Cyberattacks are on the rise, and the cost of poor software security is too high to ignore. In 2023, the average price of a data breach reached $4.45 million, according to an IBM Security Report, representing a 15% increase from the previous three years.
Without integrating security from the outset, your systems remain vulnerable to attacks, leading to financial losses, damaged reputations, and potential data breaches.
For example, in 2024, AT&T confirmed a data exposure affecting about 73 million current and former account holders. Furthermore, in 2025, it reached a proposed $177 million settlement tied to the incidents.
With regulations like GDPR and CCPA holding companies accountable for data protection, neglecting security isn’t only risky but also costly.
In this blog, we’ll explore why secure software development is essential, how to build it into your processes, and the frameworks that help mitigate risk.
Key Takeaways:
- Secure software development integrates security at every stage of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) to minimize risks and reduce costly fixes.
- DevSecOps ensures that security is part of the development process from start to finish, fostering collaboration between development, security, and operations teams.
- Best practices such as functional components, threat modeling, and code reviews should be followed for optimal security and performance.
- Frameworks like NIST and OWASP help ensure security measures are consistently applied throughout the development process.
- Early security integration reduces vulnerability remediation costs and improves application integrity, while neglecting it leads to costly breaches.
What does ‘Secure’ Software Development Mean?
Secure software development involves integrating security directly into the development process, rather than treating it as an afterthought.
By embedding security at each stage of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), teams can reduce risks, lower remediation costs, and enhance the overall integrity of their software.
1. Definition and Role of DevSecOps
DevSecOps shifts the focus to embedding security throughout the development process, not just at the end.
It merges development, security, and operations teams into a collaborative effort to ensure that security measures are consistently integrated into every stage of development.
- Proactive Security: By integrating security at the start, vulnerabilities are prevented from being introduced, which is much more efficient than addressing them after they’re discovered.
- Collaboration: Developers, security experts, and operations teams collaborate in real-time to identify and address security risks during development, rather than waiting until the deployment phase.
- Early Detection: Addressing security issues as part of the development process ensures that vulnerabilities are identified early, making them easier and less expensive to fix.
Cost Benefits
Fixing a vulnerability in coding or unit testing is significantly more cost-effective. The context and technical details are already known, so developers don’t have to re-learn how to navigate technical debt when addressing security issues.
Recent estimates place the accumulated U.S. software technical debt at approximately $1.52 trillion, contributing to $2.41 trillion in annual costs. A 2024 survey also found that 52% of developers spend roughly 17 hours/week debugging and refactoring.
2. Quality Assurance in Existing Workflows
Development teams already use pull request reviews as part of their quality assurance process.
Proposed changes typically remain in this review phase for 47-50 hours, during which defects are identified and addressed.
This review cycle is a prime opportunity to incorporate security checks without disrupting development velocity.
- Defect Detection: During this stage, developers identify approximately 3.4-4.7 defects per 1,000 lines of code, utilizing peer reviews and automated tools.
- Non-Invasive Security: Since the quality assurance process already identifies defects, adding security checks at this point won’t interrupt the development flow. This allows teams to follow a non-invasive security policy, integrating security seamlessly into their existing workflow.
Cost of Late Detection
According to a Verizon Business report, third-party involvement in breaches has doubled to 30%, and the exploitation of vulnerabilities has increased by 34%. This highlights a concerning threat landscape for businesses globally. Addressing vulnerabilities early ensures that the cost of remediation remains manageable.
Also Read: A Step-By-Step Guide to Understanding the Process of Custom Software Development by Codewave
Security shouldn’t be an afterthought. Let’s look at how to integrate it into every phase of your Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
Incorporating Security into the SDLC
To ensure secure software development, it’s important to embed security at each stage of the SDLC. This proactive approach is necessary for safeguarding both the application and its users.
1. Testing Methodologies: Static and Dynamic Testing
Testing plays a crucial role in identifying vulnerabilities early in the development process. Below are two essential testing methodologies used to ensure software security:
- Static Testing: This method involves analyzing the source code of software without executing it. Tools like SonarQube or Checkmarx can scan code for vulnerabilities such as insecure functions and missing input validation.
- Dynamic Testing: This testing approach examines the running application, focusing on how the software reacts to real-time data and user inputs. OWASP ZAP is commonly used to identify runtime vulnerabilities such as cross-site scripting (XSS) and SQL injection.
2. Documenting Security Requirements
A comprehensive Security Requirements Specification (SRS) ensures that the application is designed with security in mind.
