To Feel Secure or to Be Secure, That Is the Question

Abstract

The title of this volume is “Security by design”. This can be read as a statement, as an expression of confidence that it is possible to be secure by design. In that case the obvious next step is to think about possible ways of ensuring security by design, starting, for instance, with the solutions that have been developed to solve the seemingly analogous problems of safety or prevention by design. But what if the title had been “Security by design?” or in other words a question rather than a statement? In that case the title would not be taken as an expression of confidence but rather as an admission of uncertainty or even of impotence, a possible doubt of whether security can be ensured by design. The obvious next step would then be to take a closer look at the two central concepts, namely “security” and “design”. The current chapter will do just that.