Why is a risk-based approach to security requirements desirable?

It conserves resources by aiming security effort at the highest-risk areas — avoiding both under-investing (vulnerabilities) and over-investing (wasted effort on low-risk parts).

Benefits of Risk-Based Approach:

• Efficiency - Focus resources on highest-risk areas
• Prioritization - Address most critical threats first
• Justification - Provide business rationale for security investments
• Completeness - Systematic coverage of threats

The Security Requirements Process:

1. Requirements - Identify NF/F requirements
2. Diagraming - Document system architecture
3. Threat Modelling - Identify potential threats
4. STRIDE - Analyze threat categories
5. DREAD - Rate and prioritize risks
6. UCS/MUCS - Document functional and security requirements

Key Point: Without a risk-based approach, organizations either under-invest in security (leaving vulnerabilities) or over-invest (wasting resources on low-risk areas).