Skip to content

What are the 6 steps of threat modeling?

Explore some of our latest AI related thought leadership and research

6clicks has been built for cybersecurity, risk and compliance professionals.

Learn more about our Hub & Spoke architecture, Hailey AI engine and explore the other content in our platform here

Developing responsible AI management systems through the ISO/IEC 42001 standard

Using artificial intelligence has propelled global economic growth and enriched different aspects of our lives. However, its ever-evolving nature and...

Incorporating Generative AI into Cybersecurity: Opportunities, Risks, and Future Outlook

Key Takeaways Generative AI is a branch of artificial intelligence that focuses on creating new content with human-like creativity. The rise of...

Understanding RAG: Retrieval-Augmented Generation Explained

Natural Language Processing (NLP) has come a long way in the past few decades. With the goal of enabling more efficient communication between humans...

Responsible AI is here to stay

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) continue to be a much talked about topic since the release of ChatGPT last year but also well...

Responsible AI in risk management: Diving into NIST’s AI Risk Management Framework

Artificial intelligence has since changed the way we use technology and interact with organizations and systems. AI solutions such as automation and...

The Imperative of Governance to Achieving Responsible AI

AI brings many opportunities to businesses and we can see the AI boom across different industry verticals. However, it also questions who would be...


Definition of threat modeling

Threat modeling is an essential process in identifying and assessing potential security risks and vulnerabilities in a system or organization. By systematically analyzing potential threats, threat modeling helps security teams develop effective strategies to protect valuable assets and mitigate potential impacts caused by cyber attacks. It involves a structured process that includes six key steps: understanding the business context and objectives, identifying potential threats and attack vectors, creating a visual representation of the system or application, determining trust boundaries and levels, conducting a risk analysis, and finally, developing and implementing appropriate countermeasures. By following these steps, threat modeling enables organizations to proactively address security risks and improve their overall security strategy. Whether it's through the use of threat modeling frameworks or specific threat modeling techniques, this process provides security professionals with valuable insights into potential security threats and helps prioritize security efforts throughout the development process.

What is the purpose of threat modeling?

The purpose of threat modeling is to proactively detect and prioritize anticipated threats to ensure effective resource utilization. By conducting a thorough and systematic analysis of potential risks, organizations can understand their system vulnerabilities and implement control fixes based on the severity and impact of these threats.

Threat modeling plays a crucial role in identifying and addressing potential security risks before they have a chance to be exploited by cyber attacks. By analyzing attack vectors, potential impacts, and trust boundaries, security teams can have a comprehensive understanding of the potential threats that their systems may face.

By defining and visualizing the components of an application or system, threat modeling provides a structured process for evaluating potential vulnerabilities and identifying valuable assets that need protection. This understanding of the system's architecture and flow allows organizations to prioritize security controls and allocate resources accordingly.

Furthermore, threat modeling helps organizations align their security strategy with their business objectives and context. By conducting a business impact and risk analysis, organizations can better understand the potential damage potential of different threats and take appropriate measures to mitigate these risks.

6 steps of threat modeling

The 6 steps of threat modeling provide a systematic approach for identifying and addressing potential security risks. These steps ensure that security teams have a thorough understanding of the potential threats and can take appropriate measures to protect their systems.

  1. Define the scope: In this step, the boundaries of the system or application being analyzed are defined. This helps in identifying what needs to be protected and which potential attackers may target it.
  2. Create an application diagram: A visual representation of the system's architecture is created, highlighting its components and interactions. This helps in understanding the flow of data and identifying potential attack vectors.
  3. Identify potential threats: In this step, the threat modeler conducts a comprehensive threat analysis to identify potential threats and security risks. This involves considering different scenarios, common vulnerabilities, and potential impacts.
  4. Determine trust boundaries: Trust boundaries are the points where interactions between different components occur. Identifying these trust boundaries helps in understanding potential threats that can arise from the interaction between trusted and untrusted components.
  5. Create threat models: Threat models are created by combining the information gathered in the previous steps. These threat models provide a holistic view of the potential security threats and vulnerabilities.
  6. Prioritize and mitigate risks: Finally, the identified threats and risks are prioritized based on their potential impact and likelihood. Organizations can then allocate resources to mitigate these risks and implement necessary security controls.

By following these 6 steps, threat modeling provides security professionals with a comprehensive understanding of potential threats and helps them develop an effective strategy to protect valuable assets.

