Everything About Secure Software Development Framework

The software works as a spine for many organizations in every sector. It helps to boost their sales, meet objectives, increase revenue, and widen the user base.

But, when securing it, most people configure authentication, access control, or similar traditional mechanisms.

However, there’s a central concept that most developers don’t focus on. And that is Secure Software Development Framework. It helps to remove vulnerable loopholes from the software and align it with relevant security standards.

Moreover, it’s essential to consider it, as hackers spend most of their time hacking different software and components.

According to HackerOne’s report, around 65,000 vulnerabilities were found in 2022, and hackers are spending 95% time exploiting websites. Therefore, it’s high time you must understand the principles of Secure Software Development Framework.

What is a Secure Software Development Framework?

Every organization operates through a website, mobile application, intranet portal, or desktop software. Each has a common requirement of making the software secure, assuring data integrity, confidentiality, and availability.

To develop any software, a Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) is selected by the developers. However, a Secure Software Development Framework comes into action to fulfill security requirements.

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It is similar to SDLC but focuses on security from the very first phase, rather than only at the testing phase. In addition, it provides information on the best approaches and practices to reduce vulnerabilities and prevent malicious activities.

Furthermore, it’s not necessary to follow only a defined framework. You can also customize your selected SDLC approach with best practices that you feel are relevant to the project.

But, according to industry experts and veterans, the below frameworks are perfect for every software project and can fulfill your needs:

• NIST SSDF (Secure Software Development Framework)
• SAMM (Secure Assurance Maturity Model)
• OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project)
• BSIMM (Building Security in Maturity Model)

The Need for Secure Software Development Framework

According to HackerOne, the top ten software attacks and vulnerabilities have remained almost the same in the last two years.

The primary reason behind this is that every development team uses the same SDLC approach, which lacks focus on security. Due to it, attackers can effortlessly utilize traditional attacks to exploit software and breach data for personal usage.

But, if you start using a secure software development framework, the possibility of preventing all such attacks will be minimized. A framework will tell you about all the necessary mechanisms to configure for unleashing software potential to prevent attackers, malware, unauthorized access, and much more.

Moreover, a secure framework helps:

• To improve overall software security, regardless of the cybersecurity sophistication.
• To automate the development process in a secure digital environment.
• To align with necessary and mandatory security standards and guidelines in a particular industry.
• To migrate from a traditional approach to a new-age development mechanism.
• To support stakeholders with emerging data security requirements.

Benefits of a Secure Development Framework

Adapting a secure software development framework aids an organization in various aspects, such as:

Fewer Vulnerabilities                                 

When a development focuses on possible vulnerabilities and security needs from the very beginning, it helps to reduce loopholes. It provides a clear insight to the developers on which type of functions, calls, and programs they must create to prevent disclosure of code.

In addition, it helps define a secure software architecture, minimizing the occurrence of unexpected vulnerabilities at any time.

Compatible With All SDLC Approaches

You don’t have to modify your development approach to utilize a secure development framework. Such frameworks only provide the guidelines that you need to follow, and it will make your preferred SDLC method secure.

As a result, you can curate software at a higher speed and within business constraints, fulfilling all requirements but in a more digitally protected environment.

Aids to Comply With Security Goals and Standards

Every organization has a different data and system security goal. For instance, if you develop software for the medical institute, you must follow HIPPA, and for financial transactions, following PCI-DSS standards is necessary.

With a secure development approach, you can seamlessly align with appropriate standards without compromising quality, performance, reliability, and scalability.

Appropriate for Every Software Development

Security is necessary for all, whether it’s a mobile application, website, web app, desktop software, or any other. If you start to find appropriate protection controls for each, it will consume a lot of time.

However, if you utilize a secure development framework, you can create an accurate security plan, architecture, and codebase in minimal time.

Prevents Software Tampering

A primary aspect of using such a framework is making the code tamper-proof. It helps to prevent unauthorized access and modification in the source code and retain its integrity. For instance, using a code signing certificate is a common mechanism in most frameworks that helps in software protection and accelerates reputation simultaneously.

Long-Term Security Impact

By using a framework, you minimize the vulnerabilities in the final release. Due to it, attackers don’t get a chance to exploit software. In the meantime, you can develop updates, frequently test applications, and push new versions to extend functionality and strengthen data protection.

