Security in Software Development: 2023 Guide

Preserving various types of data against loss and theft is extremely important, and this is where cybersecurity plays a critical role. It includes safeguarding sensitive data, such as personally identifiable information (PII), protected health information (PHI), intellectual property, personal information, and government and business information systems.

It is a crucial aspect of maintaining the security of business continuity in the modern digital landscape and cannot be overlooked. Even a security breach can compromise the personal information of millions of individuals, resulting in significant financial losses for companies and a loss of customer trust. Therefore, it is imperative to prioritize cybersecurity measures to safeguard businesses and individuals from cybercriminals and spammers.

To help you better understand this top-priority topic, we prepared this article with all the entail information.

The main concept of cybersecurity

Cybersecurity, IT security, software security, and application security are all related concepts that protect digital information from unauthorized access, theft, and damage. They each focus on protecting information and systems from various threats. Still, they aim to safeguard the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive data and systems.

The main category that all fall into is "information security". It is a broader concept encompassing various security measures to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. This concept is not exclusive to the IT industry and refers to many fields.

However, the main concepts that appear in the IT field dive into those main branches:

• Cybersecurity is the overarching term that encompasses all aspects of protecting digital information and systems from cyber threats. IT security protects an organization's digital assets, including hardware and software, from unauthorized access, destruction, and theft.
  
• IT security, or information technology security, is a broader term encompassing all aspects of protecting information and information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. This includes both digital and physical data. It also can involve a variety of technologies, policies, and procedures.
• Software security refers explicitly to the practices and techniques used to protect software applications from attackers, and developers incorporate these techniques into the software development life cycle and testing processes.
• Application security is a more specific aspect of software security that protects individual software applications from cyber threats. This includes protecting the application code and ensuring user data is stored and transmitted securely.

Overall, all of these concepts are essential for protecting digital information and systems from a wide range of cyber threats. They work together to further cyber security resources ensure that organizations and individuals can operate online safely and securely.

What is cybersecurity?

To explain in more detail, cybersecurity refers to protecting internet-connected systems, including hardware, software, and data, from theft, damage, and unauthorized access. It involves using a combination of technologies, processes, and best practices to safeguard networks, devices, and data from a wide range of cyber threats. To present it better, we gathered the main advantages of its implementation.

The advantages of it are:

• Cybersecurity protects against viruses, malware, ransomware, data theft, and loss due to hacking.
• Organizations need to safeguard against financial crimes such as staff embezzlement or consumers' unlawful access to corporate account information, which can lead to identity theft.

As always, no system is flawless. Each solution has its drawbacks, but it is not the world's end. It’s good to acknowledge them to minimize their impact.

The downsides of cybersecurity include the following:

• Difficulty in configuring firewalls correctly.
• Incorrectly built firewalls may prevent users from engaging in specific internet activities once the firewall is set correctly.
• Cybersecurity can slow down the system considerably more than before.

Types of IT security

As you already know, IT security refers to the measures taken to safeguard all data, including electronic and physical, of a specific entity. Although IT security and cybersecurity are often viewed as closely related, IT security has a broader scope beyond preventing online criminal activity aimed at causing harm.

Four main types of IT security are important to understand, including:

• Network security involves securing the network to prevent its malicious use, and both software and hardware security are essential.
• Endpoint security: This type of security focuses on securing devices, including laptops, phones, computers, tablets, etc., to prevent unwanted users from accessing them. Encryption, user controls, and software security are the methods used.
• Internet security: It deals with the transit and use of information and involves stopping cybersecurity attacks by using layers of encryption and authentication.
• Cloud security revolves around lowering software security risks within the cloud, including securing data transfers and devices on the same network. Cloud security concepts overlap with other forms of security mentioned above.

Software security vs. application security

Our last categories differ from each other and it is best to explain them presented in comparison.

Software security and application security are two different concepts. While application security protects software from threats after it's been developed and deployed, it focuses on safeguarding the code and related processes in the early stages of the software development life cycle (SDLC).

Software security is the collection of practices implemented to safeguard software applications and digital solutions against various malicious software attacks. Developers typically incorporate these measures into the software development life cycle and testing procedures.

After the software has progressed to being a deployable artefact, such as a JAR or container image, it moves into application security. At this stage of the SDLC, the focus on mobile security shifts to a more comprehensive approach encompassing a range of interconnected systems, infrastructure, and network pathways. Typically, personnel with operational expertise, like DevOps engineers, become more involved in securing the application.

It's important to note that investing in software security during earlier stages of the SDLC yields significant benefits for application security efforts. Applications with fewer defects and vulnerabilities are more accessible to secure than those with numerous issues. Vulnerable applications can create challenges for operations teams and other security analysts and experts, often necessitating costly infrastructure and security workarounds.