Step 1: establish business context and objectives

Threat modeling is a structured process that helps organizations identify potential security threats and vulnerabilities in their systems or applications. The first step in this process is to establish the business context and objectives. This involves understanding the organization's goals, business processes, and valuable assets. By defining the scope of the threat modeling exercise, security teams can determine which areas need protection and which potential attackers may target the system. This step helps align the threat modeling process with the overall security strategy of the organization. By clearly defining the business context and objectives, organizations can effectively prioritize and mitigate risks, ensuring that security measures are aligned with the wider objectives of the business. This step sets the foundation for developing a comprehensive and effective threat modeling framework that addresses the specific needs and challenges of the organization.

Understanding your business environment

Understanding your business environment is a crucial aspect of threat modeling, as it provides the foundation for identifying and addressing potential threats to your organization's security. By comprehending the business context, you can effectively prioritize resources and implement appropriate security measures to protect valuable assets.

Involving key stakeholders in the threat modeling process is essential. These stakeholders may include members of the security team, IT department, management, and other relevant groups. Their involvement brings diverse perspectives, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of potential risks and attack vectors. This collaboration allows for the identification of potential impacts, both in terms of business objectives and potential damages.

To understand your business environment and conduct effective threat modeling, follow these key steps:

  1. Identify and prioritize business assets: Determine the most valuable assets within your organization, such as intellectual property, customer data, or critical infrastructure, that require protection.
  2. Identify and prioritize data assets: Identify the specific data assets that are most important to your organization, such as personally identifiable information (PII), financial data, or trade secrets.
  3. Identify potential threats: Identify and evaluate potential threats that could exploit vulnerabilities in your business processes, infrastructure, or applications. Consider common threats, such as denial of service attacks or cyber attacks, and other potential risks specific to your industry or organization.
  4. Determine the business impact: Assess the potential impact these threats could have on your business operations, reputation, and financial stability. This step helps prioritize efforts and allocate resources effectively.
  5. Determine trust boundaries and potential attack vectors: Visualize your business processes and systems through flow diagrams or application diagrams. Identify the trust boundaries and where potential attackers may attempt to exploit vulnerabilities.
  6. Build asset-based threat profiles: Develop detailed threat models that describe the potential threats to your business assets and data assets. Consider the likelihood of each threat occurring, its potential impact, and the existing security measures in place.

By following this structured process, involving key stakeholders, and considering the unique aspects of your business environment, you can create effective threat models that enable your organization to proactively address potential security threats in a systematic and informed manner.

Identifying goals and objectives

In the threat modeling process, one of the crucial steps is identifying the goals and objectives of the application and understanding its impact on the company. The purpose of the application should be clearly defined, along with its intended internal and external objectives. This helps in setting the direction and focus of the threat modeling exercise.

Additionally, it is important to consider regulations and governance requirements from the beginning. Incorporating these legal and regulatory frameworks ensures that the application meets compliance standards and mitigates potential risks associated with non-compliance. By proactively addressing governance and regulatory requirements, organizations can save time and resources in the long run.

Understanding the impact of the application on the company is another key aspect. This involves assessing the potential risks and consequences that the application might pose to the overall business operations, reputation, and financial stability. By comprehending the potential impact, security teams can prioritize their efforts and allocate resources effectively to protect the organization's valuable assets.

By identifying goals and objectives, incorporating regulations and governance, and understanding the impact on the company, organizations can establish a solid foundation for their threat modeling process. This structured approach ensures that the application is developed and implemented with security in mind, minimizing potential risks and safeguarding the organization's interests.

Step 2: identify potential attackers and their motivations

In the threat modeling process, one crucial step is to identify potential attackers and understand their motivations. By doing so, security teams can gain valuable insights into who may be targeting the application or system and what their intentions might be. This step helps to create a comprehensive threat model that takes into account the different types of attackers that the organization may face.

Identifying potential attackers is important because it allows security professionals to tailor their security strategies and defenses accordingly. By understanding the motivations behind an attack, such as financial gain, political activism, or espionage, security teams can better anticipate the tactics and techniques that potential attackers may employ. This knowledge empowers organizations to proactively implement measures to mitigate these threats and enhance the overall security posture.

To identify potential attackers, security teams can conduct research on common threat actors in their industry or vertical. They can also collaborate with intelligence agencies, law enforcement, or industry-specific information-sharing organizations to gather relevant information. By collecting data and analyzing attack patterns, organizations can develop a more accurate and targeted threat model that aligns with their specific risks and vulnerabilities.

Assessing potential attackers

In the threat modeling process, assessing potential attackers plays a vital role in understanding and mitigating potential security risks. By comprehending the motivations behind an attack, security teams can effectively analyze the business impact and develop appropriate defense strategies.

Identifying potential attackers helps organizations tailor their security measures to counter specific threats. Whether the motivations are financial gain, political activism, or espionage, understanding the intent empowers security teams to anticipate and prepare for the tactics and techniques potential attackers may employ. This knowledge enables organizations to proactively implement measures that mitigate threats and enhance overall security.

