How do systems engineers cope with the uncertainty and complexity of cyber threats and vulnerabilities?

1 Understand the problem space

The first step to cope with cyber threats and vulnerabilities is to understand the problem space. This means identifying and analyzing the stakeholders, the system requirements, the operational environment, the threat actors, and the potential attack vectors. You need to define the scope and boundaries of your system, its functions and interfaces, its dependencies and interactions, and its critical assets and data. You also need to assess the likelihood and impact of various cyber threats and vulnerabilities, and prioritize them according to their severity and urgency.

2 Apply systems thinking

The second step to cope with cyber threats and vulnerabilities is to apply systems thinking. This means viewing your system as a whole, rather than as a collection of isolated components. You need to consider how your system behaves and performs under different scenarios, how it adapts and responds to changes, and how it interacts and influences other systems. You also need to account for the emergent properties and behaviors of your system, such as resilience, robustness, and self-healing, that may not be evident from the individual parts.

3 Adopt a security-by-design approach

The third step to cope with cyber threats and vulnerabilities is to adopt a security-by-design approach. This means integrating security principles and practices throughout the system life cycle, from conception to disposal. You need to design your system with security in mind, using appropriate standards, frameworks, and methodologies, such as ISO/IEC 27001, NIST SP 800-160, and SABSA. You also need to implement security controls and measures, such as encryption, authentication, authorization, auditing, and monitoring, to protect your system from unauthorized access, modification, or disruption.

4 Test and validate your system

The fourth step to cope with cyber threats and vulnerabilities is to test and validate your system. This means verifying and validating that your system meets the security requirements and specifications, and that it operates as intended and expected. You need to conduct various types of testing, such as functional testing, performance testing, penetration testing, and vulnerability scanning, to identify and resolve any defects or weaknesses in your system. You also need to evaluate your system against relevant criteria and metrics, such as security posture, risk exposure, and compliance level, to measure and improve its security effectiveness and efficiency.