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Information is at the heart of all business processes and relationships today. Presidents are issuing executive orders on cybersecurity.
Cyberattacks are primarily directed at the software that handles today's data.
This article will cover best practices for building secure software and how to identify and fix vulnerabilities early in the development process when it is cheaper and more effective.
We'll also highlight resources developed by experts that you can use for your software security development.
What is Secure Software Development?
Secure software development (often called DevSecOps) is a method (often used in conjunction with DevSecOps) for developing software that integrates security at every stage of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
The security is built into the code at its inception rather than being addressed only after product testing has revealed critical flaws. Security is incorporated into the planning phase long before any code has been written.
Developers traditionally view security as a barrier to innovation and creativity, which delays product launches.
This mindset hurts a company's bottom line because it is six times more expensive to fix a problem during implementation and fifteen times more expensive during testing.
How happy will the customers be with cool new features if they cannot use the application because it is full of vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit? Today, security is a priority in software engineering.
Organizations must prioritize it to compete.
How can security be a part of SDLC right from the start? Test early and often. Static and dynamic security tests are essential to a secure software development philosophy.
Second, the development team should document software security and functional requirements. A risk analysis can also be helpful to identify environmental threats.
Those organizations that want to provide secure software must lay the groundwork for success by preparing their employees, processes and Technology.
A well-constructed policy for secure software development is the best way to prepare. Every organization that wants to build secure software will need this.
What is a Secure Software Development Policy (SSDDP)?
A secure software policy is a set of guidelines detailing the practices and procedures an organization should use to reduce the risk of vulnerability during software development.
The policy should also provide detailed instructions on viewing, assessing, and demonstrating security throughout each phase of SDLC. This includes risk management methods.
Secure software development policy must establish rules for your people. The team members should be well-informed about their responsibilities, undergo thorough training, and undergo a strict screening process.
Segregating duties will ensure that no single person is in control of or has complete knowledge of a particular project. Testing protocols should be used to evaluate the employee's performance to ensure that all work is up to standard.
A secure software development policy should also include the processes necessary to protect software. Separation of Development, Testing, and Operational Environments is one of the most important.
It breeds autonomy and prevents test bias. Access Control is another crucial process that ensures employees only have access to data relevant to their jobs.
Version control lets you track all code changes and their sources.
As the first step of a tech-related policy for secure software development, it is essential to establish the rules that govern programming languages and coding.
The coding languages themselves can have many vulnerabilities. Developers must, therefore, be educated in the strategies to minimize attack paths. A secure software policy should include instructions on creating secure repositories for managing and storing code.
In some instances, a secure development policy is not only recommended but also required. Organizations adhering to SOC 2 Type 2 and ISO 27001, for example, must have a policy on secure software development.
You can create your policy or use resources such as the ISO 27001 template guide.
Use a Secure Software Development Framework For Consistency And Best Practice
Many organizations gain from aligning practices with an established framework, such as NIST's Secure Software Development Framework.
OWASP, SAFEcode, and other organizations have developed a set of resources for secure software development that provide detailed information on software security. These resources are designed to help reduce, mitigate, and prevent software vulnerabilities.
Look at the NIST recommended processes for secure software development, which are organized into four stages.
- Prepare Organization (PO).: Make sure that the people, processes and Technology of an organization are ready to develop secure software at the organizational level, as well as, in some instances, for individual projects.
- Protect software (PS).: Prevent unauthorized access and modification of all software components.
- Produce Well Secured Software (PW): Software with minimal vulnerabilities in its release.
- Respond To Vulnerabilities: Identify software vulnerabilities and take appropriate action to fix them and prevent future vulnerabilities.
The following elements are included in the definition of each practice:
- Practice: A short statement of the practice, an identifier, and a description of what it is and why it is beneficial.
- Task: A single action or series of actions required to complete a practice.
- Implementation Example: A scenario that can be used to demonstrate the practice.
- Reference: A document describing a secure development process and mappings of the document to a specific task.
The following sections describe NIST's four secure software design processes in depth.
Top 10 Software Security Practices
Developing secure software in today's ever-changing threat environment is challenging. But it's more important than ever as software-related attacks continue to make headlines.
We've compiled a top ten list of best software development practices to help you build the safest possible software and prevent your company from becoming a cyberattack statistic. Here are our top ten best practices for software security development:
Consider Security At The Start
Plan how you'll integrate security in every SDLC phase before writing a code line—Automate testing and monitoring of vulnerabilities immediately.
Integrating security into your code and culture from the beginning is essential.
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Create A Secure Software Development Policy
This document will serve as a guide for preparing people, processes and Technology for secure software development.
This formal policy provides specific instructions on approaching and instrumenting security in each phase. It also defines the roles and governing rules to help you, your processes, and your tools minimize the vulnerability risks in software production.
Employ A Secure Software Development Framework
NIST SSDF is a proven framework that will help your team adhere to best practices for secure software. Frameworks are a great way to answer "What should we do next?" and help all new software developers.
Software Security Can Be Improved By Following Best Practices
Define all security requirements and train developers to code according to these parameters, using only secure coding techniques.
