Deployment context is the real environment where software operates: the data it can access, the users who interact with it, its permissions, connected services, and the workflows it supports. A model or application may behave differently in production than in a lab because these surrounding conditions change what it can see and do.
Context matters in cybersecurity because risks often arise at the boundaries between software, data, and access rights. For example, an AI system connected to internal documents or business tools may expose sensitive information or take actions if its integrations or permissions are poorly controlled. Defenders should test the complete system in its intended environment, review trust boundaries, and apply least privilege. A benchmark can inform that review, but cannot substitute for testing the actual deployment.