How can you evaluate electronic systems for security risks before deployment?

1 Identify security requirements

Before you start evaluating your electronic systems for security risks, you need to define the security requirements for your specific project. Security requirements are the specifications or constraints that describe the desired level of protection, the potential threats, and the acceptable trade-offs between security and performance. You can use standards, guidelines, or best practices from your industry, organization, or domain to help you identify the security requirements. For example, you can refer to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, the ISO/IEC 27000 series, or the IEC 62443 series for general or industrial cybersecurity principles and practices.

2 Analyze system architecture

The next step is to analyze the system architecture of your electronic systems and identify the components, interfaces, and data flows that are relevant for security. System architecture is the structure and organization of the hardware, software, and communication elements that make up your electronic systems. By analyzing the system architecture, you can understand how the different parts of your system interact, how they depend on each other, and how they can be affected by external or internal factors. You can use diagrams, models, or tools such as SysML, UML, or ArchiMate to represent and analyze your system architecture.

3 Perform threat modeling

Threat modeling is a systematic process of identifying, analyzing, and prioritizing the potential threats that can affect your electronic systems. Threats are the sources or actions that can exploit the vulnerabilities or weaknesses of your system and cause harm or loss. By performing threat modeling, you can anticipate the possible scenarios that can compromise your system security and prepare appropriate responses or countermeasures. You can use frameworks, methods, or tools such as STRIDE, DREAD, OCTAVE, or Microsoft Threat Modeling Tool to perform threat modeling.

4 Conduct security testing

Security testing is a practical way of evaluating your electronic systems for security risks by simulating or executing real or hypothetical attacks and observing the results. Security testing can help you verify the effectiveness of your security design, implementation, and configuration, as well as identify any gaps or flaws that need to be fixed or improved. You can use various techniques, tools, or standards for security testing, such as penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, fuzzing, static analysis, dynamic analysis, or OWASP Testing Guide.

5 Review security documentation

Security documentation is a collection of records, reports, or manuals that document the security aspects of your electronic systems. Security documentation can help you evaluate your electronic systems for security risks by providing evidence, justification, or guidance for your security decisions, actions, or outcomes. You can use security documentation to review your security requirements, architecture, threat modeling, testing, and countermeasures, as well as to communicate, audit, or update your security information. You can use formats, templates, or tools such as security policies, security plans, security reports, security checklists, or security certificates to create and manage your security documentation.

6 Implement security updates

The final step is to implement security updates for your electronic systems based on the results of your evaluation. Security updates are the changes or modifications that you make to your system to improve or maintain its security level. Security updates can include fixing security bugs, patching security vulnerabilities, adding security features, or changing security settings. You can use methods, tools, or standards such as secure coding, code review, code signing, encryption, or authentication to implement security updates.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?