Automated threat modeling tools have become essential in the process of identifying and mitigating threats aimed at organizations and their information systems. These tools range from simple flow diagrams to complex mathematical algorithms and frameworks. However, manually sifting through all this information can be inefficient and time-consuming. That’s where automated tools come in, speeding up the process and generating recommendations to combat potential threats.
But with so many different threat modeling software options out there, how do you choose the right one? It all starts with involving top managers from both the business and technology sides. Business managers should identify the most important assets, while IT staffers should highlight the critical risks, threats, and vulnerabilities that need to be addressed.
Key criteria for selecting a threat modeling tool include the business requirements and operational objectives to be protected from security threats, as well as the desired results and outputs from the tool. It’s also important to consider situations where risks and vulnerabilities are present and need protection, and how to define appropriate countermeasures to mitigate these threats. Testing and validating the performance of the selected application, integrating it into other threat initiatives within the organization, and comparing licensing, pricing, and maintenance options are also crucial factors to consider. Additionally, organizations should take actions now to increase protection from future threats.
Using a model like the software development lifecycle (SDLC) can help in selecting a threat modeling tool. The tool should ideally support each phase of the SDLC, from planning and requirements to design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
When it comes to features, there are several important ones to look for in threat modeling tools. These include ease of data input, the availability of threat intelligence sources, a comprehensive operational threat dashboard, a mitigation and countermeasures dashboard, a system engine embedded with various rules, scalability, linkages and integration with existing production environments, reporting capabilities, and maintenance and support options.
Now let’s take a closer look at some of the top threat modeling tools currently on the market:
1. CAIRIS: This comprehensive open-source tool creates attacker personas, offers 12 system views, identifies attack patterns, and provides insights on attack mitigations. It operates as a web-based tool in various environments and is available for free.
2. Cisco Vulnerability Management: Formerly known as Kenna.VM, this SaaS tool uses metrics to report on an application’s risk status. It generates real-time threat intelligence and recommended actions based on a risk perspective. Pricing is subscription-based.
3. IriusRisk: This tool performs risk analyses and creates threat models of software applications during the design phase. It uses a questionnaire to collect data and generates a threat list using a rules engine. It supports integration with tools like Jira and Azure DevOps Services.
4. Microsoft Threat Modeling Tool: Built on the STRIDE methodology, this open-source tool creates threat models using data flow diagrams. It supports systems running under Windows and Microsoft Azure cloud services and provides various reports.
5. OWASP Threat Dragon: This open-source web-based tool creates data flow diagrams that feed into a rules engine to deliver threat lists, recommendations, and other reports. It supports models like STRIDE and LINDDUN.
6. SD Elements: This tool from SecurityCompass automates the identification of threats and countermeasures by translating policy into procedure. It uses surveys to gather data and identify vulnerabilities and mitigations.
7. Splunk Enterprise Security and Splunk Security Essentials: Splunk Enterprise Security offers a risk-based assessment of an organization’s technology architecture using AI and machine learning. It provides dashboards and visualizes potential threats and vulnerabilities. Splunk Security Essentials, on the other hand, is a free tool with limited features.
These are just a few examples of the threat modeling tools available. Each tool has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to evaluate them based on your specific needs and requirements. By selecting the right threat modeling tool, organizations can streamline the process of identifying and mitigating threats, ultimately enhancing their overall security posture.