What is the most effective way to detect security issues in a program?

1 Static analysis

Static analysis is a method of inspecting the source code of a program without executing it, to identify potential security vulnerabilities, bugs, and code smells. Static analysis tools can check the syntax, logic, and structure of the code, and flag any issues that violate predefined rules, standards, or best practices. Static analysis can help you detect common security issues such as buffer overflows, SQL injections, cross-site scripting, and insecure cryptography. Static analysis can be performed manually or automatically, using tools such as CodeQL, SonarQube, or Coverity.

2 Dynamic analysis

Dynamic analysis is a method of testing the behavior and performance of a program while it is running, to detect any security issues that arise from the interaction with the environment, inputs, and outputs. Dynamic analysis tools can monitor the memory usage, network traffic, and system calls of the program, and detect any anomalies, errors, or leaks that indicate a security issue. Dynamic analysis can help you detect security issues such as memory corruption, denial-of-service, race conditions, and privilege escalation. Dynamic analysis can be performed using tools such as Valgrind, Fuzzing, or Burp Suite.

3 Code review

Code review is a method of examining the source code of a program by other developers, to improve its quality, readability, and security. Code review can help you detect security issues that are overlooked by static and dynamic analysis tools, such as logical flaws, design errors, or improper use of libraries or APIs. Code review can also help you learn from other developers' feedback, suggestions, and best practices, and foster a culture of security awareness and collaboration. Code review can be performed using tools such as GitHub, GitLab, or CodeGuru.

5 Security audit

Security audit is a method of verifying the compliance of a program or a system with a set of security standards, policies, or regulations. Security audit can help you detect security issues that are related to the legal, ethical, or contractual obligations of your software development process, such as data protection, privacy, or encryption. Security audit can also help you demonstrate the security level of your program or system to your stakeholders, customers, or regulators. Security audit can be performed using tools such as ISO 27001, PCI DSS, or NIST SP 800-53.

6 Continuous monitoring

Continuous monitoring is a method of collecting, analyzing, and reporting the security data of a program or a system on an ongoing basis, to detect any security issues that emerge or change over time. Continuous monitoring can help you detect security issues that are caused by new threats, vulnerabilities, or changes in the code, the environment, or the user behavior. Continuous monitoring can also help you measure the effectiveness and efficiency of your security controls, and adjust them as needed. Continuous monitoring can be performed using tools such as Splunk, ELK, or AWS CloudWatch.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?