Cyber Security Developer at work
Total Experience  | 19 Jun 2025

Identify Cyber Threats in Complex IT Environments

More Transparency, Less Risk – Gain Clarity on Attack Surfaces and Risks

Porträt von Dorothee Haensch
Dorothee Haensch

In an increasingly digitized world, the demands on cybersecurity are growing – especially in large, interconnected IT landscapes. One scenario we often observe in practice: companies with complex software and tool architectures lack a complete overview of their cybersecurity risks – making it difficult for them to effectively manage or proactively prevent threats.

Cyber Security Risks: The Threat Landscape is Real

A recent case vividly illustrates how vulnerable complex IT systems are to cyberattacks:

In the spring of 2025, British retail giant Marks & Spencer fell victim to a massive ransomware attack, causing critical services such as online orders and payment systems to be down for weeks. This scenario is a reality for many companies. The result: an estimated revenue loss of over £300 million, significant reputational damage, and a lengthy recovery process. Another example, where such a worst-case scenario led to bankruptcy, is the paper manufacturer Fasana, which recently had to file for insolvency following a cyberattack.

These cases highlight the importance of early detection of cybersecurity risks in complex application landscapes, systematically analyzing vulnerabilities, and establishing clear security strategies – before the worst-case scenario occurs.

The Challenge: Lack of Transparency on Cyber Security Risks

A typical example: An international company operates a comprehensive CRM system developed by several project teams with shared responsibilities. The application is connected to over 30 internal systems, including databases, payment services, and inventory management systems.

Despite the high complexity, there is no central overview of attack surfaces or potential security risks. This is a classic case where various types of cyberattacks – such as phishing, injection attacks, data exfiltration, or internal security gaps – were not detected early or properly assessed.

The Goal: Make Security Measurable and Identify Risks

How can potential vulnerabilities be identified before a security incident occurs?

The answer: Through a systematic and comprehensive security assessment of your digital platform landscape. Our approach combines established standards with in-depth analysis to identify threats early and derive practical measures.

With our Cyber Security Audit, we assist you in evaluating and securing your systems – in a structured, transparent manner, tailored to your company.

The Approach: 5 Steps to a Structured Threat Analysis

  1. Collect relevant security policies of the platforms used (e.g., Cloud, Middleware, Backend)

  2. Review meetings with developers from the involved project teams

  3. Architecture and data flow analysis to systematically identify vulnerabilities

  4. Threat modeling sessions with STRIDE to accurately capture threats such as spoofing, tampering, or information disclosure

  5. Derive tailored measures for development and security teams (SOC)

The Result: Comprehensive Cyber Security Transparency

Upon completion of the audit, you will receive a comprehensive overview of your current security status – including clearly prioritized recommendations.

Key results at a glance:

  • Detailed threat documentation of all critical data flows

  • Transparent threat status for management presentation

  • Practical action recommendations for developers

  • Specific measures for the SecOps team (SOC)

Conclusion: Cyber Security Starts with Transparency – and Thrives on Collaboration

This use case illustrates that only by fully understanding their attack surfaces can organizations effectively protect themselves against various types of cyberattacks. In complex system landscapes, it is crucial to involve all stakeholders – from architecture and development to the Security Operations Center – at an early stage. Current cases show how quickly vulnerabilities in complex, interconnected systems can be exploited – often through third parties or hard-to-oversee interfaces. The consequences: massive revenue losses, damaged trust, and weeks of disruptions to business operations.

A structured approach like STRIDE and the application of established security policies not only allows risks to be identified but also enables sustainable mitigation.

With customized threat modeling, we ensure that every security measure is precisely planned and seamlessly integrated into your company’s strategy.

Protect your data, processes, and technologies with our tailored security solutions – and start your professional security analysis today.

Porträt von Dorothee Haensch
Dorothee Haensch

Dorothee Haensch has been a Senior Marketing Manager at diva-e since 2023. As an expert for content in the software sector, she gets to the bottom of the requirements of different industries and creates content that helps companies solve current problems and master future challenges.

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