Security in Software Development Lifecycle

Ensuring software security is a critical objective for any organization since it helps to minimize the requirement for costly application security fixes. Nonetheless, it's equally important not to neglect application security. Organizations must prioritize software and application security investment to establish a truly secure SDLC.

Dividing it into "stages", we can outline proactive/early, middle, and late phases for ensuring security in the software development life cycle.

1. First Stage

During the Proactive/Early Security Phase, software engineering teams should work collaboratively with security/DevSecOps engineers to establish a comprehensive inventory of their software supply chain as the initial sketches and customer requirements evolve into functional logic and features. To detect defects and vulnerabilities before deployment, subscribing to news, analysis, and CVE feeds for critical dependencies and modules and integrating application security testing with tools that perform static analysis to maintain a fast feedback loop is essential as features are added and more code is written.

2. Second Stage

In the Middle-Security Phase, operations teams play a more active role in supporting and running the infrastructure as the code becomes deployable. Integrating security tools and testing into the CI/CD pipeline makes maintaining a solid feedback loop from application security to software security possible.

3. Third Stage

In the Late Security Phase, the application will likely be deployed into a production environment, and robust monitoring and alerting infrastructure is crucial. Since many organizations run container-based workloads, container security and Kubernetes security have become a more niche focus.

It's important to note that these stages are not isolated and exclusive. For example, container security can be a priority during the early stages of the SDLC through the static container and image analysis tools. Furthermore, since static analysis testing is continuous, every new feature software engineers should be subject to the same rigorous testing methodologies used at the beginning of the design.

2023 trends in cybersecurity to watch

To stay up to date and implement all the latest solutions to most drilling problems or the new ones that have just emerged, you should keep up with the trends. Since we know finding them yourself is quite challenging, we did it for you.

1. Automotive chacking

Modern vehicles have sophisticated software that facilitates seamless driver connectivity, offering advanced features such as cruise control, engine timing, door lock, airbags, and driver assistance systems. However, since these vehicles rely on Bluetooth and WiFi technologies for communication, they are vulnerable to several severe security vulnerabilities and threats from hackers and cyber criminals. In 2023, it is anticipated that the incidence of vehicle takeover or eavesdropping through microphones will increase with the growing adoption of automated vehicles. Self-driving or autonomous cars have even more complex mechanisms, requiring stringent cybersecurity measures to ensure security.

2. The rise of AI

The second point pertains to the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in cybersecurity. In conjunction with machine learning, AI has brought about significant transformations in cybersecurity across all market segments. It has played a crucial role in developing automated security systems, natural language processing, face detection, and automatic threat detection. However, AI is also being used to create intelligent malware and attacks that can circumvent the latest security protocols, leading to data compromise. Nevertheless, AI-powered threat detection systems can forecast potential attacks and provide administrators with real-time alerts in case of any cyber security incident or breach.

3. Focus shift to mobile

According to cybersecurity trends, mobile banking malware or phishing attacks are expected to increase by 50% in 2019, posing a significant threat to our handheld mobile devices. This makes our personal information, such as photos, financial transactions, emails, and messages, vulnerable to hackers. With this in mind, smartphone viruses or malware will likely become a significant focus of cybersecurity trends in 2023.

4. The first target of a data breach

Data protection remains a top priority for organizations globally, both for individuals and businesses. The importance of safeguarding digital data cannot be overstated, as any weakness or vulnerability in your system could provide an entry point for hackers seeking to gain unauthorized access to personal information. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which went into effect on May 25th, 2018, provides data protection and privacy measures for individuals within the European Union(EU). Similarly, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) was implemented on January 1st, 2020, to safeguard consumer rights in the California region. These strict measures indicate the increasing significance of data protection in the cybersecurity landscape.

5. IoT and 5G

As 5G networks expand, the Internet of Things (IoT) will become more prevalent, allowing communication between numerous devices. However, this interconnectivity makes them vulnerable to external influence, cyber attacks, or software bugs. Even the most widely used browser, Chrome, has been found to have serious bugs. The 5G architecture is relatively new, and extensive research is necessary to identify vulnerabilities and secure the system from external cyber attacks continue well. Various network attacks may not yet be known at each stage of the 5G network. Manufacturers must be meticulous in creating advanced 5G hardware and software to prevent data breaches.

6. Security in times of remote work

The pandemic has necessitated organizations to shift to remote work, presenting a fresh set of cybersecurity issues. Remote workers may be exposed to cyberattacks since their networks and devices may not be as secure as those used in an office setting. Consequently, organizations must implement adequate security

measures to safeguard their remote workers. Such measures may include multi-factor authentication, secure virtual private networks (VPNs), and automated software updates.

7. Real-Time Data Monitoring

Effective real-time data monitoring is crucial for organizations to detect and respond to potential security breaches. Organizations should implement appropriate measures to monitor all data activity, such as automated alerts and log monitoring, to detect and respond to suspicious activity was known and unknown threats promptly.

