Security Design Review
Architectural analysis to identify design flaws and implement Security by Design. Architecture review, threat modeling and secure blueprints for modern projects.
- Web appbrowser
- Partnerwebhook3
- API gatewayauthentication1
- Ordersservice
- Paymentsservice2
- Databasepersonal data
- The gateway authenticates, each service authorizes. No service trusts the forwarded header alone.
- Payments with its own credential. Scope limited to the billing queue.
- Partner webhook without a signature. Open: verify the origin before it reaches the internal network.
Why a security Design Review?
Fixing design flaws during planning costs far less than fixing them after implementation.
- Architectural expertise
- Modern architectures reviewed from a security standpoint
- Security by Design
- Security built in from the earliest stage of the project
- Multiple architectures
- Monolithic, microservices, serverless and hybrid
- Practical blueprints
- Technical documentation you can implement
The Design Review includes:
- 01Architecture analysis
- 02Structured threat modeling
- 03Data flow review
- 04Attack surface identification
- 05Security control assessment
- 06Security architecture blueprint
- 07Secure design recommendations
- 08Implementation roadmap
- 09Compliance mapping
- 10Detailed technical documentation
What you receive at the end
Comprehensive coverage, from architectural components through to technical deliverables you can implement.
- 01Security Architecture Blueprint
- 02Threat Model Documentation
- 03Risk Assessment Report
- 04Control Design Specifications
- 05Implementation Roadmap
- 06Security Requirements Matrix
- 07Compliance Mapping
- 08Best Practices Guide
Investing in a Design Review Pricing is based on architectural complexity, the number of components and the depth of analysis required.
Our Design Review methodology
A structured process that combines architectural analysis, threat modeling and security by design principles.
- 01
Architecture analysis
Analysis of the current architecture
- 02
Threat identification
Threat identification
- 03
Security assessment
Control assessment
- 04
Design recommendations
Design recommendations
- 05
Documentation
Detailed documentation
The most critical design problems
The most common architectural flaws we find in projects, and the ones that undermine security from the design stage onward.
- Weak Authentication Design
- Inadequate authentication architecture. Missing MFA, insecure sessions, bypass possible
- Poor Data Flow
- Poorly designed data flow. Sensitive data exposed in transit and at rest
- Insufficient Access Control
- Inadequate access controls. Poorly implemented RBAC, privilege escalation
- Insecure Integration
- Insecure third-party integrations. Insecure APIs, lack of input validation
- Missing Security Controls
- Missing security controls. Inadequate logging, monitoring and alerting
- Architecture Complexity
- Overly complex architecture. Increased attack surface
Full Design Review scope
Architecture components
- Authentication & Authorization
- Data Storage & Processing
- Network Architecture
- API Design & Security
- Microservices Architecture
- Cloud Security Design
- Identity Management
- Encryption & Key Management
Frameworks & methodologies
- OWASP ASVS (Application Security)
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework
- SABSA (Enterprise Architecture)
- TOGAF Security Architecture
- Zero Trust Architecture
- STRIDE Threat Modeling
- PASTA (Process for Attack Simulation)
- Security Design Patterns
Design Review: Prevention Beats Remediation. Fixing design flaws during implementation costs far more than during planning. Design Review finds problems before they become real vulnerabilities in production.
Why review your security design before you build?
Design Review identifies architectural security problems during planning, before a single line of code is written. Prevention is always cheaper than remediation: wrong architecture decisions can compromise the security of the entire system.
Our design review analyzes architecture, threat modeling, security controls and data flows before development, so the system starts from stronger foundations.
Risks the assessment helps you avoid
- Insecure architecture
- Fundamental flaws that require a complete refactor
- Compromised scalability
- Security controls that do not scale
- Expensive rework
- Costly architectural changes in the middle of the project
- Security debt
- Poor technical decisions that turn into long-term liabilities
How does our Design Review work?
A methodology based on Threat Modeling and Security by Design:
- 01
Architecture analysis
1-2 days
An in-depth review of the proposed design:
Document review: HLD, LLD, C4 diagrams, sequence diagrams
- Analysis of architecture diagrams and data flows
- Identification of critical components and trust boundaries
- Review of technology choices (frameworks, libraries)
- Analysis of third-party integrations
- Verification of secure architecture patterns
- 02
Threat Modeling
1-2 days
Identifying threats and attack vectors:
Microsoft Threat Modeling Tool, OWASP Threat Dragon
- STRIDE modeling (Spoofing, Tampering, Repudiation, etc.)
