How can threat modeling help you identify health and safety risks?

Threat modeling is the cybersecurity guardian from the get-go, tackling potential security threats early in software development. It's not just tech talk, it's a vital strategy, bringing developers, security experts, and business minds together for a unified defense. Far from a one-and-done deal, threat modeling adapts to evolving cyber threats over time. Think of it like a blueprint, simplifying the complex landscape of risks for companies to build a robust defense. It's not just serious business. It's the proactive shield organizations need in the ever-changing world of cybersecurity.

Threat modelling is very important, especially in a sector like health and safety. Health issues are meant to be kept private except stated otherwise by the patient. If a hospital handling such data doesn't have a threat model, sooner or later, the information of the patients will be out for the whole world to see and read.

In my experience, navigating threat modeling in the workplace requires a compassionate approach. Start by fostering open communication to define the scope together, ensuring everyone's perspectives are considered. Identifying threats becomes a collective effort, acknowledging the diverse sources of potential harm. Assessing risks involves understanding each team member's exposure and vulnerability, creating a shared responsibility for risk mitigation. Implementing measures, like clear policies and collaborative contingency plans, ensures a resilient and supportive work environment. Remember, it's not just about safeguarding systems; it's about safeguarding the people within them.

Identifying Vulnerabilities: Assess systems and processes to pinpoint potential weaknesses or hazards in health and safety protocols. Risk Prioritization: Determine the severity of identified threats to prioritize health and safety risks based on their potential impact. Scenario Analysis: Use threat modeling to simulate potential incidents or accidents, aiding in understanding their implications on health and safety. Mitigation Strategies: Develop proactive measures and controls to address identified risks, enhancing health and safety preparedness. Continuous Improvement: Utilize insights from threat modeling to continually refine health and safety protocols, ensuring ongoing risk mitigation.

Threat modeling is a process in which we seek to have visibility into all threats that may affect the asset we want to protect. It is widely used for secure system development but has several applications. It is a tool to map each point where you can be attacked, the types of attack, existing and absent defenses.

Threat modeling can help you identify health and safety risks that may otherwise be overlooked, underestimated, or ignored. By using a structured and consistent framework, you can ensure that you cover all the relevant aspects and scenarios of your system or situation, & that you prioritize the most critical & urgent risks. Threat modeling can also help you communicate & collaborate with your stakeholders, such as managers, employees, regulators, (The Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria) customers, and create a shared understanding & responsibility for health & safety. Moreover, threat modeling can help you monitor and update your risk profile & mitigation strategies, as your system or situation evolves or changes over time.

Consider integration with the organizations safety management systems. Integrating threat modeling with existing safety management systems like HAZOP (Hazard and Operability Study) and FMEA (Failure Mode and Effect Analysis) , to create a more comprehensive and holistic approach to safety.

Integrate virtual reality simulations to model potential health and safety threats in a realistic environment. This immersive approach allows stakeholders to experience and analyze various scenarios, facilitating a deeper understanding of risks and enabling more effective preventive measures and response strategies.

Threat modeling involves using hypothetical scenarios, system diagrams, and testing to help secure systems and data in an organisation. Due to the ever increasing complexities of the technology landscape, more weaknesses or loopholes are being discovered by sometimes people who do not have the interests of organisations at heart. This is why companies and businesses need to stay on top of their game to keep their systems and other assets secured. Threat modeling is like being proactive at looking for loopholes and fixing them before they become power instruments in the hands of the wrong people.

Imagine that you are modeling a physical threat, you have a house in the countryside and you would like to prevent the entry of beings that could cause you harm. The first thing to do is understand all the entry points, from the main door, where a bear could enter, to a drain where a scorpion could access your home. After mapping the entry points, you map the threats that can attack you at each entry point, and then map the possible defenses for each entry point and which ones you already have. This way we can understand the risk according to each threat.

When I was working at ADNOC Sour Gas Shah plant with the highest ultra-sour gas operation worldwide, it was critical to ensure everyone’s safety. Our motto was to ensure 100% HSE, every employee felt safe to work there knowing that they will go back to their families safe and well. Thus, the management made sure that every risk scenario was taken into account and extreme mitigation tools/plans were set to achieve that goal. Such as: Inclusive safety inductions/awareness sessions, custom PPEs, H2S detectors, fire/H2S/chemical spills alarms, advanced protection equipments, fully equipped vehicles, shutters, oxygen tanks… etc Honestly, those extreme measures made me feel safe all the time in case of any incident which may occur!

Few good examples of threat modelling which can pose significant risks to health could be leakages in labs where we are dealing with hazardous chemicals or toxic agents as ingredients which could lead to contamination & spread of viruses to larger population, in this situation standards to HIPAA would be useful ..

Nowadays the best ways to threat modelling is by using AI in scenario based triggers via sensors at leakage points using an aggregator risk view for assessing risk severity / impact with required alarm systems to highlight potential threat detection process in industries like speciality chemicals, explosives..

In the context of health and safety in Nigeria, effective threat modeling hinges on several best practices. Begin by initiating the process early and maintain a culture of iterative updates, aligning your threat model with evolving situations. Ensure comprehensive stakeholder involvement, encompassing not only internal teams but also external entities like regulatory bodies, suppliers, and customers. Utilize diverse sources and methods for threat identification, documenting and communicating results transparently. Clearly define the scope, threats, risks, and mitigation strategies, ensuring accessibility and understanding.

Best practices dictate an early start with continuous refinement as conditions evolve. In my leadership roles, inclusivity in the threat modeling process has been key, engaging stakeholders across the spectrum for comprehensive insight. Utilizing diverse data inputs ensures robust threat identification, while clear documentation and communication of findings are essential for actionable understanding. Transparency in outlining the scope, potential threats, associated risks, and mitigation plans is critical to ensure stakeholders are well-informed and can act effectively on the information provided. This methodical approach enhances organizational agility in responding to health and safety challenges.

The use of analytics has been crucial for our loss control in identifying patterns, trends, and anomalies that could have otherwise led to health and employee safety concerns. Although analytics are commonly used as a reactive measure, the real value of analytics is when they are used in a predictive manner. When you are able to identify relationships between events and workplace incidents or injuries in a predictive manner our clients can focus on areas of weakness and establish a data-driven safety program unique to their risks. Therefore, reducing employee injuries, reducing insurance costs and improving bottom-line. The goal is not to just treat a symptom, but to diagnose and treat the cause.

As a privately held company grows in scope and size, there are often milestones which speak to the need for an upgrade in various forms of risk assessment(s). This can include financial risks, employee related risk, production, environmental, foreign trade and the list goes on. Generally speaking, as a senior debt provider I often see important thresholds tied to revenue/sales at $1MM, $10MM, $50MM+. Based on employee count, perhaps at 10, 50, and 100+ which are then further subject to state law and specific industry regulations. Working with a skilled Banker, CPA, Attorney [advisory board] will often help a founder or team of CXOs navigate the added complexity during a period where the business operation scales (or plans for exit).