To assess potential attackers, organizations can conduct extensive research on common threat actors within their industry or vertical. Collaborating with intelligence agencies, law enforcement, or industry-specific information-sharing organizations can also provide valuable insights. Analyzing attack patterns and gathering relevant data allows organizations to develop a targeted threat model that aligns with their specific risks and vulnerabilities.

By assessing potential attackers and understanding their motivations, organizations can better prioritize their security efforts, allocate resources more effectively, and proactively defend against potential cyber threats. This structured process of analyzing potential attackers helps organizations stay ahead in the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity.

Analyzing their motivations

When conducting threat modeling, it is essential to analyze the motivations behind potential attackers. Understanding these motivations provides valuable insights into the mindset and objectives of adversaries, enabling organizations to develop effective security strategies.

Attackers may be motivated by various factors, including financial gain. Cybercriminals often seek to exploit vulnerabilities in organizations' systems and networks to steal sensitive data or financial assets for monetary benefit. In competitive industries, attackers may aim to gain a competitive advantage by targeting competitors' intellectual property or disrupting their operations.

Ideological beliefs can also drive attackers. Hacktivists, for example, may carry out cyber attacks to promote a specific cause or express their political or social views. They may deface websites or leak confidential information to advance their agenda.

Some attackers may be motivated by personal reasons such as revenge. Disgruntled employees or individuals who bear grudges may target organizations to cause harm or damage, seeking satisfaction through their actions.

It is crucial to consider these motivations when conducting threat modeling, as they influence the techniques, tools, and resources attackers are likely to employ. By analyzing and understanding these motivations, organizations can effectively prioritize their security efforts and implement measures that mitigate the specific threats they may face.

Understanding the business impact of an attack

Understanding the business impact of an attack is crucial when conducting threat modeling. Threat modeling involves identifying potential threats and vulnerabilities in an organization's systems and networks to develop effective security measures. By understanding the business impact of an attack, security teams can better prioritize their efforts and resources towards addressing the most critical risks.

A cyberattack can have significant consequences for organizations. One of the potential impacts is reputation damage. A successful attack can lead to negative publicity, loss of trust from customers and partners, and a decline in brand perception. Rebuilding a damaged reputation can be costly and time-consuming.

Data leaks are another potential impact of a cyberattack. Organizations that handle sensitive customer information, financial data, or intellectual property face the risk of unauthorized access or data breaches. These leaks can result in the loss of valuable information, regulatory penalties, and legal actions.

Furthermore, a cyberattack can also lead to financial costs for organizations. The costs associated with remediation efforts, equipment replacement, and legal actions can be substantial. Additionally, organizations may incur financial losses due to application downtime, disruption of business operations, and decreased productivity.

Step 3: application decomposition and diagramming

In the threat modeling process, step 3 involves application decomposition and diagramming. This step is crucial in understanding the structure and components of the application or system being analyzed, as well as identifying potential attack vectors and points of vulnerability. Application decomposition involves breaking down the application or system into its individual components, such as modules, subsystems, or layers. This helps in identifying the various interactions and dependencies between these components. Diagramming, on the other hand, involves creating visual representations, such as flow diagrams or application diagrams, to illustrate the flow of data and control within the system. These diagrams provide a clear picture of how different components interact with each other and with external entities, helping security teams identify trust boundaries and potential security risks. By conducting application decomposition and diagramming, organizations can gain a deeper understanding of the architecture and design of their applications, enabling them to anticipate and address security threats effectively. This step plays a crucial role in the overall threat modeling process, helping organizations develop a robust security strategy to protect their valuable assets, mitigate potential risks, and ensure the integrity of their systems.

Visual representation of the system architecture

Creating a visual representation of the system architecture is a crucial step in the threat modeling process. Threat analysts utilize simplified diagrams to understand how the various components of a system interact and identify potential security risks.

For instance, let's consider a college library website. The visual representation may include a data flow diagram that illustrates how data flows between different parts of the website such as the user interface, database, and external systems like authentication servers or payment gateways. This diagram helps in visualizing the connections and dependencies between the different components.

Visualizing the system architecture through simplified diagrams is important because it allows the security teams to get a holistic view of the system. It aids in identifying potential security issues early in the architecture design phase, enabling proactive measures to be taken. By visually understanding the system architecture, security professionals can analyze the trust boundaries, potential attack vectors, and potential impacts on valuable assets.

Breaking down each component in detail

Breaking down each component of the application in detail is a crucial step in threat modeling. This involves analyzing the functionality, purpose, and relationship of each component within the system. By examining the data flow diagrams created in the previous step, we can guide our analysis and gain a deeper understanding of the system architecture.

