Enhancing Cyber Resilience with MBSE

Let’s dive into the fascinating world of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and explore how the ASSURANT™ Suite plays a pivotal role in ensuring cyber resilience throughout a system’s lifecycle. In this blog post, we’ll cover the fundamental principles of MBSE and see how the ASSURANT™ Suite empowers organizations to safeguard their critical systems and platforms.

Understanding Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)

MBSE is a method that leverages system models to design, analyze, and manage complex systems. Rather than relying solely on traditional documents, MBSE emphasizes visual representations and comprehensive formal models.

Here are the key principles of MBSE:

1. Model-Centric Approach: MBSE places models at the center of system development. These models capture requirements, architecture, behavior, and interactions. By using standardized modeling languages such as SysML (Systems Modeling Language), engineers can create comprehensive and interconnected representations of the system.
2. Integrated Views: MBSE encourages the creation of multiple viewsof the system. These views cater to different stakeholders (e.g., designers, testers, project managers) and provide a holistic representation of the system. Views include functional, physical, behavioral, and verification/validation
3. Traceability: MBSE ensures traceability throughout the system lifecycle. Requirements trace to design elements, which in turn trace to implementation and testing. This traceability enhances transparency, change management, and impact analysis.
4. Model Validation and Verification: MBSE enables early validation and verification of system properties. Engineers can simulate system behavior, analyze trade-offs, and identify potential issues before physical implementation. This reduces costly rework and improves system quality.

The ASSURANT™ Suite

How does the ASSURANT™ Suite align with MBSE principles?

1. Visualized Representation:
   • Provides a passive visualized representation of an organization’s Platform and Enterprise ITand Operational Technology (OT)
   • Defines interconnectivity, allowing changes without impacting active systems.
   • Forms the basis for executing what-if scenariosto assess cyber risks and potential impacts.
2. Continuous Cyber Vulnerability Monitoring:
   • Continuously monitors known vulnerabilities, tactics, and susceptibilities.
   • By integrating vulnerability alerts, organizations can proactively address security gaps in both IT and OT domains.
3. AI-Based Attack Path Analysis:
   • The technology conducts AI-based attack path analysis.
   • Identifies critical attack paths, helping organizations prioritize mitigation efforts.
4. Mitigation Planning Capability:
   • Assists in pre-planning penetration testing.
   • Segments testing results, plans mitigation actions, and runs frequent tests.
   • This proactive approach prevents attacks before they occur.

Real-World Impact

One of the ASSURANT™ Suite users shared their experience:

“The model told us about missing components that were infrequently changed and not well-documented. By adding these components to the model, our cyber readiness improved.”

A Winning combination for Cyber Resilience

MBSE, coupled with the ASSURANT™ Suite, empowers organizations to proactively enhance resilience, manage cyber risks, and protect critical systems. By embracing these principles, businesses can stay ahead in the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape.