Threat Modeling

Threat modeling is a proactive and structured process within cybersecurity used to identify, analyze, and mitigate potential security threats to a system. By systematically examining an application or system's design, data flows, and trust boundaries, developers and security professionals can anticipate potential vulnerabilities and attack vectors before they are built and deployed. This approach, often integrated early into the software development lifecycle, involves creating an abstract model of the system, enumerating potential threats (e.g., using frameworks like STRIDE), and prioritizing them for remediation, ultimately fostering a "secure by design" philosophy.

1. Introduction to Threat Modeling
   1. Defining Threat Modeling
      1. Historical Context
      2. Key Terminology
      3. Relationship to Other Security Practices
   2. Core Principles
      1. Proactive vs. Reactive Security
         1. Benefits of Proactive Security
         2. Limitations of Reactive Approaches
      2. Thinking Like an Attacker
         1. Adversary Mindset
         2. Common Attack Motivations
      3. Structured and Systematic Approach
         1. Repeatability
         2. Documentation and Traceability
   3. Goals and Objectives
      1. Finding Flaws Early
         1. Cost of Early vs. Late Discovery
      2. Improving System Design
         1. Security by Design
         2. Reducing Attack Surface
      3. Prioritizing Security Work
         1. Resource Allocation
         2. Risk-Based Prioritization
      4. Enhancing Security Communication
         1. Cross-Team Collaboration
         2. Stakeholder Engagement
   4. The Secure by Design Philosophy
      1. Principles of Secure Design
      2. Security as a Design Requirement
      3. Balancing Usability and Security