What is a cybersecurity posture?

A cybersecurity posture refers to the overall state of an organization's cybersecurity readiness and strategy. It encompasses the collective capabilities and strategies that an organization has implemented to protect its information and systems from cyber threats. This includes an assessment of existing security controls, awareness of vulnerabilities, incident response plans, and the organization’s approach to risk management.

By having a strong cybersecurity posture, an organization is better positioned to anticipate, withstand, and recover from potential cyber incidents. It reflects how well-prepared an organization is to handle cyber threats and protect its assets. Other factors, such as the number of breaches, the duration of protection for systems, or financial investments in security technologies, are important but are components or consequences of the organization's overarching cybersecurity posture rather than defining it.