A task dependency is a relationship where one task must start, finish, or reach a certain state before another task can proceed. In project planning, dependencies help define the real order of work instead of just listing tasks side by side. They are especially important when a delay, failure, or change in one step can affect the entire schedule.
In cyber security, task dependencies shape incident response, patching, access changes, and system hardening. For example, log collection may need to happen before containment decisions, or identity updates may need approval before privileged access is granted. Attackers also exploit dependencies by chaining actions together, such as phishing to credential theft to lateral movement. Defenders use dependency mapping to spot single points of failure, prevent unsafe change sequences, and make sure automation does not trigger the next step too early. Clear dependencies reduce mistakes, improve recovery, and help teams see where a weak link can turn into a security event.