Determining information security threats for an iot-based energy internet by adopting software engineering and risk management approaches

Abstract

This paper introduces an information security threat modeling (ISTM) scheme, which leverages the strengths of software engineering and risk management approaches, called I-SERM. The proposed I-SERM scheme effectively and efficiently prioritizes information security threats for IT systems that utilize a large number of sensors, such as Internet of Things (IoT)-based energy systems. I-SERM operations include determining functional components, identifying associated threat types, analyzing threat items, and prioritizing key threats with the use of software engineering tools such as product flow diagrams, use case diagrams, and data flow diagrams. By simultaneously referring to a proposed STRIDE+p matrix and a defined threat breakdown structure with reference score (TBS+r) scheme, the I-SERM approach enables systematic ISTM. To demonstrate the usability of I-SERM, this study presents a practical case aimed at electricity load balancing on a smart grid. In brief, this study indicates a substantive research direction that combines the advantages of software engineering and risk management into a systematic ISTM process. In addition, the demonstration of I-SERM in practice provides a valuable and practical reference for I-SERM application, and contributes to research in the field of information security designs for IoT-based Energy Internet systems.