Most software developers and companies implement a Software Development Lifecycle process for internal software, front-facing apps, etc. Moreover, they enjoy the benefits of a secure SDLC.
Growing concerns about the risks associated with insecure products have shifted many organizations’ viewpoints. Most now focus on integrating security at every stage of the software development process.
As the rate of cybercrimes increases rapidly, attacks are getting more sophisticated in the ways they exploit vulnerabilities. That’s why software security testing has become more vital than ever.
By adopting a Secure Software Development Lifecycle methodology, you can detect and address vulnerabilities early in applications. What’s more, this approach is easy to implement at every stage of your SDLC.
Whether you’re a developer or run a company, here are some interesting benefits of secure SDLC to ponder.
Shifts Stakeholder Awareness to Security
The business world is competitive, and every company is striving to stay at the top. Software enterprises want to develop secure products for their customers. Other companies rely upon robust software to manage operations.
Designing and developing such software is already challenging—nevermind the security aspect.
More often than not, organizations perform software testing towards the end of the software development lifecycle. At this stage, the pressure is on as release dates are often looming.
With limited time, organizations or development teams could miss major flaws, ignore “smaller” vulnerabilities, or fail to thoroughly test the software. These oversights could ruin a business’ reputation.
With the rise in cybercrime, organizations are shifting their focus towards Secure SDLC, a method where security is embedded into all the stages of development. Most developers often think that applying security to every stage will slow down processes, but SSDLC actually does the opposite. It offers an efficient way to integrate security seamlessly into software development processes.
One of the benefits of a Secure SDLC is that stakeholders become more security conscious, working together to ensure that the software application is secure.
Helps Detect Issues Early
Another benefit of a Secure SDLC is early detection. If you apply security testing protocols at the early stages of development, you can detect errors or vulnerabilities before they become major issues.
This saves developers a lot of time and energy required to address the problems at an advanced stage. Besides that, it also helps to reduce the cost of implementing security fixes to resolve the bugs, which can later pose risks to end users.
Software issues are much easier to solve when you catch them early. An undetected problem might require a complete change to the software’s architecture.
Making amendments and resolving issues earlier rather than later ensures a solid foundation for your software to be built from the ground up.
Reduces Risks and Costs
Cyberattacks are an ongoing threat, and bad actors keep finding ways to bypass established security features and exploit victims.
Organizations that don’t adopt Secure SDLC will have a large number of vulnerabilities to deal with in the deployment phase of the software.
This can create unnecessary pressure while they try to meet release deadlines. In this case, the organization can either miss the deadline or release insecure products to the public (or internal personnel)—none of these options is good for business growth.
Additionally, the cost of resolving errors at the early stage of development is minimal compared to the later stages. According to one survey, resolving a security issue during the requirement or planning stage costs around $10.
But identifying this same bug in the deployment stage that requires changes to the software might cost you around $2,000.
Making security testing a primary focus in your software development process ensures that your final product turns out to be secure and protected for your customers, employees, and third-parties to use. This, in turn, reduces other risks, such as legal penalties, financial losses, or even losing your customers’ information.
Gives Testers Time to Be Thorough
Creating a successful software product takes a lot of hard work and precision. What’s the point of developing or using a product that’s not secure? All industries are competitive, so top-notch products and services are a must to stay in business.
Implementing a Secure Software Development Life Cycle gives your development team the required time to create the best products for your customers and business.
Since software testing is done at every stage, any bugs or issues can be addressed effectively.
As such, the development team stays on track and plans the software release accordingly. With SSDLC, there won’t be any surprise bugs when the production phase hits.
Conversely, when security testing is left for later, there won’t be enough time to address any issues properly, and this can affect the software quality, and subsequently, your business operations, finances, and reputation.
Sculpts an Internal Security Culture
Another benefit of adopting a Secure Software Development Life Cycle is the internal security culture it helps create.
We all know that humans are the weakest link in the cybersecurity chain.
Cyberattackers can appeal to their emotions to compromise systems and network resources. They can click on email phishing links or believe a compelling story from the bad guys. Hence, humans need a security framework that helps them understand what to do and when to do it.
Having a sustainable internal security culture will help the development team understand that security is everyone’s responsibility. A company with a good security culture is likely to catch errors—not only during software development progress—but in other areas of the organization too.
Final Thoughts
Security has become a non-negotiable aspect of the Software Development Life Cycle. If you want to strive in your industry, you can’t ignore software development security.
The benefits of a secure SDLC are endless, and by adopting it, you’ll safeguard your company against financial risk, reputational damage, and legal penalties. Plus, your development team will save time and resources with early detection.
Whether you’re developing software for your internal operations or consumers, robust and watertight software can improve revenues and increase overall business growth.
Educate your development team on the best coding practice, frameworks, and tools. Having a team that focuses on security and functionality is vital to successful software development. If you haven’t adopted a Secure Software Development Life Cycle, now is the time to get on board.
The post The Benefits of Secure SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) appeared first on EasyDMARC.
*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from EasyDMARC authored by Knarik Petrosyan. Read the original post at: https://easydmarc.com/blog/the-benefits-of-secure-sdlc-software-development-life-cycle/
Source: https://securityboulevard.com/2022/09/the-benefits-of-secure-sdlc-software-development-life-cycle/
