Secure Software Development with sample Vendors and Correlating Strategy By Demetrius Fluker

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The guidelines presented focus on maintaining a robust, secure software development lifecycle (SDLC) with an emphasis on the following areas:

  1. Documented Development Practices: Ensure the organization has secure, standardized development processes, including validation of input, encryption, and data exchange.
  2. Use of Approved Software Components: Approve and regularly update third-party libraries and modules. Ensure they are supported by vendors and aligned with the organization's security standards.
  3. Environment Segregation: Separate development and production environments with strict access controls, ensuring sensitive data is protected.
  4. Secure Error Handling: Ensure proper error handling and output processing for all software applications.
  5. Automated Code Scanning: Regularly scan custom-developed code for potential weaknesses using automated tools.
  6. Penetration Testing and Issue Tracking: Regularly perform penetration testing and track any discovered security weaknesses, prioritizing them for remediation.
  7. Timely Remediation: Ensure that weaknesses are remediated promptly according to service level agreements (SLAs) based on the severity of the issues.
  8. Stakeholder Reporting: Establish regular reporting to stakeholders regarding security weaknesses and mitigation status.

Sample Vendors and Strategies:

Here are sample vendors and corresponding strategies that align with the guidelines:

1. Automated Code Analysis Tools

  • Vendors:

    • Checkmarx: Offers static application security testing (SAST) to find vulnerabilities in code during development.
    • SonarQube: Provides continuous inspection of code quality and security vulnerabilities.
    • Veracode: Delivers comprehensive code scanning for vulnerabilities.

  • Strategy: Integrate static and dynamic application security testing tools into the CI/CD pipeline to ensure early detection of potential vulnerabilities in custom code. Automate code reviews to scan for weaknesses before deployment.

2. Penetration Testing Services

  • Vendors:

    • Rapid7: Offers professional penetration testing services.
    • CrowdStrike: Provides specialized penetration testing services tailored for enterprise software.
    • Cobalt.io: Delivers penetration testing as a service (PTaaS) for continuous assessment.

  • Strategy: Conduct regular penetration testing for all high-risk applications. Implement a process where discovered vulnerabilities are added to the issue tracking system for prompt remediation. Schedule tests during major development milestones or on an annual basis for existing applications.

3. Issue Tracking and Remediation Management

  • Vendors:

    • Jira by Atlassian: A widely-used tool for tracking issues and managing software development processes, including security bugs.
    • ServiceNow: A platform for IT service management that also allows tracking security incidents and issues.
    • Tenable.io: A vulnerability management platform that integrates with development tools to track and prioritize security weaknesses.

  • Strategy: Use issue tracking software to manage all security vulnerabilities discovered through automated scans, penetration tests, or user reports. Prioritize them based on severity and set timelines for resolution. Integrate SLAs to ensure timely remediation aligned with risk exposure.

4. Secure Coding Education and Compliance

  • Vendors:

    • Secure Code Warrior: Provides secure coding training to improve developer skills.
    • Cybrary: Offers online courses on secure software development and best practices.
    • SANS Institute: Provides advanced training in secure coding practices for development teams.

  • Strategy: Provide ongoing secure coding training for developers to ensure they are equipped to follow the organization’s secure development practices. Make secure coding part of performance evaluations and developer onboarding processes.

5. Encryption and Data Protection Tools

  • Vendors:

    • Thales: Provides enterprise encryption solutions for data at rest, in motion, and in use.
    • Entrust: Offers encryption technologies and secure key management.
    • CipherCloud: Provides encryption and tokenization services for sensitive data in cloud applications.

  • Strategy: Ensure all data exchanges and storage within the application development lifecycle use industry-standard encryption. Mandate that developers only use approved encryption algorithms and tools as part of secure software practices.

6. Library and Module Management

  • Vendors:

    • Snyk: Offers a security platform to scan for vulnerabilities in open-source libraries and third-party components.
    • WhiteSource: Provides automated security scanning of third-party libraries for vulnerabilities.
    • GitHub Dependabot: Alerts developers of outdated or vulnerable dependencies in their projects.

  • Strategy: Continuously monitor third-party libraries and modules for vulnerabilities using automated tools. Establish a policy for regularly updating and replacing unsupported or outdated libraries. Ensure that all libraries are vendor-supported and properly maintained.

7. Privacy and Data Governance

  • Vendors:

    • OneTrust: Specializes in privacy management software, enabling companies to maintain compliance with privacy regulations.
    • BigID: Focuses on data discovery and governance, helping organizations manage and protect sensitive information.
    • TrustArc: Offers tools for automating privacy management and compliance.

  • Strategy: Implement privacy by design in all phases of software development. Integrate privacy governance tools that help in identifying sensitive data and ensuring that applications handle privacy data in compliance with regulations such as GDPR and CCPA.

Strategic Approach:

  1. Integration into DevOps: Secure development practices should be part of DevOps workflows. Utilize tools that integrate with CI/CD pipelines, ensuring security checks are performed automatically during the development process.

  2. Continuous Monitoring: Implement continuous monitoring of all deployed applications and libraries. Leverage automated tools to detect new vulnerabilities as they emerge and alert relevant teams for remediation.

  3. Security Culture: Foster a security-first mindset within development teams. Regularly train developers, include security in performance objectives, and reward adherence to security best practices.

  4. Regular Audits and Reviews: Schedule regular security audits, reviews of third-party libraries, and codebase reviews to ensure ongoing compliance with secure development guidelines.

  5. Collaboration and Communication: Regularly communicate with stakeholders on the state of application security. Ensure transparency in reporting security weaknesses and efforts to mitigate risks.

This strategy, supported by these vendors and tools, helps build a robust security posture throughout the software development lifecycle while aligning with modern development practices.




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