What is the main benefit of threat modeling in software development?

The primary benefit of threat modeling in software development is to identify and prioritize potential threats and vulnerabilities early in the development process. This proactive approach allows development teams to understand the security landscape of their applications, which is crucial in building secure software.

By engaging in threat modeling, teams assess various threat vectors that could exploit the application, enabling them to make informed decisions about security controls, mitigation strategies, and design adjustments needed before they invest significant time and resources into development. Early identification of these risks allows teams to integrate security measures into the design and architecture rather than retrofitting them later, which is often more costly and complex.

Effective threat modeling creates a clearer understanding of the threats present in the application's context, structured around real-world attack vectors that could potentially be leveraged against the system. Consequently, this practice not only improves security but also enhances the overall quality and robustness of the software product, ensuring it meets compliance and regulatory requirements.

For context, other options such as designing user interfaces, testing the performance of software, or managing documentation, while important aspects of software development, do not directly contribute to identifying or mitigating security threats in the same strategic manner as threat modeling does.