One of the best ways to prevent data leaks and other security breaches is establishing effective threat modeling. Threat models are critical to a wide range of industries, as they provide security, support business objectives and foster a proactive mindset.
The new ISACA white paper, Threat Modeling Revisited, explores various aspects of effective threat modeling, including insights on the process, engaging strategies for leadership and techniques for smooth implementation of the model.
The paper breaks down threat modeling into five steps: Identify business objectives and define threat modeling, map the business ecosystem, identify and prioritize threats, develop mitigation strategies, and review, validate, and iterate. These steps create a strong foundation for a protective model, heightening enterprise security resilience.
Without a threat model in place, organizations are more susceptible to breaches or attacks. The white paper provides six steps to help leadership incorporate an executive team into threat model implementation: Gather the right team, decide what’s at stake, map one risk, ask the “what-ifs,” take one actionable step and set a rhythm. These steps create a culture of cross-collaboration, innovation and accountability.
“Some of the most successful threat modeling programs have been championed by executives with little hands-on technical background but who bring curiosity, discipline, and leadership to the process,” according to the white paper.
The white paper also includes four helpful techniques to transform threat models from a one-time task to an ongoing part of operations: Start small and stay focused, prioritize the threats that matter, turn risk into fixes and implement continuous threat modeling.
Threat modeling is a key factor in preventing breaches, sharpening enterprise culture and keeping up with emerging technologies. To access this threat modeling white paper, visit https://www.isaca.org/resources/white-papers/2025/threat-modeling-revisited.