Security-focused development strategy is crucial on today's business landscape. Of course, accounting for security every step of the development process will likely add more time and cost to a business. But these costs reap benefits in the long run. Furthermore, the lack of a security consideration may very well mean that organizations are more prone to cyberattacks. That could easily turn catastrophic, particularly given the current pandemic situation.
Take Zoom for example. When the pandemic first prompted countries from all over the world to shut down, many were forced to adopt a Work From Home strategy. The biggest technological enabler came in the form of Zoom. Users adopted the software by the numbers. But it did not take much time for governments and organizations to raise security concerns.
Sure, the situation has improved by now and more people continue to use Zoom every day. But as the Zoom scenario demonstrates, it's not uncommon to see cybersecurity as a compromise for convenience. When UI/UX takes precedence, security takes a back seat during product development. It only takes priority as a reactive measure rather than a proactive one.
For products and services to work at an optimum level, security needs to be part of the design process. After all, the current situation is only amplifying the need for secure products and services. Many people from around the world are trying to achieve normalcy through the comfort of their homes. This means that people, whether tech-savvy or not, are heavily reliant on technology. Security-focused development should not be an optional consideration for organizations.
There are several ways to go about this. Among them includes secure Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). Essentially, secure SDLC is when security is integrated into the usual Software Development Lifecycle. This means that each of the six phases, planning and requirements, design, development, testing, release, and maintenance will account for security. For instance, gathering functional requirements during the planning stage would include security requirements as well. In another instance, the design phase may entail performing an architecturerisk analysis.
Currently, there are many secure SDLC models available. But a couple of notable ones are the NIST Secure Software Development Framework and the Microsoft Security Development Lifecycle (MS SDL).
On a broader sense, security-focused development means having a dedicated security team throughout the development lifecycle. This team would oversee security policies, development processes, and perform security testing tasks such as vulnerability management. Thereby, it is important that sufficient education and training is provided to employees. After all, education and awareness play a major role in the effectiveness of a security-focused development.
Acquiring an adequate understanding of secure coding practices is one way to go about it. Secure coding practices refer to aspects like input validation, access control, database security, cryptographic security, and a host of others. But in general it secure coding practices look something like this.
Furthermore, as with most cybersecurity measures, security-focused development practices are also an ongoing one. Thereby, it is important for the entire development team to keep themselves upto date. Whether it is looking up CVE details or adopting a new methodology to secure development processes around newer technologies like cloud computing, updating your security-focused development is key.
Having said that, having GSuite for Email is not an absolute must (although we recommend it). Additionally, C-YBER can also implement email security for any other email service providers as well. So what are you waiting for, get in touch with us today!
We at C-YBER have a team of experienced professionals at our disposal, ready to cater to your specific requirements. Our services will ensure your organization will receive the best security-focused development has to offer. Our team can facilitate Security Focused Web Development, Mobile Application Development, and Security Focussed Standalone Application development services.
So go ahead and give us a call on (+372) 602 3532. You could also email us to info@c-yber.com.
