In cybersecurity, 'grinding' refers to the persistent and repetitive attempts by attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems or data. This technique often involves systematically trying numerous password or key combinations, similar to brute-force attacks, but may also include repeated probing of system vulnerabilities. The goal is to wear down defenses over time, exploiting any weakness that appears. Grinding is resource-intensive and can be detected by monitoring for unusual patterns of repeated access attempts or failed logins. Organizations can defend against grinding by implementing strong authentication methods, rate limiting, and monitoring for suspicious activity.