How do you secure your software engineering methodology?

1 Assess your security requirements

Before you start any software project, you need to identify and analyze your security requirements, which are the goals and constraints that define the level of protection and quality that your software must achieve. Security requirements can be derived from various sources, such as user needs, business objectives, legal regulations, industry standards, and best practices. You should document your security requirements clearly and prioritize them according to their importance and urgency.

3 Apply secure coding practices

Coding is the core activity of software engineering, where you translate your design specifications into executable code. However, coding can also introduce many security flaws and errors, such as buffer overflows, injection attacks, or cross-site scripting. Therefore, you should apply secure coding practices, which are the guidelines and standards that help you write code that is robust, reliable, and resistant to attacks. Secure coding practices include using secure programming languages and frameworks, following naming conventions and coding styles, avoiding hard-coded credentials and sensitive data, validating inputs and outputs, handling errors and exceptions, and commenting and documenting your code.

4 Implement security testing and review

Testing and review are the activities that verify and validate the quality and functionality of your software. However, testing and review can also detect and prevent security issues, such as bugs, vulnerabilities, or defects. Therefore, you should implement security testing and review, which are the techniques and tools that help you assess and improve the security of your software. Security testing and review include performing security audits and assessments, conducting code reviews and inspections, applying static and dynamic analysis tools, executing penetration testing and ethical hacking, and using security metrics and indicators.

5 Deploy security controls and measures

Deployment is the activity that delivers your software to the end-users or customers. However, deployment can also expose your software to new environments and situations, such as network connections, configuration changes, or user interactions. Therefore, you should deploy security controls and measures, which are the mechanisms and procedures that help you protect and monitor your software. Security controls and measures include using encryption and authentication techniques, implementing firewalls and antivirus software, applying patches and updates, configuring access rights and permissions, and logging and auditing activities and events.

6 Maintain security awareness and education

Maintenance is the activity that keeps your software operational and functional after deployment. However, maintenance can also involve new challenges and opportunities, such as feedback, changes, or improvements. Therefore, you should maintain security awareness and education, which are the processes and resources that help you stay informed and updated on the security aspects of your software. Security awareness and education include following security news and trends, joining security communities and forums, attending security training and workshops, and sharing security knowledge and best practices.