Key Cybersecurity Technologies and Best Practices

Cybersecurity plays a crucial role in protecting information from theft and loss. This includes sensitive information, such as personally identifiable information (PII), protected health information (PHI), intellectual property, personal data, and government and business information systems. Therefore, what is the way we should follow? What could be the best solution and prevention?

1. Update your security systems regularly

Businesses should regularly update their security policies to reflect the latest cybersecurity best practices, technologies, and potential insider threats, including zero-trust architectures. Security policies serve as the foundation for enterprise security, and outdated policies can leave organizations vulnerable to cyberattacks. It's essential to update security policies first and then educate employees on the new policies to ensure compliance.

2. Have strong user authentication

It's essential to require strong authentication to prevent cyberattacks from compromising user accounts and gaining unauthorized access to internal resources. Multi-factor authentication, such as a smart card with a PIN or biometric, can be an effective security measure to stop many attacks. If implementing multi-factor authentication for all users is not feasible, at least requiring solid passwords that attackers won't be able to guess is a good start. It's also essential to implement multi-factor authentication for security professionals, system administrators, and anyone with privileged access to systems and networks.

3. Have strong passwords

As we mentioned in the last paragraph, a strong password could be a great way to increase it, but those solutions usually work extensively. your security. It may seem too simple or Cliché but trust us on this. To implement a robust password policy, consider the following guidelines:

• Length: Set a minimum password length of 15 characters, and consider longer passwords if possible.
• Complexity: Require passwords that include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. The more complex a password, the more difficult it will be for attackers to crack it using brute force techniques.
• Avoid dictionary words: Prohibit everyday dictionary words or combinations of words. Instead, encourage using passphrases, a series of related words with no sentence structure. For instance, "hotdog food ketchup relish mustard mayo" is a more secure passphrase than "chocolate" or "dark chocolate."
• Avoid keyboard paths: Discourage sequential keyboard paths like "qwerty" or "a1s2d3f4."
• Regular password changes: Require regular password changes, such as once or twice a month.
• Password manager: Consider using a password manager that can automatically generate and store strong passwords. Password managers store your passwords in an encrypted, centralized location, allowing you to access them with a master password.

4. Keep your knowledge up to date

In the security field, it's easy to get caught up in day-to-day emergencies and neglect to stay current with the latest security knowledge. However, it's essential to stay up-to-date with the latest changes and continuously expand your knowledge in the vast field of cybersecurity. Topics such as the risk assessment framework, threat detection, and zero-trust architecture apply to many areas of security, and it's crucial to pay attention to other important aspects, such as physical security. Online courses can be an excellent way to keep your knowledge current and fill any gaps in your expertise.

The traditional notion of network perimeters protecting successful cyber attacks by firewalls and DMZs no longer suffices. The rise of remote work, cloud infrastructure, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices has expanded the potential attack surface. The IoT market is predicted to grow to over $567 billion by 2027, increasing the number of potential cyber-attack vectors, including security cameras, smart door locks, office equipment, and heating systems.

5. Enhance Perimeter and IoT Security

Compromised IoT devices can provide access to hackers who can exploit and then access management to steal sensitive data and systems. For instance, a breached printer can allow an attacker to view all scanned or printed documents. One way to secure your perimeter is by safeguarding your border routers and creating screened subnets. Additionally, separating sensitive data from your regular corporate network and restricting access to it can help mitigate risks.

You can strengthen security measures by combining conventional approaches like firewalls and virtual private networks (VPNs) with the zero-trust model. The zero-trust model is centred on the principle of never trust, constantly verifying and requires continuous user and device validation to prevent unauthorized remote access.

6. Adopt a people-centric security strategy

More than just focusing on technology to secure your organization is required, as cyber attackers often exploit human vulnerabilities to gain access. According to Verizon's 2022 Data Breach Investigations Report, 82% of data breaches involve a human factor.

A people-centric approach to device security involves prioritizing your employees as an essential line of defense against cybersecurity threats. Educating and monitoring your workforce are crucial aspects of a secure people-centric environment.

Summary

In conclusion, security in the IT field is a high-priority matter. It cannot be neglected or overlooked, as it will lead to severe consequences and threats to your business and customers.

Cybersecurity, IT security, software security, and application security are all related concepts that protect digital information from unauthorized access, theft, and damage. They all fall into one category, which is "information security." It is a broader concept than the cyber security definition encompassing various security measures to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.

The measures that come with security are sometimes complex and require up-to-date, in-depth knowledge. It is an accessory to create a robust plan that will be implemented by highly skilled professionals, as there is no cost-cutting in this field.

Therefore, to maximise your security without breaking your funds and your head, partner up with SolveQ. We are experts in software security and will help you go through the process with no worries or problems!