Component analysis involves studying each individual component and how it interacts with other components. This includes understanding the purpose it serves in the overall system and the specific functionality it provides. For example, in a college library website, components could include the user interface, database, authentication server, and payment gateway. Each of these components has a specific role and contributes to the overall functionality of the website.

Analyzing the relationship between components is also important. This includes understanding how data flows between components and identifying any dependencies or connections. It is essential to identify potential vulnerabilities or weaknesses in each component that could be exploited by attackers. This could include looking for common vulnerabilities such as injection attacks, denial of service, or elevation of privilege.

By breaking down each component in detail, security teams can gain a comprehensive understanding of the system architecture and identify potential security risks. This analysis helps in developing a security strategy that aligns with the business objectives and protects valuable assets from potential cyber attacks.

Flow diagrams to show data flows

Flow diagrams are commonly used to visually represent the movement of data within an application. They allow users to understand the flow of data and the interactions between various components. To effectively create flow diagrams, it is important to understand the different components and symbols used to represent data flows.

The components and symbols used in flow diagrams include:

  1. Process/Task: This component represents a specific action or process within the application. It could be a function, operation, or task that takes input data and produces output data.
  2. Connector: Connectors are used to show the data flow between different components. They represent the movement of data from one process/task to another.
  3. Data Store: This component represents where data is stored within the application. It could be a database, file, or any other storage medium.
  4. Decision: This symbol is used to represent a decision or branching point in the flow diagram. It shows where the flow of data can take different paths based on certain conditions.
  5. Input/Output: These symbols represent the input or output of data into or from a process/task. They indicate where data is entering or leaving the system.
  6. Terminator: The terminator symbol represents the start and end points of the flow diagram. It shows where the flow of data begins and ends.

By using these components and symbols, flow diagrams provide a clear and concise visual representation of how data moves through an application. They help in understanding the flow of data, identifying potential bottlenecks or issues, and improving the efficiency and accuracy of data processing.

Step 4: identify common vulnerabilities or threats

Once the assets, trust boundaries, and potential attackers have been identified and the system's flow diagram has been created, the next step in the threat modeling process is to identify common vulnerabilities or threats. This step involves analyzing the system for potential weaknesses or vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers.

Common vulnerabilities can include issues such as insecure configuration settings, weak authentication mechanisms, inadequate access controls, and vulnerable software components. Threats, on the other hand, are potential attacks or actions that could exploit these vulnerabilities. Common threats can include denial of service attacks, data breaches, unauthorized access, and elevation of privilege.

To effectively identify common vulnerabilities or threats, it is important to consider the motivations of potential attackers. This can include actors such as hackers, insiders, or competitors who may have different goals and objectives. By understanding the potential attackers and their motivations, security teams can better identify the vulnerabilities that are most likely to be targeted.

In addition, it is important to quantify the criticality of these threats and vulnerabilities. The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) is a widely used framework that helps in assessing and quantifying the severity of vulnerabilities. It takes into account factors such as the ease of exploiting the vulnerability, the potential impacts, and the likelihood of an attack occurring. By using the CVSS, security professionals can prioritize and address the most critical threats and vulnerabilities first, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively to mitigate potential risks.

Useful References

General thought leadership and news

From Compliance to Cybersecurity: The 6clicks Ideal Customer Profile

From Compliance to Cybersecurity: The 6clicks Ideal Customer Profile

In an era where digital threats loom larger by the day, the intersection of compliance and cybersecurity has never been more critical. For businesses...

AI Hype and GRC

Beyond the AI Hype: Crafting GRC Solutions That Truly Matter

In the relentless chase for innovation, it's easy to get caught in the dazzling allure of AI. Everywhere you turn, AI seems to be the silver bullet,...

Reflections from my time as Chief Digital Officer at KPMG

Reflections from my time as Chief Digital Officer at KPMG

Between 2016 and 2018 I held the role of Chief Digital Officer at KPMG, responsible for strategy and the development of software assets to underpin...

6clicks Partners with Microsoft to run 6clicks on Private Azure Clouds

6clicks Partners with Microsoft to run 6clicks on Private Azure Clouds

Summary 6clicks, a cyber governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) platform, has partnered with Microsoft to offer a privately hosted option of its...

6clicks Fabric - Hosted on private Microsoft Azure clouds

Empowering enterprises: Get in control with your own GRC SaaS platform-in-a-box

In today's dynamic business landscape, enterprises are constantly seeking innovative solutions to streamline their operations, improve the value they...

6clicks Fabric for GSIs: Tailoring cybersecurity GRC programs for global markets

6clicks Fabric for GSIs: Tailoring cybersecurity GRC programs for global markets

Robust cybersecurity measures and the effective and safe implementation of IT infrastructure are critical for organizations to successfully do...