A method for managing threats using simulated components of aircraft networks, the method comprising: identifying characteristics of the components of the aircraft networks; receiving user input for a modification to a number of the characteristics of the components, wherein the modification represents a threat to a component in the components; generating virtual implementations of the components based on the modification to the number of the characteristics of the components; performing a simulation of the aircraft networks that includes the virtual implementations of the components processing virtual flight test data generated by the virtual implementations of the components; receiving user input selecting a plurality of the components of the aircraft networks; comparing the virtual flight test data for the selected plurality of the components to previous virtual flight test data performed in a previous simulation to form a comparison; displaying a first real time view of the processing of the simulation based on the comparison, wherein the first real time view shows state changes for the selected plurality of the components; modifying characteristics of the component in the components to form modified characteristics; modifying the virtual implementation of the component based on the modified characteristics; performing a subsequent simulation of the aircraft networks that includes the components processing subsequent virtual flight test data; determining whether the threat was reduced by the modified characteristics of the component based on the subsequent virtual flight test data; and displaying a second real time view of the processing of the virtual flight test data that shows subsequent state changes for the selected plurality of the components based on the modified characteristics of the component, wherein the second real time view shows whether the threat was reduced by the modified characteristics of the component. identifying characteristics of the components of the aircraft networks; receiving user input for a modification to a number of the characteristics of the components, wherein the modification represents a threat to a component in the components; generating virtual implementations of the components based on the modification to the number of the characteristics of the components; performing a simulation of the aircraft networks that includes the virtual implementations of the components processing virtual flight test data generated by the virtual implementations of the components; receiving user input selecting a plurality of the components of the aircraft networks; comparing the virtual flight test data for the selected plurality of the components to previous virtual flight test data performed in a previous simulation to form a comparison; displaying a first real time view of the processing of the simulation based on the comparison, wherein the first real time view shows state changes for the selected plurality of the components; modifying characteristics of the component in the components to form modified characteristics; modifying the virtual implementation of the component based on the modified characteristics; performing a subsequent simulation of the aircraft networks that includes the components processing subsequent virtual flight test data; determining whether the threat was reduced by the modified characteristics of the component based on the subsequent virtual flight test data; and displaying a second real time view of the processing of the virtual flight test data that shows subsequent state changes for the selected plurality of the components based on the modified characteristics of the component, wherein the second real time view shows whether the threat was reduced by the modified characteristics of the component.