How can you scale and repeat your threat modeling process?

By combining automation, standardization, training, integration with DevOps, collaboration tools, and a commitment to continuous improvement, organizations can scale and repeat their threat modeling processes. This ensures that security considerations are embedded in the development life cycle, leading to more resilient and secure software applications.

The only way to scale is through automation. No technology can automate Threat Modeling, but you can teach those who are innovating products or engineering software how to use STRIDE to identify vulnerabilities before they are written. Show a coworker how to Threat Model and you're on the right path. Teach a coworker to Threat Model and they'll Threat Model for life.

One thing I've found useful is clearly defining the desired outcome. Oftentimes the focus is placed on the scaling itself and not the objective, so the threat modeling process fails. Moreover, clear communication to stakeholders of these objectives will be effective in galvanizing a stronger focus on achieving that desired outcome.

A typical threat modeling process includes five steps: threat intelligence, asset identification, mitigation capabilities, risk assessment, and threat mapping. Each of these provides different insights and visibility into the organization's

At Bhuva's Impact Global, my approach to scaling and repeating the threat modeling process hinges on a dynamic blend of automation and meticulous human expertise. I start with a robust, adaptable framework that allows for seamless evolution alongside emerging cyber threats. This methodology not only boosts efficiency through automation but also retains a critical layer of nuanced understanding. Continuous learning and adaptability are the cornerstones of our strategy, ensuring that our process remains both scalable and repeatable. By meticulously balancing between technological advancements and the human element, we ensure comprehensive protection for our clients against the ever-changing threats in the tech landscape.

1. Identificar los requisitos de seguridad: Comience por comprender los requisitos de seguridad específicos para su aplicación o sistema. Esto incluye evaluar las necesidades de confidencialidad, integridad y disponibilidad. 2. Mapear las amenazas y vulnerabilidades potenciales: Identifique las amenazas y vulnerabilidades que podrían afectar su activo. Esto implica analizar posibles escenarios de ataque y evaluar cómo podrían explotarse las debilidades. 3. Comprender a los atacantes: Investigue los perfiles de los posibles atacantes. ?Quiénes son? ?Qué motivaciones podrían tener? Esto le ayudará a anticipar sus acciones y tomar medidas preventivas. 4. Estudiar el posible impacto de las amenazas

Threat Modelling can benefit from standardized frameworks that describe the approach of cyberattack tactics and techniques from multiple angles, such as the threat actor and his/her intention, the feasibility of their actions of target systems, the infrastructure needed to achieve the attacker’s objectives, etc. Good examples are Diamond model and MITRE ATT&CK. It is worth trying them not to miss anything important.

Using a common language and notation is essential for scaling and repeating the threat modeling process consistently across different projects or teams. Adopt standardized terminology, symbols, and diagrams to facilitate communication and understanding among stakeholders involved in threat modeling activities. This ensures that everyone interprets and documents threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigation strategies in a uniform manner, regardless of their background or expertise. By establishing a common language and notation, you promote consistency, efficiency, and collaboration in threat modeling efforts, enabling smoother integration and knowledge sharing across teams and projects.

Agree, I'd also add that you should use the language of the audience who will be making the change instead of inventing new ones. If talking to developers, use developer terminology. Provide a glossary that converts one set of terminology into the other.

Utilizar un lenguaje y notación comunes en el modelado de amenazas es esencial para garantizar la comprensión y colaboración entre los equipos de seguridad. Emplear estándares como el Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) para identificar debilidades y el Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) para evaluar la gravedad de las vulnerabilidades ayuda a establecer una comunicación uniforme. La adopción de marcos de trabajo ampliamente aceptados, como STRIDE o MITRE ATT&CK, también facilita la coherencia en el análisis de amenazas.

When you walk into a haunted house, you expect to be frightened. Approach the threat as if it was possible. No one has mentioned targeting of those specific threats? What is being done? What more can be done? Mr. Luqman summed it up “Relevance and effectiveness over time.” I’d only add, when you rely on historical data. That’s all you have. Historical Data does not address current conditions that have been corrected. That is a hit for the consumer. Historical Data does not address current conditions that remain to be corrected. That is a hit to the company underwriting.

Automating threat identification and embedding security into CI/CD pipelines transforms cybersecurity efforts, making them more efficient and consistent. This approach ensures security keeps pace with rapid development cycles, enabling scalable and continuous security practices. Perfect for teams aiming to integrate security seamlessly into their workflow.

Automating and integrating the threat modeling process is vital for scalability and repeatability. Utilize specialized tools with automation features for risk identification, analysis, and mitigation. Integrate these seamlessly into existing workflows like SDLC or CI/CD pipelines. Automation streamlines and accelerates threat modeling, ensuring consistency and reliability while reducing the risk of human error across multiple projects and teams.

Automating and integrating your threat modeling processes can help streamline and improve the consistency of your approach. By using tools and technologies to support your threat modeling efforts, you can save time and resources, ensure thorough coverage of potential threats and easily repeat the process as needed. This can ultimately lead to more effective security measures and protection.

