Written by Laurent Dupont

How to Choose a Threat Modeling Training That Actually Works

You wouldn’t ship code without testing—so why trust your security training without validation?

For security-minded architects or professionals like yourself, the challenge isn’t convincing leadership that training is necessary. The challenge is finding training that doesn’t waste time, fits real-world systems, and actually empowers teams to do threat modeling—independently, consistently, and effectively.

Let’s walk through the key criteria you need to evaluate before investing in a threat modeling training. Whether you’re scaling a security program or rolling out secure-by-design development across teams, this guide will help you make the right choice.

1. 🛠 Prioritize Hands-On Over Theoretical

The biggest red flag in any threat modeling training? Too much talking, not enough doing.

You want a course that teaches by doing—with real-world exercises, guided walkthroughs, and at least 60% of the time spent applying techniques to systems. Toreon’s approach, for example, puts participants in the driver’s seat, running practical scenarios that mirror the systems they work on daily (see how it works).

✅ Look for:

Realistic system models to practice on
Individual feedback on submitted threat models
At least one exercise done independently post-training

2. 💡 Pick a Course Grounded in Practice, Not Academia

Theory is fine—but if it doesn’t help you secure a real product, it’s not useful.

Your training should teach repeatable, actionable steps. Not an encyclopedia of frameworks. Not a checklist from a textbook. Great training helps your dev and AppSec teams run their own sessions, not just recognize STRIDE terms.

For example, Toreon’s method focuses on four core questions to model threats in a way that teams actually remember and use (learn more).

✅ Ask:

Does this method fit your team’s delivery pace?
Can I teach this to others?
Are the examples relevant to my tech stack and workflows?

3. 🧑‍🏫 Instructor Experience Matters More Than Slides

If the trainer hasn’t modeled threats on production systems, why should your team trust them?

The instructor must bring in-the-trenches experience, lead discussions, answer tough questions, and adapt as needed. Pre-recorded videos can’t do that. Live coaching during exercises is a game-changer.

Toreon always brings in seasoned threat modelers who’ve worked on real systems—from cloud to embedded tech.

✅ Evaluate:

Is the training delivered live, in-person or virtual?
Is the trainer an active threat modeling practitioner?
Can the trainer adjust examples to your domain?

4. 🧩 Adaptability to Your Tech and Team

Your threat modeling context matters.

A strong training adapts to your organization’s architecture, maturity, and tooling—whether that’s microservices, embedded systems, AI models, or monoliths.

Toreon regularly integrates customer-specific systems into the workshop, tailoring use cases while still meeting learning goals. That’s how you build buy-in from developers and AppSec teams alike.

✅ Check:

Can the training incorporate your systems (safely)?
Are exercises group-based to simulate real workshop dynamics?
Is cultural and language diversity considered?

5. 🧰 Templates, Takeaways & Ongoing Updates

Threat modeling isn’t static—your training shouldn’t be either.

Look for courses that include up-to-date templates, risk-ranking methods, and reporting formats. Also, ask how often the content is updated. With AI, cloud-native apps, and compliance shifts, your training must evolve.

Toreon updates its course at least annually and recently added AI threat modeling modules based on real client demand.

✅ Ask:

Are there templates for diagrams, reports, and risk assessment?
Is the content revised regularly?
Is there a feedback loop for continuous improvement?

🧩 Wrapping Up: What “Good” Looks Like

Choosing a threat modeling training is not about ticking boxes. It’s about enabling your teams to think critically, act decisively, and do threat modeling—without relying on external consultants.

The right training is:

Practical, not academic
Hands-on, not just lectures
Customizable to your systems and teams
Delivered by experts who’ve done the work
Continuously updated for modern threats

Ready to empower your team with training that sticks?

About the Author

Seba Deleersnyder is the editor of the Threat Modeling Insider newsletter and a passionate advocate for practical security solutions. With years of experience in the field, he continues to curate insights and build communities that make threat modeling more accessible to everyone.