Make sure all third-party vendors understand your security requirements and that they demonstrate compliance posture. They can be an easy path for an attacker.
Protect Code Integrity
Keep all code in secure repositories only authorized personnel can access to prevent tampering. To preserve integrity, strictly regulate all contacts with the code.
Monitor changes and closely supervise the code signing process.
Test And Review Code Often And Early
Test code at the beginning of the SDLC instead of at the end. Use automated testing and developer reviews to examine the code for flaws continuously.
Early detection of vulnerabilities saves time and money while also reducing developer frustration.
Prepare to Mitigate Vulnerabilities Quickly
In software development, vulnerabilities are inevitable. The question is not whether they will occur but when. Be prepared with a plan and processes to deal with incidents in real-time.
The faster you identify vulnerabilities and take action, the shorter the window for exploitation.
Configure Secure Default Settings
Customers are still vulnerable because they don't know how to use their new software. The added touch of customer service ensures that the consumer is protected during the initial stages of adoption.
Use Checklists
During secure software development, there are many moving pieces to monitor and track.
Use action checklists to help your team regularly, such as weekly or month-to-month meetings, to ensure that all security policies and procedures are current and functional.
Stay Agile And Proactive
Wise software developers study vulnerabilities--learning their root causes, spotting patterns, preventing repeat occurrences, and updating their SDLC with improved knowledge.
They keep up with trends and best practices.
Software Developers: Tips to Improve Software Security
You're a developer and know how important it is to follow security best practices. We often miss things because they are not second nature.
We often only realize a security problem after it has occurred, leaving a permanent mark on our minds.
Many instances of poor security practices are revealed when it's too late. Even large companies and experienced developers make mistakes.
We'd like you to know some of the most common mistakes that can be made regarding software security.
Read More: How To Become A Web Developer In 2023
Instead Of Encrypting Passwords, Hash Them
Developers will sometimes use encryption to store their passwords. Someone may find the algorithm or key to decryption.
Hashing is an excellent way to avoid this because it does not have a reverse. It is only possible to reverse the hash if you have mapped a table from plaintext to hash.
Avoid Adding Secret Backdoors To Software
If you have a legitimate reason for doing so, do not add backdoors to access software. It is best to avoid adding backdoor access to the system.
Someone may find it sooner or later. Cyber attackers often use backdoors to their advantage. Backdoors can harm your reputation and make you look like the wrong person stealing data from users safely, installing malware or hijacking devices.
Make Sure To Require User Authentication On Every Page
It's sometimes easy to skip necessary steps in software security incidents. Not requiring authentication for every page is a common problem.
A copied URL containing confidential information (such as a confirmation page) can be opened in another browser without requiring login details. It shouldn't happen this way. Instead, ask for login information instead of showing the webpage directly.
Prepare A Plan For Security Patching
It is your responsibility as a hire software developer to ensure that your software is always up-to-date and secure by providing regular basis software updates and patches.
Patch critical Security Flaws Quickly Before An Attacker Can Exploit Them.
Test Your Software Before You Release It
Testing is a great way to find security holes in software. It's crucial to test software thoroughly before publishing it, whether simple or complex.
Tests should be conducted (such as checking performance on various platforms and testing input conditions). You can provide software security even before problems arise.
Use A Code Signing Certificate
Sign your software using a Code Signing Certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority to increase your reputation.
Sign your software with a Code Signing Certificate issued by a trusted Certificate Authority to increase its reputation. You will benefit in several ways.
- Unsigned software can cause security warnings
- Demonstrate the reliability of your software
- Verify the integrity of software
- Boost the confidence of your customers
Keep Coding Standards Consistent
The coding format should be based on the programming language. The guide should include topics like the non-ASCII representation of characters, file naming standards, and wild card imports.
Avoid adding rules that do not improve your code's reliability, maintenance, consistency, security or security.
Create & Share Libraries To Perform Common Tasks
Create, maintain, and share libraries to perform repetitive tasks such as input validation of everyday items like phone numbers or names.
Add Test Cases & Security Requirements
Classify all requirements correctly, such as functional and non-functional requirements. Develop use cases, misuse scenarios, and what an attacker can do.
You should include items you'd like to add to your allowlist rather than blocklist. Use approved encryption both for data in transit as well as data at rest.
Understanding The Technology Used For Software Development
It is essential to thoroughly understand the existing components, such as hardened hosts (hardened computers), network segregation, and PKI.
This will ensure that your software is fully functional and robust in terms of security. It is essential to have a good understanding of the technologies you use when developing software. This will help you improve the layer of security vulnerabilities.
Ensure Sensitive Information Is Protected
Losing critical information about a business, like credit card numbers or health records, could be fatal and lead to a loss in revenue or reputation.
It should be protected at all costs to avoid it being compromised.
While developing software, you should consider the classification and protection mechanisms for data against disclosure, destruction or alteration.
Classifying data, for example, is the decision to determine its sensitivity level that helps determine what level of data should be secured.
Databases Can Only Be Called By Stored Procedures
Use stored procedures. This will protect your web application from SQL injection attacks, where database statements are sent as strings of SQL commands instead of using parameterized procedures.