The output matters. I've found presenting the output of threat models as functional requirements that dev teams can add to their test harness helps with adoption.

Regularly reviewing and updating threat models is essential for maintaining their relevance and effectiveness over time. Schedule periodic reviews to assess the accuracy and completeness of existing models, considering factors such as changes in technology, threats landscape, or business requirements. Incorporate feedback from stakeholders, incident reports, and lessons learned from previous threat modeling exercises into model updates. By continuously refining and enhancing threat models, you ensure they remain aligned with evolving risks and organizational priorities, enabling proactive risk management and mitigation.

As a general rule, I protect cells with out puts and I leave the input cells in grey so that the next user of the model knows which variables can be changed. That eliminates a lot of potential hard coding errors.

This is the largest program failure point I've seen when folks attempt to stand up a program. If the culture is weekly sprints or faster, building a waterfall based solution that takes several weeks to complete is worthless as the model never represents the app's current state. You need to understand how/where/when design happens in the dev culture and embed threat modeling at that point in a manner that can keep up with dev velocity.

Realizar revisiones periódicas y actualizar los modelos de amenazas es crucial para mantener la eficacia del proceso. Incluya evaluaciones regulares de cambios en el entorno, actualizaciones tecnológicas y nuevas amenazas. Fomente la retroalimentación de los equipos de desarrollo y seguridad para ajustar los modelos según la evolución del panorama de amenazas. Mantenga una documentación actualizada para reflejar los riesgos actuales y las contramedidas. La revisión continua garantiza la adaptabilidad y relevancia de los modelos de amenazas

Using different models and standards and aligning to industry best practices to help communicate what you are doing always helps in my experience. In what is often a complex technical engagement open collaboration with domain experts and wider communities and forums can be hugely beneficial.

Learning from your past experiences and sharing your lessons with others can help improve your threat modeling process over time. Consider documenting your findings and sharing them with your team or the wider community.

Learning from past experiences and sharing lessons learned is critical for improving the threat modeling process. Encourage knowledge sharing among team members by documenting insights, best practices, and challenges encountered during threat modeling exercises. Facilitate regular debrief sessions or post-mortems to discuss lessons learned from security incidents, vulnerabilities discovered, or successful mitigation strategies implemented. By promoting a culture of continuous learning and sharing within the organization, you foster collaboration, innovation, and resilience in threat management efforts.

Aprender de incidentes pasados y compartir lecciones es esencial. Establezca un proceso de retroalimentación después de cada evaluación de amenazas o incidente de seguridad. Documente las lecciones aprendidas y compártalas con los equipos relevantes. Fomente una cultura de mejora continua, donde los conocimientos adquiridos se utilicen para fortalecer políticas, controles y procedimientos. La colaboración y la transparencia en la comunicación de lecciones aprendidas contribuyen significativamente a la madurez y resiliencia del programa de seguridad.

With over 8 years of experience as a risk manager in banking and finance, scaling and repeating the threat modeling process is essential for maintaining a robust risk management framework. The first is to establish a threat modeling framework that includes standardized templates and guidelines. ensuring that all teams follow the same process when conducting threat assessments for new financial products or digital platforms. After completing a threat modeling session, conduct a retrospective meeting to gather feedback from participants. Identify areas for improvement, update documentation, and incorporate lessons learned into subsequent threat modeling activities.

Threat modeling is a structured approach to identifying, qualifying and addressing security risks associated with an application. It involves looking at a system from a potential attacker's perspective rather than a defender's viewpoint. The following steps should be considered to scale and repeat the threat modeling process: 1. Decompose the Application 2. Determine and Rank Threats 3. Mitigate Threats In general scaling and repeating the process involves: Using tools and process to efficiently apply threat modeling across a large portfolio of applications, defining common threats applicable to various projects and ensuring consistency in the application of threat modeling principles across the organization.

There are three broad types of security flaws in an application: 1. Implementation. Traditional application security. The developer wrote a vulnerability, it gets caught and fixed. This is the standard SAST/DAST pipeline. 2. Configuration. The developers wrote clean code, but the production environment is misconfigured leading to vulnerabilities. Needs a different process to address than #1. 3. Design. The application is insecure by design. No matter how well you do #1 and #2, the application will be insecure. This is what threat modeling is meant to address. Requirements and test validation ensuring a secure design.

Other strategies to consider include involving stakeholders early in the process, prioritizing threats based on risk, and incorporating feedback from security experts. It's also important to continuously evaluate and improve your threat modeling process to ensure that it remains effective over time. In conclusion, scaling and repeating your threat modeling process requires careful planning and execution. By defining your scope and objectives, using a common language and notation, automating and integrating your process, reviewing and updating your models, learning and sharing your lessons, and considering other strategies, you can make your threat modeling process more efficient and effective.

Consider modularizing the threat model components. Break down the threat modelling process into modular components that can be reused across different projects and systems. This modular approach allows for the customization of threat modelling activities based on the specific needs of each project while maintaining consistency in the process. It enables a plug-and-play model where specific modules can be updated without overhauling the entire system.