What is a security rating?
A security rating is a letter-and-number score that reflects an organization's cybersecurity posture based on externally observable data.
TL;DR
- A security rating grades how strong a company's cybersecurity posture looks from the outside — typically a letter grade A–D plus a numeric score.
- It is derived from analysis of digital assets exposed on the internet — no access or questionnaires needed.
- Ratings are used for vendor due diligence, continuous monitoring, and board-level reporting.
Short definition
A security rating is a measurable score that assesses how strong a company's cybersecurity posture looks from the outside — usually expressed as a letter grade from A to D plus a numeric score — derived from analysis of digital assets exposed on the internet.
How does a security rating work?
A security rating works like a credit score: it turns thousands of externally observable security signals — TLS configuration, email security, open ports, darknet exposure, and more — into a single value that management can understand. Assessments are objective, data-driven, and can be tracked over time.
For companies managing many vendors, security ratings provide a fast way to compare third-party risk without waiting for questionnaires or audits. A rating does not replace internal audits; it is a consistent, re-verifiable first indicator.
What are some practical examples?
- A bank reviews a payment vendor's security rating before signing an outsourcing contract.
- A procurement team tracks monthly ratings of IT vendors to catch security declines early.
- An e-commerce company benchmarks its own rating against competitors.
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
Related terms
Get your free security rating
Run a free CyberRank security rating for any organisation and see the same vendor risk signals our customers use.
Get your free security rating