What are the key security testing practices for agile development?

Testing is one of the most important phases in any project management framework. In Agile projects, a clear strategy needs to be put in place. I think a combination of SAST and DAST should be implemented. During project development, unit testing, integration testing, and production testing are very important due to the continuous change in Agile environments. If we are in a Scrum environment, it is important that roles are well-defined. Mainly, the development team will have operational tasks as there is no role called ‘tester’ or ‘QA’. The testing strategy needs to be aligned with the client requirements and must be adaptable to change. The Scrum Master, as the impediment remover, must be responsive to testing requirements.

If it is an agile development methodology, it is DevsecOps. It is an agile methodology for software development. In this case, it is important to balance business goals, security enhancements, and development and operations.

In agile development, key security testing practices include early integration of security testing, automation of tests, frequent iterations, developer training in secure coding, user-centered security, fostering a DevSecOps culture, continuous monitoring, and feedback loops. Additionally, manual penetration testing and bug bounty programs are essential to uncover complex security issues. Integrate Security Testing Early: Incorporate security testing into the early stages of the development cycle to identify vulnerabilities sooner. Use automated tools for static application security testing (SAST), dynamic application security testing (DAST), and integrated application security testing (IAST) to ensure consistent and efficient testing.

Security testing strategy for agile development includes early integration of security testing, automated security testing tools, regular security scans, penetration testing, security training, code reviews, secure architecture design, continuous monitoring, compliance checks, and risk management. By incorporating these elements, agile teams can ensure that their software is secure and resilient against potential threats.

Incorporate security requirements from the outset of project planning. Conduct regular threat assessments to identify potential risks and vulnerabilities. Utilize automated security testing tools within the CI/CD pipeline for efficient vulnerability detection. Perform regular security code reviews during each sprint to catch vulnerabilities early. Conduct Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) regularly to assess the security posture of the application. Enforce secure coding practices and guidelines across the development team. Providing security awareness training for development teams. Implement continuous security monitoring and updates to promptly address emerging threats and vulnerabilities throughout the development lifecycle.

Indeed, automation saves time and eliminates human error. You can concentrate on other tasks. However, while automation is usually fine, the risk remains if the machine breaks down. Also, the problem of cyber risk remains.

Another crucial practice for implementing security testing in agile development is maximizing automation. Automation significantly streamlines the process, saving time, resources, and effort. It allows security testing to be conducted concurrently with other development activities. Automation also ensures consistency, accuracy, and repeatability in testing, offering timely and actionable feedback. Leveraging tools like static analysis, dynamic analysis, vulnerability scanners, and penetration testing frameworks enables efficient automation of security testing tasks.

Today, Development & Operations teams are using CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Delivery) pipeline tools that focus on automating and accelerating Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), through a workflow to enable quick web applications delivery. SDLC stages are PLAN, DESIGN, BUILD, TEST, DEPLOY & MAINTAIN. Traditionally, all types of web application security testing are done in DEPLOY stage. But performing security code testing in TEST stage, can identify issues early. In our organization, we integrated automated security code testing tool in CI/CD tool to perform code testing in TEST stage, which help developers to fix security coding issues along with the QA issues, prior to DEPLOY stage, this results in saving time & cost.

Automated security testing tools are utilized to scan the codebase for vulnerabilities continuously. Static code analysis tools are integrated into the CI/CD pipeline to identify potential security flaws early in the development process. Additionally, automated dynamic application security testing (DAST) tools are employed to simulate attacks and identify vulnerabilities in the running application.

Sprint planning and sprint review are tasks that are performed for scrum teams. It is normal in agile development methodologies. I know because I am a certified Scrum Master.

Security testing can be customized to suit the agile development process. In my experience, conducting few security tests in the early stages of Software/System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) , has benefited my organization, as the findings can be fixed in the early stages of SDLC, thus saving cost and money.

The newsletter and webinar are referenced. I subscribe to newsletters and keep up-to-date with the latest information. I learn about cyber risk from the latest information from my consultant's company. Webinars are also informative. In Japan, they are sometimes held in relation to employment interviews.

All team members should complete regular security training to increase awareness of common security threats and best practices. Developers must receive training in secure coding practices, while testers are trained in identifying and exploiting security vulnerabilities. This education helps make security the responsibility of everyone on the Agile team.

Integrating security testing into existing development tools and processes is another essential practice for security testing in agile development. This integration streamlines workflows, enhances collaboration, and facilitates communication among the development team, security experts, and stakeholders. By embedding security testing into agile ceremonies like sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives, teams can ensure that security considerations are addressed throughout the development lifecycle. Utilizing tools such as code repositories, build servers, issue trackers, and dashboards supports seamless integration of security testing into agile processes.

In our organization, we conduct the Web Application Security Awareness (WASA) trainings to Developers, Database Administrators, QA testers, and Application/Solution Architects, as all these people have key role in building web applications at various Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) stages. The training is interactive and it references i) our web application and ii) our previous security findings as well. Our WASA advanced trainings are also customized to introduce OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project), CWE concepts and their relation to SDLC stages. This training is focused fixing the security findings.

Evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of security testing is crucial in agile development. This practice allows teams to measure, monitor, and improve security testing performance, identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. By demonstrating the value and impact of security testing, teams can justify investments and allocate resources effectively. Utilizing tools like metrics, reports, audits, and feedback helps in the evaluation process, providing insights into the overall security posture and guiding continuous improvement efforts.

Adapting to the changing needs and expectations of the project and customers is paramount in security testing within agile development. This practice enables teams to navigate uncertainty, complexity, and volatility inherent in agile projects, responding effectively to feedback, issues, and risks. By fostering a culture of innovation, experimentation, and continuous learning, teams can leverage security testing to improve the quality and security of web applications. Utilizing tools such as reviews, retrospectives, surveys, and interviews facilitates adaptation, allowing teams to evolve their security testing approach in alignment with evolving project requirements and stakeholder expectations.

One of the most common misses of application development testing is testing the application hosting ecosystem, which is often particularly commissioned for the application. Include On-prem and Cloud Hosting Security Testing (Vulnerability Scanning, Configuration Audit, Penetration Testing), Container Security Testing (Image Scanning, Runtime Security Testing), IAM Security Testing (IAM Configuration Audit, Privilege Escalation Testing), etc.