79% of survey respondents identify threat modeling as a top priority in 2021, yet many organisations are still falling short in taking action or updating their approach
Security Compass, developer of the industry’s first Balanced Development Automation (BDA) platform, has published the results of a new report, “The State of Threat Modeling in 2021.” The study was designed to provide a better understanding of the current state of threat modeling in mid-sized, $100m to $999m and large sized, $1bn + enterprises, with a specific focus on the challenges organisations face in scaling threat modeling for the applications they build and deploy. Individuals directly involved in threat modeling efforts within their organisations provided insights on their companies’ approach as well as gaps and vulnerabilities.
The most pressing issue uncovered by the study was the growing priority of threat modeling for applications that companies build, coinciding with a belief that the majority or all of these efforts could be automated. Traditional threat modeling practices are historically slow, and hinder an organisation’s goals of getting applications to market quickly. Additionally, over half of respondents reported issues when trying to integrate this essential process into their existing technologies. These shortcomings contributed to the finding that less than half of organisations feel very prepared for critical cybersecurity threats. There is a clear need for more scalability and automation in threat modeling to balance rapid software development with secure software development.
Key Findings Include:
- Current Performance on Threat Modeling Approaches
- Only 25% of survey participants indicate their organisations conduct threat modeling during the early phases of software development requirements gathering and design, before proceeding with application development.
- Less than 10% report their organisations perform threat modeling on 90% or more of the applications they develop. Most commonly, organisations test between 50-74% of their applications.
- Lack of Automation
- Over 60% of organisations believe that all aspects of their organisation’s threat modeling could be fully automated, yet only 28% have reached that threshold.
- More than half of organisations face challenges in automating and integrating their threat modeling activities with other technologies, with 41% of respondents expressing that it takes too long.
- Impact of COVID-19 & Supply Chain Vulnerability
- Over 80% of organisations had to make moderate to significant changes to their cybersecurity approach as a result of COVID-19.
- Supply chains may be particularly vulnerable, with more than 84% of organisations reporting making cybersecurity changes because of supply chain vulnerability. However, 31% of companies do threat modeling on less than half the applications they develop associated with their supply chain.
“Software is being used in almost every aspect of everyday life, making it essential for organisations to be equipped with the necessary resources to perform timely threat modeling on the applications that they develop and deploy,” said Rohit Sethi, CEO, Security Compass. “Threat modeling ensures that vulnerabilities are recognised and remediated before they become a problem. Security Compass is hopeful that by providing the industry with detailed insights into the state of threat modeling, more organisations will self-assess, identify areas where they can automate and improve their existing approach to threat modeling, and ultimately improve their overall security posture.”
Wanda Rich has been the Editor-in-Chief of Global Banking & Finance Review since 2011, playing a pivotal role in shaping the publication’s content and direction. Under her leadership, the magazine has expanded its global reach and established itself as a trusted source of information and analysis across various financial sectors. She is known for conducting exclusive interviews with industry leaders and oversees the Global Banking & Finance Awards, which recognize innovation and leadership in finance. In addition to Global Banking & Finance Review, Wanda also serves as editor for numerous other platforms, including Asset Digest, Biz Dispatch, Blockchain Tribune, Business Express, Brands Journal, Companies Digest, Economy Standard, Entrepreneur Tribune, Finance Digest, Fintech Herald, Global Islamic Finance Magazine, International Releases, Online World News, Luxury Adviser, Palmbay Herald, Startup Observer, Technology Dispatch, Trading Herald, and Wealth Tribune.