Information at the core of every business transaction and process is at risk. From presidents signing executive directives on cybersecurity to data breaches that can cost businesses millions of dollars, the software responsible for handling important information today is the main target for cyberattacks.
Software engineers can incorporate security as an integral part of their development. However, they must be properly trained, and equipped. In an upcoming Twitter Space conversation, New Relic’s Harry Kimpel & Frank Dornberger discussed the importance of establishing an understanding of security that goes beyond application vulnerability to include application integrity and reliability of the system.
It is important to emphasize that security is an integral part of the SDLC starting from requirements all the way to the release and testing. It’s helpful to more information use an appropriate framework like the NIST Secure Software Design Framework to provide structure and consistency to team efforts and ensure that they follow best practices.
Because they are likely to be patched often, using popular and well-maintained frameworks and libraries can help reduce the vulnerability of your software. Additionally, making sure that all third-party components are reviewed for security issues and are in compliance with your organization’s policies can be beneficial. In order to better understand the potential risks associated with open source components, it is important to keep an inventory, or a software bill of materials that covers all your components.
The most effective security can be integrated in the daily practices of work and team culture. Promoting a positive, collaborative work culture, encouraging team happiness, and improving the communication between teams can all lead to better, more long-lasting software security.