In today’s world, building secure software is more important than ever. As technology advances and cyber threats become more sophisticated, it is crucial to take a proactive approach to application security.
In this blog post, I will discuss what it means to build a secure software in 2023 and how to address possible threats from an application security perspective.
I will also outline the activities needed at every stage of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
Threats to Application Security
Before we dive into the activities needed for building secure software, let’s first understand the possible threats that we need to address. Here are some of the most common threats to application security:
- Data breaches: This occurs when unauthorised access is gained to sensitive data stored in the application’s database. This can be due to vulnerabilities in the application’s code or server.
- Injection attacks: This occurs when malicious code is injected into the application’s input fields, which can lead to data manipulation or theft.
- Cross-site scripting (XSS): This occurs when an attacker injects malicious scripts into a web page viewed by other users, leading to the execution of the script on the user’s browser.
- Denial of Service (DoS) attacks: This occurs when attackers flood the application with traffic, leading to a slowdown or complete shutdown of the application.
Activities for Secure Software Development
To mitigate these and many others threats, it is essential to take a proactive approach to application security. Here are some of the activities that should be undertaken at every stage of the SDLC:
Planning stage
- Define security requirements for the application.
- Identify potential threats and vulnerabilities.
- Develop a security plan and assign roles and responsibilities.
Design stage
- Create a threat model to identify and address potential threats.
- Design the application with security in mind, including secure coding practices and data encryption.
- Conduct a security review of the design.
Development stage
- Develop the application using secure coding practices, including input validation and error handling.
- Use automated security testing tools to identify vulnerabilities.
- Implement secure development processes, such as code reviews and testing (negative testing)
Testing stage
- Perform thorough security testing, including penetration testing and vulnerability scanning/assessment.
- Conduct user acceptance testing to ensure security requirements are met.
- Address any identified vulnerabilities and retest
Deployment stage
- Implement secure deployment processes, such as continuous integration and deployment.
- Monitor the application for security incidents and respond quickly to any detected incidents.
- Conduct ongoing security testing and updates
In short version
Conclusion
By understanding the possible threats and undertaking the necessary activities at every stage of the SDLC, we can address potential vulnerabilities and ensure that our application is secure.
As we move into 2023, it is essential for developers to prioritise application security and take the necessary steps to protect the users and data from cyber attacks.