This document should outline the specific security needs of the application and how they will be addressed during development. Including these requirements in the design phase can prevent costly rework later.
3. Risk Analysis During Design
Risk analysis should be performed as part of the initial design phase to assess the potential security risks the software may encounter.
Threat modeling tools such as Microsoft Threat Modeling Tool help identify potential security vulnerabilities early on, giving developers a roadmap for addressing these issues before coding begins.
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Frameworks for Secure Software Development
Frameworks are essential tools that guide the development of secure software. Utilizing established frameworks, such as the NIST SSDF (Secure Software Development Framework), can streamline security integration and ensure consistency.
1. Utilizing NIST SSDF and Other Frameworks
The NIST Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF) provides a structured approach to secure software development. It outlines security practices across the development lifecycle and maps them to the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s cybersecurity guidelines.
Other Frameworks:
- OWASP Top Ten: A globally recognized list of the most critical security risks for web applications.
- ISO/IEC 27001: International standards for information security management.
2. Benefits of Structured Approaches Like NIST Processes
Frameworks like NIST provide standardized procedures for identifying, addressing, and mitigating vulnerabilities. The key benefits include:
- Consistency: Ensures security measures are applied uniformly across all projects.
- Scalability: Structured processes can be scaled to accommodate larger and more complex systems.
- Traceability: Frameworks facilitate the tracking of security measures’ effectiveness over time.
3. Detailed Activities Within These Frameworks
Frameworks provide specific activities that need to be performed at each stage of development. These activities include:
- Code Reviews: To ensure adherence to security policies.
- Penetration Testing: To simulate attacks and identify weaknesses.
- Vulnerability Scanning: To automate the detection of security flaws in the codebase.
Also Read: Offshore Software Product Development in Australia: A Complete Guide
Building secure software starts with solid design. Here are the key principles you should follow to avoid vulnerabilities from the get-go
Key Principles of Secure Software Design
Secure software design requires embedding security throughout the development process to mitigate vulnerabilities. The following principles are fundamental to building resilient software:
- Security as Code
Security must be part of the codebase from the beginning. Implement practices like input validation, encryption, and secure storage to prevent vulnerabilities. - Ensuring Secure Defaults
Configure applications with secure settings by default, such as enabling SSL/TLS encryption and disabling unnecessary services to reduce attack vectors. - Practicing Least Privilege
Limit user and component access to only what is necessary to perform their tasks. This minimizes the damage in the event of a breach. - Separation of Duties
Distribute critical tasks across different teams to prevent a single person from controlling sensitive operations, ensuring accountability and reducing risks. - Minimizing Attack Surface Area
Remove unused features and services, and simplify code to reduce the number of potential vulnerabilities an attacker could exploit. - Complete Mediation and Failing Securely
Validate all access requests, even for authenticated users, and ensure systems fail securely by not exposing sensitive data during errors.
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Top Software Security Best Practices to Keep in Mind
Securing software goes beyond merely adhering to frameworks, it requires integrating security best practices throughout the development process to ensure that vulnerabilities are addressed early, risks are minimized, and software remains resilient.
1. Security Integration from the Beginning
Security must be integrated from the start of the SDLC. Early adoption of security practices, like threat modeling and secure coding, is far more cost-effective than fixing issues later.
Fixing a single vulnerability can cost over $50,000, making early identification and mitigation essential to avoid expensive fixes.
Key Actions:
- Threat modeling during the design phase
- Secure coding standards
- Static code analysis for vulnerabilities early on
2. Implementing a Secure Policy Framework
A solid security policy framework ensures consistent, effective security across all projects by clearly defining security requirements, coding standards, and testing protocols.
Implementing Security by Design (SbD) can reduce vulnerabilities by 79%, saving organizations millions with multiple applications and aligning development with best practices for a more secure environment.
Key Actions:
- Define security policies and coding standards
- Establish regular security assessments and audits
- Ensure that security measures are part of the onboarding process for developers
3. Designing Software to Meet Security Needs
Security considerations should be embedded throughout the software design process. This includes creating an architecture that anticipates and mitigates potential threats, from data encryption to implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Key Actions:
- Implement secure data storage practices such as encryption
- Design for secure communication channels (e.g., HTTPS)
- Integrate multi-factor authentication (MFA) and role-based access control (RBAC)
- Regularly review security architecture against evolving threats
4. Ensuring Code Integrity and Conducting Frequent Testing
Maintaining code integrity through practices like version control and regular code reviews ensures the codebase remains secure and free from unauthorized changes. Frequent testing, including unit and integration tests, helps identify vulnerabilities early, reducing risks.
