Nowadays software development isn’t only about making it work, it’s also about making sure that it is secure. Hackers are smarter than ever and vulnerabilities can cause serious issues. As a result, it’s crucial to think about security right from the beginning. One way to do this is to use threat modeling.
What Is Threat Modeling?
Threat modeling is one method to threat modeling identify and address security issues before they occur. When you look over your software’s design and ask yourself what could happen, and make a decision to prevent the problem from occurring. It’s similar to getting ready for bad weather while driving. You should not wait until you’re in the middle of a storm.
- If you are doing threat modeling, ask four questions:
- What are we creating?
- What could go wrong?
- What can we do?
- Did we do it right?
- These questions allow teams to spot issues early and make sound security choices.
Why Would You Like to Begin With Threat Modeling?
Bring Security in Early
The majority of people don’t look for security issues until the end of the course of a project. In the end, it’s too late or costly to address the issues. Threat modeling can help you identify problems earlier, when the design is fluid.
Save Time and Money
It’s much cheaper to correct problems early on in the process. If you let it be delayed beyond the time of time of the launch, you’ll need redesign the entire system. It will cost money and takes time. Threat modeling can stop that.
See the Big Picture
If you are modeling threats, you sketch the system’s workings, such as where the data is stored, who has access to it, how they use it, as well as in which areas dangers could be hidden. This allows you to understand your system and safeguard it more effectively.
Improve Teamwork
Threat modeling places everyone in the same boat: designers, developers as well as security engineers and business executives. Discussing risks keeps everyone aware of how to design an improved product that is secure.
Basic Threat Modeling Tools
It isn’t necessary an expert in cybersecurity in order to begin modeling threats. Here are a few easy steps:
STRIDE: A list of the most common threats (e.g. data leaks as well as impersonation threats).
Attack Trees: Diagrams that illustrate numerous ways for someone to try to take down your system.
Data Flow Diagrams are maps showing how data flows through your application or system.
These tools allow you to determine where risk may come from and the best way to safeguard your software.
How to Get Started
Select one aspect of your plan: Start simple and manageable.
Use checklists or other tools There are plenty of online tools and templates for free to pick from.
Integrate it into your workflow Incorporate threat modeling into your sprint or planning meetings.
Your team is trained: Make sure that all employees are aware of the basic security concepts to take part in the conversation.
Final Thoughts
There is no need for you to sit until last minute to consider security. The sooner you start thinking about security threats, the better the software you use. The threat modeling process is one method to identify threats before they become actual threats. It’s a simple, smart method that makes your software more secure.
Start by introducing threat modeling. It’s the best method to develop software that functions and protects you.
