Working capital is the cash a business needs to keep operating day to day. It is often tied up in inventory, supplier payments, payroll, and other short-term obligations. In practice, it measures how much liquidity is left after near-term liabilities are covered by current assets such as cash, receivables, and stock.
In cyber security, working capital matters because many attacks aim to interrupt cash flow or distort operational decisions. Ransomware can stop order processing or shipping, leaving inventory unsold and bills still due. Business email compromise and invoice fraud can redirect payments and drain liquidity. Compromised forecasting, ERP, or procurement systems can also cause excess stock or missed purchases, locking more cash into the wrong places. Defenders protect working capital by hardening financial workflows, validating payment changes, monitoring for fraud, and keeping business systems resilient enough to keep operations and cash moving.