Sanitize Inputs
Input sanitization can be a great way to clean, filter, and verify data entered by users. You'll be able to avoid any attacks that are related.
Control User Access
Be careful about whom you grant access to and what features would be best. You should only give access to users who need it.
It is essential to consider this when designing your software, as it can be time-consuming later.
Implementing access control rules in a central management library is a better option than inserting them throughout the logic of business codes.
It is then easier to audit and update rules when needed. You can also make a rule denying access by default and verify that the user can proceed and use any features or functionality.
Handle Errors And Exceptions Correctly
No one will enjoy the task of handling exceptions and errors. It's best to handle it correctly. It's better to handle it correctly.
You can, for example, avoid providing an error message in detail, as this can reveal technical information about a runtime system that could be useful to an attacker.
Third-Party Tools
If you use third-party tools to integrate with your internal security, you must ensure they are compatible. Make sure, for example, that the third-party tools you integrate with are in sync with your security measures.
If they have any problems, it could affect you as well. Cloud backup is a good example. Cloud backup services differ in terms of features and security. You must ensure that you are using a provider who does not compromise on security.
Security Management Framework
You'll need your existing and targeted software security architectural frameworks to create a secure framework aligned with your business objectives, ensuring complete regulatory and internal conformance.
Human Error
Most errors are caught. However, some configurations or code can sneak into the production environment, compromising software security.
One tiny error can lead to a severe security issue. It's best to use templates when configuring standard settings, double-check your code before finalizing it and automate specific everyday tasks to avoid typographical errors.
Reviewing Code
Often, the codes and scripts used to configure, change, shut down or start any service in production should be reviewed.
To reduce the risk of poor coding, you should define your deployment process. Determine the prerequisite dependencies and remove any redundant or unnecessary steps. When necessary, perform steps manually.
Review and manage the scripts used to assist.
Maintaining Compliance With Privacy, Governance And Regulations
You can map the necessary security controls if you understand the policies governing your business. It would also be helpful if you adhered to the privacy requirements and implemented security controls for the software.
Software Security Tenets
Developers should know some basic principles when it comes to software security. As an example,
- Protection against disclosure
- Protecting your data from alteration
- Who should make the request?
- What rights and privileges should the requestor be granted?
- Manage configuration, exceptions and sessions correctly.
Finally, developers must be aware of the basic principles and how to implement them in software which offers adequate security.
Logging & Monitoring
Implement features to monitor logins and high-volume transactions. Also, implement features that track failed login attempts and the frequency of user requests.
Once you begin monitoring this activity, you should ensure that there is an alert threshold to alert you if any suspicious activity occurs. You can also log the data separately from your local server and perform a penetration test scan.
Avoid Components With Known Vulnerabilities
Update any third-party libraries you use. For example, those that need to be updated regularly have a higher chance of being vulnerable to security.
If updates are available, it is recommended that you update as soon as possible, as they usually contain fixes for previously discovered vulnerabilities. Source control platforms like GitHub will allow you to monitor and prioritize issues.
Authorization
Prioritize the implementation of Authorization. It's often forgotten and, as a result, becomes a vulnerability that can lead to leakage or modification of information without the user's knowledge.
Developers usually check the session the user requests and then respond to the parameter in the query. In the case of API, the developer will pass the parameter value after the login has been verified.
Developers should instead start checking for Authorization and not only rely on authentication.
Commentaries On Critical Information Should Be Avoided
Many programmers include critical information in comments that shouldn't. Although general comments can be helpful, important information like file names relating to the software, code fragments, and hardcoded codes should not be included.
If something goes wrong, and an attacker or unauthorized person gets their hands on the application and reverse engineers it, it could be fatal.
Configure Security Settings Correctly
No matter how robust your security measures may be, they are still vulnerable to attacks. Your software can be vulnerable to attack if the security processes settings aren't configured correctly.
For example, outdated libraries may make your software vulnerable.
Programming Language
Choose programming languages that allow you to eliminate entire error classes at runtime. Look for languages with features like static typing, managed memories, strong typing or immutable information.
Composition And Interface Instead Of Inheritance
Avoid overusing inheritance. Overuse of inheritance can reduce the testability and reusability of object-oriented codes.
It would be best if you always started with interfaces and then composition.
Make Your Codes Readable
Write readable code so that it can be understood even a year after the fact by someone who is in a rush or hasn't worked on your project.
You may know why this is important if you have worked on others' projects.
Continue To Educate Yourself And Other Team Members
Every developer has a responsibility to ensure software security. Cyber-attacks are on the rise, and despite taking security measures and establishing a secure infrastructure, they still happen.
Data often needs to be recovered. You and your compliance team members must stay up-to-date with the latest technologies because security posture threats will not diminish.
Having the proper education and awareness will help prevent these attacks.
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Wrapping up
To develop or program secure software, you must thoroughly understand the malicious code safe and associated security risk assessment.
With the above security measures and proper awareness amongst software developer, you can quickly detect and prevent potential risks while improving software security.
