Cybersecurity Risk Management System with Interactive Probability Distributions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cybersecurity risk assessment platforms provide inaccurate reflections of an organization's susceptibility to risk, leading to ineffective and costly security controls, and fail to assess the efficacy of cybersecurity controls on an ongoing basis, due to reliance on non-quantitative data and lack of real-time visualization.

Innovation Solution

A cybersecurity risk management system with a user-friendly interface that visualizes monetary risk through interactive probability distributions and quantile-dot plots, allowing for real-time updates and recommendations for risk mitigation controls based on scenario data, loss values, and control costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If existing risk assessment platforms use non-quantitative data (scorecards or words) to articulate cybersecurity risk, then the platforms are easier to operate and interpret, but the data can be interpreted differently between different people or even the same person at different times, resulting in poor decision-making

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of interpreting risk dataVSAvoidprecision of risk articulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms risk assessment from qualitative parameters (words, scorecards) to quantitative parameters (monetary values, probability distributions). This allows precise measurement of cybersecurity risk in financial terms while maintaining ease of understanding through familiar business metrics like expected monetary loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical interpretation process of qualitative data with an automated computational system that calculates quantitative risk metrics. The system uses algorithms to process scenario data, control data, and loss data to generate precise expected monetary loss values, eliminating human interpretation variability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If existing risk assessment platforms rely on information that inaccurately reflects an organization's susceptibility to risk, then the platforms are simpler to implement, but they result in the implementation of security controls that fail to mitigate the financial loss associated with cyber events and/or cost considerably more than the financial loss they are intended to circumvent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomplexity of risk assessment platformVSAvoidaccuracy of risk reflection

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the risk assessment process into distinct components: scenario data collection, control data input, loss data estimation, and expected monetary loss calculation. This modular approach improves accuracy by systematically addressing each aspect of risk while keeping the overall system manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system continuously updates risk assessments based on control implementation data and actual loss outcomes. This allows the platform to learn and improve its accuracy over time, ensuring that risk reflections become more precise as more data is collected.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If many risk assessment platforms fail to assess the efficacy of cybersecurity controls on an ongoing basis once an initial risk assessment is completed, then the platforms require less ongoing maintenance and resources, but they cannot provide real-time visualization or inform ongoing strategic investments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveongoing assessment capabilityVSAvoidtime for ongoing assessment

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables continuous risk assessment by automatically updating expected monetary loss calculations as new control data and loss data are input. The system continuously visualizes risk mitigation efficacy without requiring manual re-assessment, maintaining ongoing awareness of security posture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the risk assessment system self-updating by automatically recalculating expected monetary loss when control data or loss data changes. The system serves itself by maintaining current risk assessments without requiring continuous manual intervention, reducing time investment while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20240370569A1Systems and methods for managing cybersecurity risk

Publication Date: 2024.11.07 QUANT LLC

AI summary

A cybersecurity risk management system includes a user-interface that receives input data associated with a risk scenario. The user-interface graphically displays the input data as an interactive probability distribution visually responsive to updated input data in real time to visualize monetary risk and direct strategic investments concerning risk mitigation controls.