The Unified Linkage Model: Understanding Cyber Risk
Cyber threats spread through connections, not just systems. The Unified Linkage Model (ULM) reveals how hidden links contribute to real risk.
A notable example is the 2023 Okta breach, where stolen support credentials didn't stop at the identity provider. The breach rippled outward through SaaS integrations, internal legacy applications, and development pipelines.
- SaaS integrations
- Internal legacy applications
- Downstream development pipelines
The attack propagated through quiet linkages binding systems together, rather than directly exploiting Okta's systems.
Most security programs fail to model these linkages, which is a significant problem. Cybersecurity teams are overwhelmed with data, including:
- Asset inventories
- Vulnerability scans
- Threat intelligence feeds
- SBOMs
- Configuration alerts
- Risk dashboards
Despite this, major incidents continue to catch organizations off guard. The issue is not visibility, but structure.
The ULM shows why modeling linkages is crucial for understanding cyber risk.
Author's summary: The Unified Linkage Model reveals hidden links fueling cyber risk.
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