- Attack surface analysis
- Identification of critical assets and sensitive data
- Mapping of threat actors and attack scenarios
- Risk prioritization by impact and likelihood
- 03
Security controls
1-2 days
Defining the required controls and mitigations:
Framework: OWASP ASVS, NIST Cybersecurity Framework
- Recommended security controls for each layer
- Authentication and authorization design
- Encryption strategy (in transit and at rest)
- Logging, monitoring and incident response
- Privacy controls (LGPD, GDPR)
- 04
Documentation and roadmap
1 day
Actionable deliverables for the development team:
Alignment workshop with architects and developers
- Review report with findings and recommendations
- A documented, prioritized threat model
- Detailed security requirements
- Secure implementation checklist
- Presentation for stakeholders and the dev team
Indicative durations; each project's schedule is set in the proposal, according to the scope.
Investment: how does Design Review pricing work?
The investment varies with the complexity of the system:
| Size | Typical scope | Estimated timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Simple System | Monolithic application or a single microservice | 3-5 days |
| Moderate System | Microservices architecture (3-10 services) | 5-8 days |
| Complex System | Multiple integrated systems | 8-15 days |
| Enterprise Platform | Full multi-cloud infrastructure | 15-30 days |
Estimated timelines; each project's schedule is set in the proposal, based on scope.
Factors that influence pricing:
- Architecture complexity (monolith vs. microservices)
- Number of systems and integrations
- Criticality and sensitivity of the data
- Regulatory requirements (PCI-DSS, HIPAA, LGPD)
- Team maturity and existing documentation
Why request a quote from us?
- Fixed pricing based on a clearly defined scope
- Initial conversation to understand the context
- Detailed proposal with an execution timeline
- A collaborative model: we work WITH your team
- Less rework by fixing decisions before implementation
Fixing an architecture flaw at the design stage usually costs far less than refactoring code in production.
Frequently asked questions about Design Review
What is the difference between a Design Review and a pentest?
A Design Review analyzes the architecture and design of a system BEFORE implementation, identifying conceptual flaws. A pentest tests a system that has ALREADY been built. Design Review is preventive; a pentest is validative. Ideally, we run a Design Review before development starts and a pentest once implementation is complete.
At what stage of the project should I run a Design Review?
The ideal moment is during the design/architecture phase, before development begins. That said, we also review existing systems to identify architectural improvements. The earlier the review, the lower the cost of fixing what we find.
Do you review cloud architectures?
Yes. We review architectures on AWS, Azure, GCP and hybrid environments, including security configuration, IAM, network security, data protection and cloud compliance requirements.
Does the engagement include hands-on implementation?
We deliver blueprints, technical specifications and an implementation roadmap. When included in the scope, we also follow the implementation as additional consulting, to support applying the recommendations.
Do you review microservices and containers?
Yes. We assess architectures built on microservices, containers (Docker/Kubernetes), service mesh and API gateways, considering the security patterns specific to each.
What is the difference between a Design Review and a Code Review?
A Design Review analyzes the ARCHITECTURE and high-level decisions (before the code exists). A Code Review analyzes the CODE that has already been implemented. Design Review prevents fundamental problems; Code Review catches implementation bugs.
Do I need to have all the documentation ready?
It is not a requirement. If you have diagrams, architecture documents and requirements, great. If you do not, we can run workshops to extract the architecture and document it together.
Do you do Threat Modeling?
Yes. Threat modeling is part of the Design Review, using methodologies such as STRIDE, PASTA or LINDDUN (for privacy), depending on the system.
Do you work with legacy systems?
Yes. Design Review also applies to legacy systems heading for modernization or a cloud migration, to identify risks before the architecture changes.
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Ready for a secure architecture?
Bring security by design into your project. Identify and fix architectural flaws before they turn into real vulnerabilities.
Sending this form neither starts any testing nor authorizes it: testing begins only after the scope is defined and authorized in writing.
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- Phone
- +55 (15) 99745-2589
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- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
- Confidentiality
- NDA before any sensitive information