What Do Developers Think of Threat Modeling?

Threat modeling is gaining traction among developers as both a security practice and a developmental mindset.

This webinar, hosted by Security Compass, features seasoned panelists from organizations like Dell Technologies and Tris, exploring how threat modeling is perceived and practiced by modern development teams. The discussion uncovers real-world challenges, practical strategies, and cultural shifts needed to embed threat modeling into development workflows.

What Is Threat Modeling in Developer Terms?

Threat modeling helps developers identify potential security issues early in the design phase, reducing costly fixes later.

Rather than seeing it as a purely security-centric task, panelists emphasized reframing threat modeling as a design-time activity focused on system analysis:

• Evaluates security risks based on system architecture and data flow

• Enables identification of design flaws and potential vulnerabilities

• Guides remediation efforts either at design time or in code

Sam Seagal noted it gives developers a structured way to assess how design decisions align with security requirements.

Why Should Developers Care About Threat Modeling?

Threat modeling strengthens software design, improves code quality, and enhances career growth.

Developers often overlook threat modeling due to perceived complexity or irrelevance. The panel offered compelling developer-centric motivations:

• Critical thinking: Helps identify risks before attackers do

• Professional growth: Expands knowledge beyond core coding skills

• Ownership: Aligns with DevSecOps, where developers own both function and security

• Career value: Broadens expertise into security, a high-value domain

Paul from Tris emphasized it’s not just about adding another task but making better design decisions.

How Can Threat Modeling Be Scaled in Dev Teams?

Training, collaboration, and champion programs are key to scaling threat modeling effectively.

Given the security-to-developer ratio can be as high as 1:100, empowering developers is essential:

• Education-first approach: Build awareness through training

• Security champions: Embed trained advocates in dev teams

• Hands-on practice: Pair security teams with developers during initial threat modeling efforts

• Cultural shift: Encourage shared responsibility for security

Seagal highlighted the importance of shifting the mindset from “security’s job” to a shared team practice.

Can Threat Modeling Be Automated?

Automation can assist threat modeling, but cannot replace human creativity and analysis.

Automation should support—but not substitute—the thought process behind threat modeling:

However, creative thinking—like anticipating attacker behavior or misuse—is not easily automated.

How Does Threat Modeling Complement Other Security Tools?

Threat modeling works alongside SAST, DAST, and pen testing to provide a full-stack security approach.

While DAST helps detect runtime issues, threat modeling:

• Identifies issues earlier in the SDLC (cheaper to fix)

• Addresses architectural flaws that scanners might miss

• Guides the creation of precise, context-aware test cases

It should be viewed as an upstream enabler for more effective downstream testing and validation.

What’s the Developer Learning Path into Security?

Start small with curiosity, then scale with resources like OWASP, conferences, and security champions programs.

Getting into threat modeling doesn’t require a dramatic shift:

• Start with OWASP Top 10: Understand common vulnerabilities

• Study real-world breaches: Learn from postmortems

• Use free resources: YouTube, LinkedIn Learning, podcasts

• Engage with the community: Attend or volunteer at conferences like DevSecOps Days

The panel agreed: consistent curiosity and engagement are more valuable than certifications alone.

How to Measure the Effectiveness of Threat Modeling?

Use feedback from pen tests, bug bounty findings, and RCA to evaluate threat modeling impact.

Effectiveness can be gauged by:

• Reduction in high-risk issues found late in the cycle

• Improved test coverage for security scenarios

• Clearer, more actionable security requirements for developers

• Fewer recurring incidents linked to missed design flaws

Organizations should regularly review outcomes to refine threat modeling processes.

Final Takeaways

Threat modeling is not just a security exercise—it’s a critical thinking tool for developers.

Key messages from the webinar:

• Start small, think critically, and be curious

• Reuse models and templates when possible

• Don’t rely solely on tools—engage your brain

• Make threat modeling a habit, not a hurdle

As systems become more complex, threat modeling will remain a vital skill. Developers who embrace it will build not only more secure code but also stronger careers.