What Is Threat Modeling? Process, Framework & Methodologies

What Is Threat Modeling?

Threat modeling is a process that identifies risks and prioritizes them. It can be used in various contexts, not just in information technology. For example, by applying threat modeling principles, a neighborhood can proactively enhance its physical security and create a safer environment for its residents. Once risks are identified, a threat model helps prioritize them and assess the costs and benefits of addressing them.

In the context of information technology, a threat model is used to profile potential attackers, identify likely avenues of attack, and determine the hardware and software that are most likely to be targeted. A typical threat modeling process will use the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) to quantify the severity of the relevant threats and vulnerabilities. Based on this information, security teams can implement appropriate security controls to protect their systems, considering the costs and benefits of each option.

Why You Need Threat Modeling?

Cybercrime has had a significant impact on the digital world, with data breaches exposing billions of records and social media-enabled cybercrimes resulting in billions of dollars in stolen revenue. Insider threats, phishing, and social engineering attacks are major concerns for businesses, with email phishing scams being the biggest security risk. As a result, spending on cybersecurity is predicted to grow to nearly $300 billion by 2026, according to a forecast by IDC. Security breaches have been on the rise for some time, and thus it is crucial for organizations to prioritize effective threat modeling in order to combat this growing issue.

Threat Modeling Process

The threat modeling process involves determining the systems that may be affected, identifying potential issues, implementing risk reduction measures, and evaluating the effectiveness of those measures. While the specific threats may vary, the following steps should always be included:

• Build a secure design, network model, or application defense system
• Invest resources efficiently to avoid unnecessary expenses and manpower
• Prioritize security over short-term profitability for long-term success
• Keep stakeholders informed about important system changes/developments
• Specify system threats and compliance requirements
• Ensure compliance guidelines are followed
• Define controls to mitigate threats before, during, and after an incident
• Build and implement controls transparently for all stakeholders
• Assess risks associated with the threat management system used
• Document system-impacting threats
• Document mitigation efforts for each threat
• Ensure business goals are not impacted by threats or negative events
• Identify ways to test the system’s effectiveness against targeted threats

Threat Modeling Frameworks and Methodologies

There are several different threat modeling frameworks used in the field of cybersecurity. Some of the popular ones include:

STRIDE: This framework was developed by Microsoft and focuses on six threat categories: Spoofing, Tampering, Repudiation, Information Disclosure, Denial of Service, and Elevation of Privilege.

DREAD: This framework uses five criteria to assess threats: Damage, Reproducibility, Exploitability, Affected Users, and Discoverability. Each criterion is given a score on a scale from 0 to 10, and the scores are combined to prioritize threats.

PASTA: The Process for Attack Simulation and Threat Analysis (PASTA) framework provides a structured approach to threat modeling. It emphasizes the use of simulation and combines multiple existing methodologies to identify, analyze, and mitigate threats.

OCTAVE: Operationally Critical Threat, Asset, and Vulnerability Evaluation (OCTAVE) is a framework that helps organizations assess and manage risks. It focuses on identifying critical assets, determining their vulnerabilities, and evaluating potential threats.

Trike: The Trike threat modeling methodology takes a holistic approach to threat modeling by considering business, operational, and technical perspectives. It provides a detailed framework for understanding threats and vulnerabilities and includes various assessment techniques.

VAST: Visual, Agile, and Simple Threat (VAST) modeling framework is a visual technique that assists teams in identifying and assessing threats. It emphasizes collaboration and simplicity while providing a structured approach to threat modeling.

These frameworks are used to systematically analyze threats and vulnerabilities to build secure systems and applications. The choice of framework depends on the specific requirements and preferences of the organization.

How Lepide Threat Models Help Protect Sensitive Data

The Lepide Data Security Platform can analyze user and entity behavior patterns and identify any deviations from the expected patterns outlined in the threat model. Examples may include; unauthorized access attempts, data exfiltration, or privilege abuse.

By analyzing behavior patterns, our solution can provide early detection of potential insider threats that may not be easily recognized through traditional security controls. For example, a user trying to access sensitive data or systems outside of their normal work hours or from an unusual location might indicate a potential threat.

Such analysis helps in identifying threats that might have been missed when developing the threat model. Our solution also adds context to the alerts generated by potentially risky behavior. This helps in prioritizing threats by providing additional information about the risk level and potential impact of each alert.

Lepide Data Security Platform also comes with a number of pre-defined threat models, designed to detect the symptoms of a security threat and execute custom response actions in real time.

If you’d like to see how the Lepide Data Security Platform can play a vital role in threat modeling, schedule a demo with one of our engineers or start your free trial today.