What is an attack surface in cybersecurity?

An attack surface refers to the total number of entry points or vulnerabilities that an attacker could exploit to gain unauthorized access to a system or network. It encompasses all possible interactions an attacker might use to compromise a system. By understanding the attack surface, organizations can better identify the areas that need protection and prioritize their security measures accordingly.

While the number of security measures in place is vital for defending an organization, it does not directly define the attack surface itself. The budget allocated for cybersecurity is important for funding those security measures but is unrelated to the concept of what constitutes an attack surface. Lastly, the variety of devices connected to a network can influence the attack surface, but it doesn't define it. It is the entry points and vulnerabilities themselves that are fundamentally at the heart of the attack surface concept.