Retrospective mapping is the practice of comparing a past cyber incident with a security framework or standard to identify possible gaps in controls, governance, or recovery planning. It can help organize lessons about areas such as network segmentation, remote access, asset visibility, and incident response.
In cybersecurity, this method is useful for turning an incident into practical questions for defenders. But a framework comparison is an analytical lens, not forensic proof: it cannot by itself establish what caused an event, who was responsible, or whether a missing control would have prevented it. Analysts should distinguish documented evidence from inferred gaps and use the findings to guide control reviews and recovery exercises.