Contextual Threat Analysis

Generic threat lists provide starting points, but effective threat identification requires contextual analysis specific to your system and organization. Industry context influences relevant threats—healthcare faces different regulations and attack patterns than retail. Geographic context matters—organizations in certain countries face different nation-state threats or regulatory requirements. Business context determines what assets attackers find valuable.

Technology stack analysis reveals specific vulnerabilities and attack patterns. Each programming language, framework, database, and platform brings known vulnerabilities and common misconfigurations. Legacy technologies might have unpatched vulnerabilities, while cutting-edge technologies might lack security maturity. Third-party dependencies multiply the attack surface, requiring analysis of supply chain threats.

Data sensitivity drives threat relevance and severity. Systems handling payment cards face PCI-related threats. Healthcare systems must consider HIPAA implications. Personal data invites privacy-related attacks and regulatory scrutiny. Intellectual property attracts industrial espionage. Understanding your data's value to different actors helps identify relevant threats and prioritize protection.

Integration points create unique threats based on connected systems and trust relationships. APIs exposed to partners face different threats than internal service communications. Legacy system integrations might lack modern security controls. Cloud service dependencies create shared responsibility challenges. Each integration point requires specific threat analysis based on the security posture of connected systems.