Building Secure Software: Why It Matters
Why do you need to develop secure software?
What is S-SDLC?
Every company churning out software has a Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)—it’s the bread and butter of getting code from brain to production. But we are now heading to something more focused on security: Secure SDLC.
Probably you are not a security master Mr. Robot…, but no problem, with proper training and guidance, teams can have light in the dark and avoid chaos.
This isn’t a one-off deal —it’s a commitment to constant improvement, woven into every stage of development and operations, a long-term and constant effort.
Some ideas to start:
Good practices should be embedded into the DNA of the process, proactive actions should be taken across the organization, gaping holes for attackers.
Detect, avoid, fix defects and vulnerabilities that could be exploited during the entire lifecycle. Watch tolerance for mediocrity: errors, bugs, and poor quality. They are a big deal.
Software that’s tough as nails and does exactly what it’s meant to do—no funny business. The software is robust and does what is designed for
There should be no flaws on the overall process: CI-CD pipelines, third-party tools, libraries, controls, deployment, maintenance, change requests, fixes, patches, or updates..
By implementing this SSDLC, you will save money, as avoiding bugs, flaws from design is much easier and cheaper than removing and fixing them once they have been exploited.
You have a defined process with checkpoints and controls in place, a structured process. Use some semi-automated tools to test the code. There are a few models you can investigate: agile, cycle-based, waterfall, and please research more about Microsoft SDL, OWASP, NIST, DevSecOps frameworks so you can understand techniques, procedures accordingly
It’s just not pentesting, S-SDLC goes broader— think uploading apps to stores, nailing authentication, and securing every little operation in the cycle. It’s the full business of software security.
Features vs. Security: Why Not Both?
Let’s face it: many companies treat software development like a race to pile on shiny new features. In this mad world where the big features of blockchain AI-powered stuff are the shiny star…, security sometimes gets downgraded to a second-class citizen.
‘Security? Oh, we’ll get to that later,’ they say as if it’s the broccoli kids push to the side of the plate.
Beware of the tight deadlines. “Ship it now, fix it later” becomes the mantra, and security gets shoved into the “later” pile that never gets touched.
But security is not a “nice-to-have”; it’s a must-have, a non-negotiable for any top-tier software project:
What principles should you apply?
Minimum privilege is your mantra. But let’s see a few more.
You just need to be cautious and understand some basic principles to avoid some flaws:
Zero trust policy by default.
Don’t assume good intentions from anyone, third-party APIs, users, or providers.
Understand and use industry standards
Do not create your own custom cipher functions
Use error and logs libraries
Proper failure tolerance
Do not just think on the happy path.
The system should be ready to keep going even when errors pop up—no panic mode meltdowns.
Permissions. Too often, teams slap overly permissive settings on apps or users just to “make it work”.
End users get just enough access to do their thing—no more, no less.
Ditch anonymous logins (credentials or bust) and shared permissions that turn security into a free-for-all.
Admin roles should be spread from regular users’ accounts.
Concerns separations.
Applications should be well-designed, and not have too many responsibilities.
And before leaving: Know the Big Three:
Availability: Your system’s ready when users need it—no awkward downtime.
Integrity: Data stays true, not tampered with by sneaky hands.
Confidentiality: Secrets stay secret, not splashed across the internet.
The Toolbox (no PhD required):
Password Power-Up: Enforce a robust password policy plus MFA (multi-factor authentication).
Weak passwords? Nope.
Brute force attacks? Blocked.
Multiple layers? Mandatory.
Token Tactics: Use JWT (JSON Web Tokens) for session management.
Regenerate them, set expiration dates, and keep them fresh—no stale tokens lying around.
Authority on a Leash: Users only get to mess with what they’re allowed to.
Require authentication before any action, and steer clear of absolute paths that scream “hack me.”
Input Sanity Check: Treat all incoming data—web forms, databases, third-party APIs—like it’s radioactive until proven safe.
Validate type, length, and content (e.g., UTF-8 string, max 50 characters). Escape special characters (goodbye, “/”, “../”, HTML tags, and rogue JavaScript).
Zip Your Lips: Don’t overshare in error logs, comments, or HTML headers.
No one needs to know your infrastructure details or that funny note you left in the code.
Trim the Fat:
Skip unused features, libraries, or frameworks.
Less clutter, fewer weak spots, and less attack surface.
Third-party libraries—you know, those handy chunks of code that save time but sometimes sneak in vulnerabilities like uninvited guests. Open software is nice but sometimes lacks maintenance, or the project gets abandoned.
Lock It Up: Encrypt data in transit and at rest—bcrypt or similar tools are your friends.
Array Discipline: Validate array limits so nothing overflows into chaos.
Tool Up: Lean on automated code analysis and pair reviews.
They catch bugs and security slips early—though watch out for false positives that waste your time.
Stay Fresh, But Not Reckless: Don’t let frameworks and tools gather dust, but avoid blind updates that break everything.
Chain of Trust: Double-check validation across the entire workflow—don’t let one weak link ruin the party.
Log Smarts: Correlate logs and errors to spot trouble brewing.
File Finesse: If users upload files, checksum them to ensure they’re legit—no fakes sneaking through.
Avoid the house of cards
Configuration practices (or the lack thereof) turn systems into a house of cards—one misstep and it’s game over.
Does it split into several layers?
Sure it does.
Security isn’t a one-size-fits-all deal—it’s more like a multi-layered cake, with each layer playing its own part. Think of the OSI model: every level, from the physical hardware in a data center to the application layer where your code lives, has a role in keeping things locked down.
For the lower layers—hardware, network, and transport. You can lean on your cloud provider for a lot here: they’ve got the muscle to handle physical security, roll out patches, and keep the VPN fortress strong. That’s their turf, and it’s a relief not to sweat the server room details yourself.
At the application and presentation layers, S-SDLC shines by letting you layer on your own defenses. Here is where the DevOps and Software development team can work together.