How do you integrate web application security in Agile?

1 Adopt a security mindset

The first step to integrate web application security in Agile is to adopt a security mindset throughout the development process. This means that security is not an afterthought or a separate phase, but a continuous and integral part of the product design, development, and delivery. You should involve security experts, stakeholders, and users in defining and prioritizing security requirements, risks, and goals. You should also educate and train your team on security principles, standards, and best practices, and foster a culture of security awareness and accountability.

2 Embed security activities

The second step to integrate web application security in Agile is to embed security activities into the existing Agile workflows and practices. This means that security becomes an integral part of the regular tasks, roles, and ceremonies of the Agile team. In order to do this, you should align security activities with the Agile phases such as planning, coding, testing, and deploying. Additionally, you should utilize security checklists, guidelines, and templates to ensure consistency and quality. Examples of security activities that can be embedded in Agile are security stories, which capture the security needs and expectations of users and stakeholders; security tasks, which are specific actions that need to be performed; security testing, which verifies that the web application meets requirements and does not contain any vulnerabilities; and security reviews, which evaluate and improve the security quality and maturity of the web application and team. These activities should be tracked and reported using the same tools and metrics as other tasks. Furthermore, they should be broken down into manageable units of work that are assigned to appropriate team members. In addition, automated and manual tools such as code analysis, scanning, fuzzing, ethical hacking should be used during security testing. Moreover, feedback from internal and external sources such as peers, experts, auditors, customers should be included in security reviews.

3 Use security tools

The third step to integrate web application security in Agile is to use security tools that support and enhance the security activities and outcomes. These tools should be compatible with the existing Agile tools and platforms, such as version control, issue tracking, testing, and deployment. They should also be easy to configure and update, and provide actionable information. Security frameworks are collections of security libraries, modules, and components that can help you implement security best practices and standards. Security scanners are tools that scan the web application for potential vulnerabilities. Security monitors can help you detect and respond to security threats in real time. Integrating web application security in Agile requires commitment, communication, and coordination from the whole team. By following these three steps, you can improve the security quality of your web application and deliver value to customers without compromising their trust and safety.

4 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?