The survival, as well as the development, of Ukrainian enterprises largely depends on the ability to detect changes in the external environment and internal economic processes in a timely manner with the subsequent implementation of adaptation measures. The need for such steps is due to the fact that such changes may provoke threats that adversely affect the level of economic security of a particular enterprise. The formation of adaptive-oriented management system of economic security of the enterprise allows to identify such facts and apply appropriate protective measures, including the adaptation of both managed and control subsystems. To ensure the effectiveness of the actions of security actors, it is necessary to form and develop adaptation capacity. The purpose of the article is to characterize the essence of the concepts of "enterprise potential" and "adaptation potential" as a basis for determining the essence of adaptation potential as a component of adaptive-oriented management system of economic security of the enterprise. To outline the theoretical foundations of the formation of adaptation potential, the following methods were used: induction and deduction, comparison and systematization – in the study of the essential characteristics of the terms "enterprise potential" and "adaptation potential"; synthesis and analysis – to characterize the main approaches in the interpretation of the concept of "enterprise potential"; morphological analysis – to substantiate the parameters of adaptation potential in accordance with the types of adaptation; graphic – for visual presentation of theoretical and methodological material; abstract-logical – for theoretical generalizations and conclusions of the study. Based on the generalization of scientific work on the interpretation of the concepts of "enterprise potential" and "adaptation potential" formed his own approach, which differs in determining the place of adaptation potential in the adaptive-oriented management system of economic security. It is proposed to understand the adaptation potential, based on aspects of security activities, all available resources and opportunities that can be used to implement measures to adapt to the impact of internal and external threats arising from changing operating conditions, in accordance with the enterprise development strategy. improvement of management and control subsystems within the economic security management system as a basis for maintaining sustainability and ensuring development. The parameters of formation of adaptation potential ("maximum" and "minimum") according to the type of adaptation, which corresponds to the security policy and is consistent with the development strategy of the enterprise, are substantiated.