
Secure Development: A fundamental pillar for the protection of our business
JUAN ANTONIO CALLESShare
In the current technological landscape, secure development has become an essential component for any organization that wants to guarantee the integrity, confidentiality and availability of its systems and data. This approach goes beyond simply reacting to threats; seeks to integrate security as a fundamental element from the first stages of software design to its maintenance throughout its useful life.
Secure development is a methodological approach that incorporates security practices throughout the entire software development lifecycle. Its main objective is to minimize potential vulnerabilities and protect software against current and future threats. This ranges from common attacks such as SQL injections and Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), to more advanced techniques such as exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities.
The most relevant thing about secure development is that it focuses on proactive prevention, integrating security from the design and not as a late addition. This approach is also known as "Security by Design" and allows security to not be an obstacle to functionality, but rather an integrated feature.
One of the fundamental pillars to implement secure development is to follow recognized standards that provide practical guidelines. Among them, the OWASP Application Security Verification Standard (ASVS) stands out. This standard, developed by the OWASP community, establishes a comprehensive framework for defining, evaluating, and verifying application security controls.
ASVS offers a verification level based approach. Each level is designed to adapt to the specific needs of the software according to its criticality and the context in which it will be used:
- Level 1: Basic controls. It focuses on minimum requirements that any application should meet. This level is ideal for low-risk software.
- Level 2: Standard controls. It covers more detailed controls for applications that handle sensitive data or are exposed to moderate risks.
- Level 3: Advanced Controls. Designed for critical applications that require a maximum level of security, such as financial or healthcare systems.
ASVS covers key areas such as authentication management, access control, input validation, secure handling of sensitive data, and protection against common vulnerabilities such as injections and session failures. Its use allows developers and auditors to establish a solid foundation to ensure that applications comply with appropriate security standards, significantly reducing risks.
A notable advantage of ASVS is that it can be integrated into the different stages of the SDLC, providing clear metrics to validate the security of the software. This not only encourages the adoption of secure coding practices, but also ensures that organizations can demonstrate compliance to audits and regulations.
Secure development is implemented throughout the entire software development life cycle (SDLC), following a structured approach. In general, the phases that we would find in our organizations would be the following:
1. Planning
This stage involves establishing the security requirements that will guide the entire development process. It also includes defining policies, objectives and standards that will apply to the project. Correct planning reduces the possibility of strategic errors.
2. Analysis
In this phase, possible threats and vulnerabilities related to the software are identified. Functional and non-functional requirements are documented, including security requirements.
3. Design
Secure design encompasses the architecture and selection of patterns that minimize vulnerabilities. Principles such as the principle of defense in depth are applied here, which establishes multiple layers of security, and the separation of responsibilities.
4. Implementation
In this stage, the software's functionalities are developed, following secure coding practices. This includes:
- Validation and sanitization of inputs.
- Using strong encryption to protect sensitive data.
- Avoid unsafe dependencies or outdated libraries.
5. Tests
The objective of this phase is to ensure that the software meets the established security requirements. Tests include:
- Static and dynamic code analysis.
- Penetration tests to simulate real attacks.
- Automated tests to verify the behavior of the software under different conditions.
6. Deployment
Before launching, it is crucial to ensure that production environments are configured securely. This includes:
- Apply secure settings.
- Protect access keys and certificates.
7. Maintenance
The software life cycle does not end with its deployment. It is essential to perform continuous monitoring, manage new vulnerabilities, and release security updates and patches on a regular basis.
Conclusions
Embracing secure development brings a wide range of benefits, both tangible and intangible, to organizations and their users. One of the most obvious benefits is the reduction of costs associated with vulnerabilities. Fixing security bugs early in development is much cheaper than doing so once the software is in production or, worse, after an incident.
On the other hand, secure development protects sensitive data and the reputation of organizations. In an environment where breaches of personal or financial data can lead to regulatory sanctions and loss of customer trust, ensuring software security becomes a competitive advantage. User trust in a secure application not only improves customer retention, but also fosters long-term relationships with partners and stakeholders.
In addition, secure development helps comply with international regulations and standards. Regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe require companies to implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect personal data. Secure development facilitates this compliance by integrating security as a core component from the start.
Finally, software designed with security in mind is more resilient against cyberattacks. This not only reduces the impact of incidents, but also ensures operational continuity in adverse scenarios. In a world increasingly dependent on technology, this resilience is crucial to ensure stability and trust in digital services.