The Cyber Defense Matrix is a strategic framework designed to organize and enhance cybersecurity practices by helping security teams identify gaps, align defenses, and build a robust cybersecurity strategy. Developed by Sounil Yu, it leverages the five operational functions of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework—Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover—mapped against asset types such as Devices, Apps, Networks, Data, and Users. This matrix facilitates a structured approach to cybersecurity, providing a clear format for categorizing assets, actions, and vulnerabilities, and enabling intentional decision-making. While the matrix itself does not directly solve cybersecurity issues, it offers a comprehensive structure for discussing strategic actions, guiding the implementation of security measures, and preparing organizations for potential cyber incidents. By incorporating additional layers, such as perspectives on threat actors and customers, the matrix helps create a holistic view of a company's cybersecurity landscape, emphasizing the importance of premeditated protocols and continuous evaluation of existing systems.