Top 10 Best Practices for Secure SDLC- Must Apply!

The Software Development Life Cycle is a model that outlines the stages of creating an application in sequential phases like requirement gathering, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance. Each phase produces important information for the next step. The main goal of this process is to control development and produce the best software that meets the client’s needs within budget and time constraints.

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In recent years, various models have been developed within the software development framework, each with its advantages and disadvantages. These models include Waterfall, Spiral model, V-Model, Incremental model, and Agile model. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has set out guidelines for software development in the ISO/IEC 27034 standard, which defines the structured process required to create a software product.

What is Secure SDLC?

“The Secure Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) involves including security measures throughout the development process and is applicable to all types of software development processes. This includes tasks like setting security and functional requirements, reviewing code, conducting security tests, analyzing the architecture, and assessing risks.”

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One example is aligning security and business needs while designing and evaluating risks in the architecture at the beginning stages of the SDLC.

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Adherence to the Secure SDLC framework involves a set of activities, carried out to guarantee the creation and implementation of a secure application. This strategy emphasizes the incorporation of security measures at the initial stages of a project or software development life cycle.

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47% of software development companies consider data breaches to be the biggest risk associated with adopting new technologies.

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Software Development Chain vs SDLC

When discussing software supply chain attacks in SDLC security, it is important to differentiate between the two concepts.

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The software supply chain includes all elements involved in an organization’s application development, such as people, processes, dependencies, and tools in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). It offers a wide perspective on the complete ecosystem related to software creation, distribution, and maintenance. On the other hand, the SDLC is a specific framework that directs the development and release of a particular software product.

Why is SDLC Security Important?

It is essential to have secure software development lifecycle processes in place to safeguard against cyber threats and attacks, reduce the chances of data breaches, meet regulatory requirements, and uphold customer confidence.

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However, many organizations face a significant gap in their software supply chain coverage due to the numerous attack vectors present throughout the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). It is essential to consider the risks associated with developer accounts, repositories, and misconfigured tools within organizations that could be vulnerable to compromise or data leaks.

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While teams have traditionally relied on tools like Static Application Security Test (SAST) and Software Composition Analysis (SCA), these alone may not provide adequate protection for modern organizations.

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Instead of putting money into dealing with breaches, companies can choose to invest in cybersecurity to safeguard their assets. This is where Secure SDLC becomes important. Hiring ethical hackers and implementing methodologies such as Secure SDLC (Secure Software Development Life Cycle), helps companies effectively address security issues at a reasonable cost by identifying vulnerabilities at the early stages of the development process.

What are the Phases of SDLC?

The main goal of the Secure SDLC is not to completely substitute traditional security measures such as penetration testing. Instead, it focuses on integrating security throughout the development process and offering security-based procedures and advice to develop secure applications.

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The main phases of an SDLC include:

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Requirement Gathering

In the first stage, various participants provide input on new feature requirements. It is important to also collect security requirements during this stage. Following this, a comprehensive risk assessment of the requirements is conducted.

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Activities in This Phase are:

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• Gathering security considerations related to functional requirements.
• Conducting an overall risk assessment.

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Design

During the design phase, we build on the functional and security requirements collected during the requirement-gathering phase. This step involves defining the software architecture and design with a focus on meeting both functional and security needs. Functional requirements outline what the software should do, while security requirements outline what it should not do.

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Activities in This Phase are:

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• Design review
• Threat modeling

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Implementation

The product’s functional and security requirements are put into action. This stage includes creating security procedures and policies and using secure coding methods to apply security mechanisms. Failure to apply these mechanisms correctly can make the software vulnerable to attacks.

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Activities in This Phase are:

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• Following secure coding practices.
• Conducting Static Application Security Testing (SAST).
• Using Software Composition Analysis (SCA).

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Testing

Testing is essential to spot software weaknesses and make sure security measures work well. It’s also important for dealing with possible security risks. Various rounds of testing are done to check that the system doesn’t have any common vulnerabilities. This testing process may involve automated tools or manual testing, depending on the product’s needs. This phase plays a key role in the SSDLC’s success.

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Activities in This Phase are:

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• Code Review
• Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Assessment

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Deployment

This step involves launching and using the product in the production environment, as well as testing all security controls established during the design and development phases. Additionally, the configurations of the deployment environment are examined to guarantee the product’s secure development.

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Activities in This Phase are:

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• Configuration Review
• Security Assessment

10 Best Practices to Secure the SDLC

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DevSecOps Practices

One effective strategy is to prioritize software security right from the beginning. This means incorporating security measures into the code itself, which then establishes a foundation for protection throughout the software development life cycle (SDLC). It’s important to not only focus on securing the code but also take steps to protect dependencies, containers, infrastructure, and other aspects of a modern application.

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Security Requirements

It is important to update security requirements whenever new threats emerge in order to protect the software from more advanced and innovative threats.

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Threat Modeling

Threat modeling is an important process that helps improve speed and security. It involves predicting possible security issues and assessing their severity and risk to address them before they cause problems. This best practice in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) allows developers to think about security threats early on in the development stage, which makes it easier to fix any vulnerabilities in the source code.

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Secure Design Principles

Standardization is a highly beneficial practice in secure software development life cycles (SDLC). It helps to create a systematic approach for coding and allows for ongoing enhancements in security measures. To implement standardization effectively, it is recommended to establish design guidelines for new code. Additionally, approving tools at different stages of the SDLC can serve as reminders for developers to include necessary security measures during the development process.

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Open Source Components

Open source components can increase software development speed, though it’s crucial to consider security risks. It is advisable to employ software composition analysis (SCA) tools and open-source code analyzers. These tools help identify vulnerabilities within third-party components and enable timely resolution during the development process.

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SCA tools help ensure license compliance, which makes it easier for developers to maintain a quick development pace while following open-source license rules.

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Code Reviews

A helpful method is to utilize a static analysis security testing tool. This tool examines code quality through semantic analysis and AI. This process aids in creating secure code. The code review team can subsequently examine the script’s logic and purpose for security and code quality evaluation.

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Penetration Testing

A code review examines the code for vulnerabilities, but penetration testing goes beyond that by testing the application’s security. This process involves a security expert attempting to attack the application to find weaknesses or risks. Penetration testing is an advanced approach to risk management during code development. It is usually conducted after the initial code development phase in the SDLC.

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Read More on Our Blog: Automated vs Manual Pentesting: What’s Your Choice?

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Vulnerability Management

The objective of vulnerability management is to decrease the organization’s risk by fixing as many vulnerabilities as possible. It uses a variety of solutions and tools to address and prevent cyber threats, the most common of which are vulnerability scanners, patch management, configuration management, and penetration testing.

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Standard Incident Response

Even with advanced measures in place, security incidents can still occur. It is crucial to have a dedicated team with defined roles to quickly respond to and address any security breaches. Mock drills and testing emergency procedures can better prepare your team for handling real-life security incidents. Disaster recovery testing also assists in planning for extreme situations.

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Security Audits

A security audit is a comprehensive and potentially costly process that should not be undertaken frequently. However, if your objective is to ensure a truly secure Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), it is worth considering. Involving external professionals in the audit can increase your application’s security to a level that may not be achievable through internal security testing alone.

Final Takeaway for a Secure SDLC

These practices help your software developers create top-notch software without compromising security. Secure SDLC best practices ensure that your software is safe and won’t pose risks to your business or others.

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With ioSENTRIX, you can greatly simplify the process of adhering to industry best practices. For a detailed understanding of how we can assist in meeting your requirements efficiently and increasing productivity, contact us today.

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