Threat Modeling
Threat Modeling is a structured way of identifying potential security risks and safety issues in computer systems or applications. Think of it like a safety inspection for digital products, where security experts imagine all the ways someone could try to break in or cause problems, then plan how to prevent these issues. It's similar to how an architect reviews building plans for safety concerns before construction begins. This process helps companies protect their data and systems before problems occur, rather than fixing issues after they happen. You might also see this referred to as "security modeling" or "risk modeling."
Examples in Resumes
Led Threat Modeling sessions for new financial software products
Conducted Threat Model analysis for cloud-based healthcare applications
Created Security Risk Models and Threat Models for enterprise systems
Implemented security improvements based on Threat Modeling findings
Typical job title: "Security Architects"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Security Architects
Professional Organizations
Online Communities
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you implement a threat modeling program in an organization that has never done it before?
Expected Answer: Should explain how they would start with critical systems, train teams, choose appropriate frameworks, and gradually expand the program while showing measurable security improvements.
Q: How do you prioritize threats identified during threat modeling?
Expected Answer: Should discuss balancing likelihood and impact of threats, considering business context, available resources, and regulatory requirements when prioritizing which threats to address first.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What common threats do you typically look for when threat modeling a web application?
Expected Answer: Should mention data exposure, authentication bypass, injection attacks, and unauthorized access, while explaining these in non-technical terms.
Q: How do you document your threat modeling findings?
Expected Answer: Should describe creating clear reports that both technical and non-technical stakeholders can understand, including diagrams, risk levels, and recommended solutions.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is the purpose of threat modeling?
Expected Answer: Should explain that threat modeling helps identify security risks early in development to prevent problems before they occur, saving time and resources.
Q: What are the basic steps in threat modeling?
Expected Answer: Should describe the basic process: identifying what you're protecting, finding possible threats, determining how to defend against them, and verifying the solutions work.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of security concepts
- Familiarity with common threat types
- Ability to participate in threat modeling sessions
- Basic documentation skills
Mid (2-5 years)
- Leading threat modeling sessions
- Detailed threat analysis
- Security requirements gathering
- Risk assessment and prioritization
Senior (5+ years)
- Program development and implementation
- Team leadership and training
- Complex system analysis
- Security strategy development
Red Flags to Watch For
- No knowledge of basic security concepts
- Unable to explain risks in simple terms
- Lack of experience with any threat modeling methods
- No understanding of business impact of security risks
- Poor communication skills with non-technical stakeholders
Related Terms
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