Update: Threat_Modeling_Cheat_Sheet.md

[sebob]

What is missing or needs to be updated?

There is no section dedicated to support for development teams. I will propose the first entry to begin the description of good practices.

I propose to add a new section before "References".

How should this be resolved?

Challenge

Threat Modeling and the Development Team

Threat modeling can be challenging for development teams for several key reasons. Firstly, many developers lack sufficient knowledge and experience in the field of security, which hinders their ability to effectively use methodologies and frameworks, identify, and model threats. Without proper training and understanding of basic security principles, developers may overlook potential threats or incorrectly assess their risks.

Additionally, the threat modeling process can be complex and time-consuming. It requires a systematic approach and in-depth analysis, which is often difficult to reconcile with tight schedules and the pressure to deliver new functionalities. Development teams may feel a lack of tools and resources to support them in this task, leading to frustration and discouragement.

Another challenge is the communication and collaboration between different departments within the organization. Without effective communication between development teams, security teams, and other stakeholders, threat modeling can be incomplete or misdirected.

In many cases, the solution lies in inviting members of the security teams to threat modeling sessions, which can significantly improve the process. Security specialists bring essential knowledge about potential threats that is crucial for effective identification, risk analysis, and mitigation. Their experience and understanding of the latest trends and techniques used by cybercriminals can provide key insights for learning and developing the competencies of development teams. Such joint sessions not only enhance developers' knowledge but also build a culture of collaboration and mutual support within the organization, leading to a more comprehensive approach to security.

To change the current situation, organizations should invest in regular IT security training for their development teams. These training sessions should be conducted by experts and tailored to the specific needs of the team. Additionally, it is beneficial to implement processes and tools that simplify and automate threat modeling. These tools can help in identifying and assessing threats, making the process more accessible and less time-consuming.

It is also important to promote a culture of security throughout the organization, where threat modeling is seen as an integral part of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), rather than an additional burden. Regular review sessions and cross-team workshops can improve collaboration and communication, leading to a more effective and comprehensive approach to security. Through these actions, organizations can make threat modeling a less burdensome and more efficient process, bringing real benefits to the security of their systems.

[mackowski]

@jmanico @szh @sebob I like the idea. There is no one good method that fits everybody so if we can add new technique/method that focus on developers and SSDLC I am for it.

I would like to have a PR for that - even quick and not perfect and iterate on that if needed.

[jmanico]

Sounds good to me. Threat modeling is not my expertise so I defer to @szh @mackowski @kwwall and others.

[sebob]

Great, I'm very happy to hear that. Do you have any suggestions for changes or improvements that I should make? If not, let's proceed because I have a few more things I want to address. From my experience, it's clear that people need more information about threat modeling because they often get lost. This cannot be a taboo subject; we need to work on spreading knowledge on this topic.

Please let me know what our next steps are – thanks!

[mackowski]

Thank you @sebob for this issue. Please create a PR for us to review.