Why we use the EBIOS method to analyze cyber risks for our clients

Risk management is not limited to cybersecurity. It is above all a strategic management tool. Every organization is exposed to uncertainties: financial, operational, regulatory, reputational, human, or technological risks.

Managing risks does not mean eliminating them; it means making informed choices:

• What risks are we willing to accept?

• Which ones should we reduce?

• Which ones can we transfer?

• Where should we focus our limited resources?

  
  

Without a structured method, risk management quickly becomes intuitive, fragmented, or purely documentary. Conversely, a rigorous approach allows security decisions to be aligned with the organization's strategic priorities and actual capabilities.

In a context where cyber threats are becoming more professional, regulatory requirements are tightening, and information systems are becoming increasingly interconnected, cyber risk management can no longer be approximate. It must be structured, contextualized, and business-oriented.

It is with this in mind that we use the EBOS Risk Manager method to define and analyze cyber risks for our clients.

What is the EBIOS method?

EBIOS (Expression des Besoins et Identification des Objectifs de Sécurité, or Expression of Needs and Identification of Security Objectives) is a risk analysis method developed by ANSSI.

Its current version, EBIOS Risk Manager, offers a modern approach focused on threat scenarios, business objectives, and real sources of risk.

Unlike purely technical approaches, EBIOS allows the analysis to be anchored in the organization's strategic issues: business continuity, image, compliance, dependence on service providers, protection of sensitive data, etc.

The main advantage of the method lies in its ability to:

• Link cyber risks to concrete business impacts

• Prioritize security actions based on the most credible scenarios

• Facilitate dialogue between technical teams, management, and business units

• Structure a coherent cyber resilience approach

  
  

The main steps of the EBIOS Risk Manager method

The method is structured around five workshops.

Step 1 – Scoping and security foundation

This first step involves defining the scope of the study, critical business objectives, and feared events. It also identifies the existing security foundation, i.e., the measures already in place.

The aim is to establish a clear and shared framework and avoid an analysis that is divorced from reality.

Step 2 – Sources of risk

Here, we identify the actors likely to pose a threat: cybercriminals, competitors, activists, insiders, service providers, governments, etc.

The aim is not to draw up a theoretical list, but to determine which sources of risk are relevant to the client's context (sector, exposure, dependencies, attractiveness).

Step 3 – Strategic scenarios

This step involves modeling how a source of risk could attack the organization by exploiting its dependencies (IT suppliers, IT outsourcing, cloud, partners).

It is often at this stage that vulnerabilities related to the value chain and the digital ecosystem become clear.

Step 4 – Operational scenarios

Here we move down to a more technical level. For each strategic scenario deemed credible, we analyze the possible modes of operation: account compromise, exploitation of a vulnerability, ransomware, data exfiltration, sabotage, etc.

This allows us to concretely assess the likelihood and severity of the scenarios.

Step 5 – Risk treatment

Finally, we define and prioritize the security measures to be implemented. The approach is not to multiply controls, but to target those that actually reduce the most critical risks.

Recommendations may relate to:

• architecture,

• governance,

• detection,

• incident response,

• access management,

• resilience,

• or even contractual agreements with service providers.

  
  

Why this approach makes a difference

One of the major contributions of EBIOS is the better alignment between management, business lines, and IT.

By structuring risk around concrete business impacts, it becomes understandable to decision-makers. Risk is no longer an abstract technical subject: it is objectified, prioritized, and manageable. This visibility makes it possible to make more informed decisions, optimize security investments, and integrate risk management into a performance and cost control strategy.

EBIOS is not a conceptual revolution: it is based on existing best practices. Its added value lies in its practical and guided nature. Whereas standards mainly explain what to do, EBIOS structures the how through concrete, progressive, and decision-oriented workshops. It thus facilitates the operational implementation of organizations. However, EBIOS Risk Manager is fully compatible with standards such as ISO/IEC 27005 and other risk management frameworks.

Finally, the method remains flexible and adaptable to the context and size of the company. In our opinion, adopting this strategic approach from the outset is a key factor in maturity. In an environment where resources are limited (or must be justified), this rigor makes it possible to effectively prioritize truly transformative actions and avoid dispersing efforts.

Embarking on this strategic reflection, even on a small scale, is often the tipping point between passive cybersecurity and sustainable cyber risk management.

An approach that promotes cyber resilience

Beyond risk analysis, EBIOS is a valuable decision-making tool. It enables senior management and steering committees to make informed decisions. Which risks should be accepted? Which should be reduced? Which should be transferred?

In our assignments, we use EBIOS not only to produce a risk map, but above all to build pragmatic roadmaps that are aligned with the IT strategy and the actual capabilities of the organization.

In a world where attacks are no longer a possibility but a probability, structuring your approach using a recognized method such as EBIOS is no longer a luxury. It is a prerequisite for moving from reactive cybersecurity to a true cyber-resilience strategy.