In the world of digital products, security is often measured by what doesn’t happen—no breaches, no abuse, no fraud. But for those who build and manage security features, success is far more nuanced. The concept of “critical attacker journeys” offers a fresh perspective on how organizations can proactively defend their platforms and users.
What Is a Critical Attacker Journey?
Traditional product management focuses on user journeys: the steps a legitimate user takes to achieve their goals, like signing up, posting content, or making a purchase. Security product managers, however, must map out the attacker’s journey—the sequence of actions a malicious actor might take to compromise an account, commit fraud, or abuse a system.
This attacker journey typically includes:
- Reconnaissance: Probing systems for weaknesses, testing limits, and understanding policies.
- Attack Initiation: Exploiting vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access or cause harm.
- Detection and Mitigation: Security features kick in to identify and block malicious activity.
- Remediation: Cleaning up after an attack, restoring user accounts, and notifying affected parties.
Mapping the Attacker Journey
Effective security teams don’t just react to incidents—they anticipate them. By mapping out attacker journeys, organizations can identify weak points and deploy targeted defenses. This process often involves:
- Whiteboarding scenarios: Visualizing how an attacker might move through the system.
- Using frameworks: Leveraging resources like the MITRE ATT&CK framework to identify common tactics and techniques.
- Gap analysis: Comparing current defenses to potential attack paths to prioritize investments.
Why Mapping Matters
Mapping attacker journeys helps teams:
- Detect harm early: Spot attacks before they escalate.
- Minimize user impact: Block attackers without disrupting legitimate users.
- Adapt to evolving threats: Stay ahead as attackers change tactics.
It also encourages a shift from feature-driven thinking (“We built this, so we’re safe”) to outcome-driven thinking (“How do we know if bad things are happening?”).
Beyond the Platform: Measuring Harm
Not all harm occurs on your own platform. Attackers may use compromised accounts to target third-party services, making it harder to measure and respond. Security teams must consider both direct and indirect impacts, and collaborate with external partners for threat sharing and coordinated defense.
Practical Steps for Security Product Managers
To implement attacker journey thinking:
- Define terminology: Ensure everyone understands the stages and terms used.
- Map existing attacks and defenses: Use frameworks and real incidents to identify gaps.
- Include pre- and post-attack phases: Consider what happens before attackers reach you and after they leave.
- Share threats externally: Collaborate with industry peers and customers to stay ahead of new tactics.
Strategic Implications
For leaders and decision-makers, attacker journey mapping can shift the conversation from “Are we protected?” to “Are we prepared for what happens when protection fails?” This mindset supports investments in remediation, recovery, and continuous improvement—not just prevention.
Conclusion
Understanding and mapping critical attacker journeys is essential for modern security product management. It enables teams to anticipate threats, minimize harm, and build resilient systems that protect users—even when attackers find new ways in.
This article is AI-generated based on the transcript of the episode #3: Critical Attacker Journey – The Inverted PM Perspective of the Inverted Podcast.
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