A one-month delay in implementing Security by Design (SbD) for 100 applications could result in over $416,000 in additional remediation costs. Moreover, the average lifecycle of a breach is 292 days from identification to containment, highlighting the importance of early security integration.
Key Actions:
- Implement version control systems (e.g., Git)
- Conduct regular peer reviews and static code analysis
- Use automated testing frameworks to identify vulnerabilities (e.g., OWASP ZAP, SonarQube)
- Perform regular penetration testing to simulate real-world attack scenarios
Also Read: Understanding Artificial Neural Networks and Their Applications
Codewave’s Impact: Strengthening Mental Health Platforms with Security and Innovation
Aditech approached Codewave to redesign Totalbrain’s web and mobile applications. The goal was to create a platform that would allow users to self-assess their mental health and access support easily.
The platform needed to be intuitive for both consumers and clinicians, helping improve mental health and overall well-being.
Solution:
Codewave led the redesign of Totalbrain’s mobile and web applications, each tailored for distinct users:
1. Mobile App for Consumers
The mobile app was designed to empower users to self-assess their mental health, track progress, and access valuable resources for improvement.
Key features included personalized assessments, mood tracking, and educational content to support mental health.
2. Web App for Clinicians
The web app was designed for mental health professionals to efficiently monitor patients, conduct assessments, and provide tailored support. It streamlined communication and enabled clinicians to track patient progress and offer informed guidance.
Both apps were redesigned for a seamless, user-friendly experience, empowering both consumers and clinicians to manage mental health with intuitive, easy-to-use tools.
Explore our portfolio to see how we’ve helped other companies optimize their digital solutions with secure software development practices.
Conclusion
Integrating secure software development practices from the start is crucial for protecting applications and reducing cyber risks. Adopting strategies like Security by Design (SbD), secure coding, maintaining code integrity, and rigorous testing helps minimize vulnerabilities and prevent costly breaches.
Why Codewave for Secure Software Development?
At Codewave, we believe secure software goes beyond just applying frameworks—it’s about embedding security throughout the entire development process. Our team uses industry-leading tools and best practices to ensure that security is integrated at every stage of your project.
With over 400+ projects across 15+ countries, we specialize in developing secure, scalable solutions tailored to your unique needs:
- AI/ML Development: Build intelligent, secure applications.
- Mobile & Web App Development: Ensure secure, user-friendly apps.
- Digital Transformation: Modernize with robust security protocols.
- Cloud Solutions: Integrate scalable, secure cloud infrastructure.
- UX/UI Design: Create intuitive, secure user experiences.
Choose Codewave to launch products that users love and keep using. We blend human-centered design, instant onboarding, and engagement loops with precise engineering, fast performance, and built-in privacy and security.
Leaders see higher activation, stronger retention, growing revenue, and predictable releases through discovery sprints, delivery, and automated checks.
FAQs
Q: What is the difference between DevSecOps and traditional development?
A: DevSecOps integrates security into the development lifecycle from the start, unlike traditional development, which adds security at the end. This proactive approach helps identify and fix vulnerabilities early, making it less costly and more effective in preventing breaches.
Q: How does incorporating security into the SDLC reduce costs?
A: Integrating security early on prevents the need for expensive fixes later in the process. For example, finding vulnerabilities during coding or unit testing is far less costly than discovering them post-deployment, saving companies time and money.
Q: What are the risks of ignoring security in the development process?
A: Ignoring security can lead to significant data breaches, compliance issues, and damage to a company’s reputation. Vulnerabilities left unchecked expose businesses to financial losses and legal consequences, particularly with regulations like GDPR and CCPA.
Q: How can we optimize performance without compromising security?
A: Performance optimization, such as using Lazy Loading or Memoization, can be implemented alongside security features like secure coding and encryption. Balancing both requires careful planning, using efficient code and performing regular security tests.
Q: How often should security assessments and audits be conducted during development?
A: Security assessments should be conducted regularly, especially at each phase of the SDLC, including after major updates or changes. Regular audits ensure vulnerabilities are spotted early, and maintaining continuous checks helps keep the application secure over time.
Codewave is a UX first design thinking & digital transformation services company, designing & engineering innovative mobile apps, cloud, & edge solutions.
