Design Reviewfor Security
Architectural analysis to identify design flaws and implement Security by Design. Architecture review, threat modeling and secure blueprints for modern projects.
The Design Review Includes:
- Complete architecture analysis
- Structured threat modeling
- Data flow review
- Attack surface identification
- Security control assessment
- Security architecture blueprint
- Secure design recommendations
- Implementation roadmap
- Compliance mapping
- Detailed technical documentation
Why a Security Design Review?
Fixing design flaws during the planning phase is 10x cheaper than fixing them after implementation. Security by design is the future.
Architectural Expertise
Specialists in modern security architecture
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 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
Design Review: Prevention Beats Remediation
Fixing design flaws during implementation costs 10x more than fixing them during planning. A Design Review catches problems before they turn into real vulnerabilities in production.
Our Design Review Methodology
A structured process that combines architectural analysis, threat modeling and security by design principles.
1. Architecture Analysis
Analysis of the current architecture
- • Document review
- • Component mapping
- • Data flow analysis
2. Threat Identification
Threat identification
- • Attack surface mapping
- • Entry point analysis
- • Threat enumeration
3. Security Assessment
Control assessment
- • Control effectiveness
- • Gap analysis
- • Risk assessment
4. Design Recommendations
Design recommendations
- • Secure architecture
- • Control design
- • Implementation guide
5. Documentation
Detailed documentation
- • Security blueprint
- • Implementation roadmap
- • Best practices guide
Full Design Review Scope
Comprehensive coverage, from architectural components through to technical deliverables you can implement.
Architecture Components
Frequently Asked Questions About Design Review
Common questions about design review and security architecture.
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.
Investing in a Design Review
Pricing is based on architectural complexity, the number of components and the depth of analysis required.
Ready for a Secure Architecture?
Bring security by design into your project. Identify and fix architectural flaws before they turn into real vulnerabilities.
Sales Email
WhatsApp/Phone
+55 (15) 99745-2589
Design Review specialists: Security by Design • Threat Modeling • Cloud & On-premise Architecture • Technical blueprints • Assisted implementation
Why Review Your Security Design Before You Build?
According to Microsoft, fixing design flaws after implementation costs 30x more. A Design Review identifies security architecture problems during the planning phase, before a single line of code is written. Prevention is always cheaper than remediation: the wrong architectural decisions can compromise the security of the entire system.
Key risks of not running a pentest:
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
Our design review examines architecture, threat modeling, security controls and data flows before development starts, ensuring solid foundations.
How Does Our Design Review Work?
A methodology based on Threat Modeling and Security by Design:
Architecture Analysis
1-2 daysAn in-depth review of the proposed design:
- 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
Tools: Document review: HLD, LLD, C4 diagrams, sequence diagrams
Threat Modeling
1-2 daysIdentifying threats and attack vectors:
- 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
Tools: Microsoft Threat Modeling Tool, OWASP Threat Dragon
Security Controls
1-2 daysDefining the required controls and mitigations:
- 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)
Tools: Framework: OWASP ASVS, NIST Cybersecurity Framework
Documentation and Roadmap
1 dayActionable deliverables for the development team:
- Review report with findings and recommendations
- A documented, prioritized threat model
- Detailed security requirements
- Secure implementation checklist
- Presentation for stakeholders and the dev team
Tools: Alignment workshop with architects and developers
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 |
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
Free kickoff workshop to understand your context
Proposal within 72 hours
A collaborative model: we work WITH your team
Proven ROI: save 30x by preventing refactors
Proven ROI:
Catching architecture flaws at design time costs 30x less than refactoring code in production.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions about our pentest services
1When should I do a Design Review?
Ideally during the planning phase, BEFORE writing any code. It is also valuable for legacy systems about to be refactored, or to validate architectural decisions during development.
2What 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.
3Do 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.
4Do you do Threat Modeling?
Yes! Threat Modeling is a core part of the Design Review. We identify threats using methodologies such as STRIDE, PASTA or LINDDUN (for privacy).
5How long does it take?
From 3-5 days (simple systems) to 15-30 days (complex enterprise platforms). It depends on the number of components, the integrations involved and the depth you need.
6Do you work with legacy systems?
Yes! Design Review is extremely useful for legacy systems that need modernization or a migration to the cloud. We help identify risks before you move to a new architecture.
7Do you work with cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP)?
Yes! We review cloud-native and serverless architectures, containers (Kubernetes), IaC (Terraform, CloudFormation) and multi-cloud environments. We specialize in the AWS Well-Architected Framework.
8How do I request a quote?
Share your architecture documents (diagrams, HLD/LLD, RFCs) or schedule a free discovery workshop. We will come back with a detailed proposal within 72 hours.
Still have questions?
Get in touch for a free, tailored quote