What kind of analysis involves breaking a system down into key elements such as trust boundaries and data flow paths?

The correct answer is reduction analysis. This type of analysis focuses on breaking down a system into its fundamental components, which is essential for understanding how different elements interact and where potential vulnerabilities may lie. In reduction analysis, key elements such as trust boundaries and data flow paths are identified and examined, allowing analysts to see how information moves through the system and where it might be at risk.

By understanding these critical components, security professionals can more effectively identify potential threats and weaknesses. Trust boundaries help to delineate where different security postures are applied, indicating areas that require closer inspection for vulnerabilities. Similarly, mapping data flow paths highlights how data is processed and stored within the system, making it easier to pinpoint points of failure or risk.

Other analysis methods like vulnerability assessments focus more on identifying security weaknesses without necessarily breaking down the system structure in the same way. Fuzzing is a testing technique that inputs random data to find vulnerabilities but does not involve analyzing system components like trust boundaries. Data modeling, while it does involve understanding how data flows, is generally broader in scope and may not focus specifically on the trust and security aspects of the system in the same analytical depth as reduction analysis.