets Cleansed


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12. Data Analysis Turnaround Time

Data Analysis Turnaround Time is critical for organizations aiming to enhance operational efficiency and drive data-driven decision-making.

A swift turnaround enables timely reporting dashboards, which can significantly impact financial health and strategic alignment. By minimizing delays in data analysis, companies can better track results and improve forecasting accuracy.

This KPI influences key business outcomes, such as ROI metrics and management reporting effectiveness. Learn more about the Data Analysis Turnaround Time KPI.

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We have 2 benchmarks for this KPI available in our database.

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What is the standard formula?
Total Time for Data Analysis / Total Number of Analyses


These 12 KPIs were selected from the ISO 17025 KPI database to provide a balanced view of data quality, security, and operational resilience. They cover leading indicators like Data Integrity Error Rate and Data Processing Accuracy, alongside lagging measures such as Data Security Breach Frequency and Data Recovery Success Rate. This subset spans compliance, governance, and performance dimensions critical to ISO 17025 data management.

Track Data Integrity Error Rate alongside Data Processing Accuracy—divergence between these indicates gaps in validation or cleansing processes. Monitor Data Backup Completion Rate in conjunction with Data Recovery Success Rate; a high backup rate with low recovery success signals weaknesses in restoration protocols. Data Governance Policy Adherence Rate correlates with Compliance with Data Retention Policies, where misalignment suggests policy enforcement issues rather than policy design flaws.

Prioritize implementing Data Integrity Error Rate and Data Backup Completion Rate first, as these KPIs rely on readily available operational data and quickly reveal systemic risks. Follow with Data Recovery Success Rate to validate backup effectiveness under failure conditions. The full ISO 17025 KPI set, including more granular and advanced metrics, is accessible in the KPI Depot database.

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Related Best Practices


These best practice documents below are available for individual purchase from Flevy , the largest knowledge base of business frameworks, templates, and financial models available online.


KPI Depot (formerly the Flevy KPI Library) is a comprehensive, fully searchable database of over 20,000+ KPIs and 30,000+ benchmarks. Each KPI is documented with 12 practical attributes that take you from definition to real-world application (definition, business insights, measurement approach, formula, trend analysis, diagnostics, tips, visualization ideas, risk warnings, tools & tech, integration points, and change impact).

KPI categories span every major corporate function and more than 150+ industries, giving executives, analysts, and consultants an instant, plug-and-play reference for building scorecards, dashboards, and data-driven strategies.

Our team is constantly expanding our KPI database and benchmarks database.

Got a question? Email us at support@kpidepot.com.



Each KPI in our knowledge base includes 12 attributes.

KPI Definition

A clear explanation of what the KPI measures

Potential Business Insights

The typical business insights we expect to gain through the tracking of this KPI

Measurement Approach

An outline of the approach or process followed to measure this KPI

Standard Formula

The standard formula organizations use to calculate this KPI

Trend Analysis

Insights into how the KPI tends to evolve over time and what trends could indicate positive or negative performance shifts

Diagnostic Questions

Questions to ask to better understand your current position is for the KPI and how it can improve

Actionable Tips

Practical, actionable tips for improving the KPI, which might involve operational changes, strategic shifts, or tactical actions

Visualization Suggestions

Recommended charts or graphs that best represent the trends and patterns around the KPI for more effective reporting and decision-making

Risk Warnings

Potential risks or warnings signs that could indicate underlying issues that require immediate attention

Tools & Technologies

Suggested tools, technologies, and software that can help in tracking and analyzing the KPI more effectively

Integration Points

How the KPI can be integrated with other business systems and processes for holistic strategic performance management

Change Impact

Explanation of how changes in the KPI can impact other KPIs and what kind of changes can be expected


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