How the STAR Framework and STRIDE Model Make Threat Modeling Easier to Grasp

Threat modeling is a structured approach to identifying and understanding security risks within a system before they can be exploited. The STAR framework begins with Scope, using Data Flow Diagrams to map processes, data stores, external entities, and trust boundaries across an environment. In cloud settings, this mapping grows more complex due to shared responsibility models, IAM roles, and rapidly changing architectures. Once the environment is mapped, the STRIDE model helps analysts systematically categorize threats — including spoofing, tampering, repudiation, information disclosure, denial of service, and elevation of privilege. Together, these frameworks ensure security teams examine potential attack paths from every angle rather than trying to predict specific future incidents.