A NIST-defined Framework – SSDF Version 1.1

NIST is a reputed authority that has defined multiple standards in the IT industry, and most organizations follow them. And it also has a Secure Software Development Framework that would help to align software security with ever-changing requirements and threat factor mitigations.

The complete framework is in four parts: Prepare the Organization (PO), Protect the Software (PS), Produce Well-Secured Software (PW), and Respond to Vulnerabilities (RV).

To understand it more thoroughly, let’s get a brief of each part, as follows:

1: Prepare the Organization (PO)

The first step in the framework defines that an organization must prepare its software, hardware, and human resources in accordance with the security requirement.

For instance, if you want to develop a cloud-based application, you must hire a cloud security engineer. In addition, the policies, protocols, and infrastructure must also align with other components for better results.

Furthermore, primary tasks to complete under the PO part include, but are not limited to:

• Discover and document all security requisites and frequently perform this process to update infrastructure in a timely.
• Test the pre-developed applications and find their security requirements. It would help to patch their loopholes and solidify security.
• Update human resources according to the requirement. For instance, if a SaaS security engineer is required instead of a security analyst, replace it as soon as possible.
• Train every stakeholder associated with the project to ensure relevant usage and assurance of data integrity and confidentiality.

2: Protect the Software (PS)

The second part of the framework deals with preventing unauthorized access to the software. Its primary goal is to maintain source code integrity. You can learn about all the necessary approaches which a software developer and publisher must follow to protect software.

Some of the tasks to follow in the PS part include:

• Write the overall code by considering the least privilege.
• Provide code information only to legitimate personnel, such as developers, testers, and clients.
• Create a record of all software versions and test them constantly to find vulnerabilities and patch them in the next update.
• Purchase Code Signing Certificate for tamper-proofing the source code.
• Archive the confidential files and protect sensitive information using encryption, hashing, or any other advanced mechanism.
• Provenance data and any other component must be updated simultaneously.

3: Produce Well-Secured Software (PW)

Under PW practice, SSDK provides the tasks to be followed to identify and evaluate the security needs of the software. The tasks under it help to discover the cyber-attacks and malicious activities that can be performed on the software.

Recommended: Secure SDLC Approach For Preventing Cyber-Attacks

Further, it aids in developing a secure system, design, and architecture to maintain data integrity and seamless process execution.

Further, the main tasks to complete under PW includes:

• Consider threat modeling, risk identification, and attack modeling while identifying security threats.
• Keep track of user requirements and cyber threats and align them to identify appropriate mitigation.
• Use only legitimate third-party tools, SKDs, APIs, modules, and libraries to prevent backdoors and malware.
• Utilize both manual and automated methods to review code and find and patch loopholes before the software release.
• Test each software component using multiple methods and document the result for future reference.
• Document the default settings and create a secure baseline image to allow only the least privilege and to maintain a protection level.

4: Respond to Vulnerabilities (RV)

The fourth and last practice in SSDF defines the tasks to quickly remediate the risks and threats that were found in previous parts or practices.

It helps minimize the possibility of attack and ensures a secure environment for end-users.

And its top tasks comprise of:

• Gather details about the discovered vulnerabilities from open-source, closed-source, and proprietary databases.
• Analyze the impact of every vulnerability and document it.
• Create policies about remediating each vulnerability and define its roles and responsibilities.
• Use threat modeling to analyze the impact of exploitation and find a suitable security control to mitigate it accordingly.
• After patching the loopholes, retest the software and confirm that all security systems function correctly.

Recommended: Top Software Vulnerabilities in 2024 & Prevention

A Bonus Tip – Code Signing Certificate for Better Security

The NIST Secure Software Development Framework defines the usage of a Code Signing Certificate for software tamper-proofing. It’s a digital certificate, that helps software publishers to integrate their signatures with software and boosts its authenticity.

Concluding Up

A secure Software Development Approach is the prime need for software development. It helps to consider security from the initial stages and prevent cyber-attacks in the long run. Additionally, you can use it with any SDLC approach for faster application development.

Furthermore, NIST has also defined its SSDF, which supports development teams in identifying, analyzing, and remediating vulnerabilities before release by using appropriate approaches.

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