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Software development cyber security

Software development cyber security has never been so important before.
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CYBER SECURITY
KEY ISSUES
CYBER SECURITY STRATEGY
MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK
CYBER SECURITY KEY ISSUES CYBER SECURITY STRATEGY MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK
01
CYBER SECURITY

Software development cyber security

Any lack of protection against cyber threats can result in data and money thefts, software damage, as well as losing customer trust and reputation.
Cyber threats neglected in the course of software development become the main reason of failure of many businesses.

Any lack of protection against cyber threats can result in data and money thefts, software damage, as well as losing customer trust and reputation. Cyber threats neglected in the course of software development become the main reason of failure of many businesses.

02
KEY ISSUES

The key issues of software cyber security

Network security

Network security should concentrate on the implementation of policies, processes and best practices to prevent, control, detect and fight any attempts of breaching the network, data and other corporate resources.

Identity & access management (IAM)

Identity and access management determines which users can access which resources inside a network. UEBA works perfectly in this respect. It predicts user behaviour patterns and then, in real time and using machine learning, creates models of secure access right management.

Data security and data protection

Effective corporate data protection should focus on two directions: It is essential to technically secure all databases and information stored on physical and virtual servers. The main activities include appropriate identity and access management, creating backups, encrypting information and using advanced technological cloud solutions. The other issue is related to compliance with legal regulations associated with protection of customers and users of digital products.

Vulnerability management

Vulnerability management is a constant application monitoring and regular scanning of the environment (e.g. containers in Aqua). Vulnerabilities can appear even after completion of a project. It is important to update the version of the application in the event of detecting a threat. The supplier of the affected component (dependency, library or system) should fix the bug. Identification of more sensitive areas of the system, particularly those exposed to cyber attacks, enables fixing vulnerabilities.

Workload security

It is worth collecting and monitoring application performance metrics to know when someone is attacking a system. One characteristic feature of such situations can be the increased number of 401 unauthorised error (logging error). For example, when we notice 6,000 failed login attempts or unusual traffic sources, we can prevent the negative effects and block the traffic from the suspicious source to make cyber attack impossible.

Notifications and alerts

Information about what was changed in the system, when, and by whom, allows identifying the software components particularly exposed to attacks. In the past, logs used to be collected on physical machines, and after attacks hackers could delete them freely. The cloud enables distributed logging of protected devices to easily check and analyse any activity in the system.

Network security

Network security should concentrate on the implementation of policies, processes and best practices to prevent, control, detect and fight any attempts of breaching the network, data and other corporate resources.

Identity & access management (IAM)

Identity and access management determines which users can access which resources inside a network. UEBA works perfectly in this respect. It predicts user behaviour patterns and then, in real time and using machine learning, creates models of secure access right management.

Data security and data protection

Effective corporate data protection should focus on two directions: It is essential to technically secure all databases and information stored on physical and virtual servers. The main activities include appropriate identity and access management, creating backups, encrypting information and using advanced technological cloud solutions. The other issue is related to compliance with legal regulations associated with protection of customers and users of digital products.

Vulnerability management

Vulnerability management is a constant application monitoring and regular scanning of the environment (e.g. containers in Aqua). Vulnerabilities can appear even after completion of a project. It is important to update the version of the application in the event of detecting a threat. The supplier of the affected component (dependency, library or system) should fix the bug. Identification of more sensitive areas of the system, particularly those exposed to cyber attacks, enables fixing vulnerabilities.

Workload security

It is worth collecting and monitoring application performance metrics to know when someone is attacking a system. One characteristic feature of such situations can be the increased number of 401 unauthorised error (logging error). For example, when we notice 6,000 failed login attempts or unusual traffic sources, we can prevent the negative effects and block the traffic from the suspicious source to make cyber attack impossible.

Notifications and alerts

Information about what was changed in the system, when, and by whom, allows identifying the software components particularly exposed to attacks. In the past, logs used to be collected on physical machines, and after attacks hackers could delete them freely. The cloud enables distributed logging of protected devices to easily check and analyse any activity in the system.

03
CYBER SECURITY STRATEGY

A cloud native security strategy

There is no one universal model of cyber security management. When planning a cloud native cyber security strategy, attention should be paid to such issues as the type of application, business environment, branch, character of the organisation, as well as the type and purpose of the collected data. The most important thing is to include appropriate preventive measures as early as the software planning and development stage. This is required not only by regulation, but also by common sense and the respect toward users of your digital product.

A lack of sufficient software and data security (especially sensitive data) can harm your company, not just in terms of PR. A software house should always remember about the legal environment of its partner. Various personal data protection regulations and requirements associated with providing network security require an individual approach and solutions compliant with a given business location. For example, in Europe, the GDPRs are extremely strict, and neglecting them can cost up to 4% of your annual income.

There is no one universal model of cyber security management. When planning a cloud native cyber security strategy, attention should be paid to such issues as the type of application, business environment, branch, character of the organisation, as well as the type and purpose of the collected data.

The most important thing is to include appropriate preventive measures as early as the software planning and development stage. This is required not only by regulation, but also by common sense and the respect toward users of your digital product.

A lack of sufficient software and data security (especially sensitive data) can harm your company, not just in terms of PR. A software house should always remember about the legal environment of its partner. Various personal data protection regulations and requirements associated with providing network security require an individual approach and solutions compliant with a given business location. For example, in Europe, the GDPRs are extremely strict, and neglecting them can cost up to 4% of your annual income.

Some example vectors of attacks on a cloud native application:

Vulnerabilities in the
application code
A wrongly configured
container image (e.g.
“root”, i.e. administrator)
An attack on a
computer on which an
image is being prepared
A supply chain attack (e.g.
external software components
with vulnerabilities installed)
Inadequately secured
employee computers
Unintentional disclosure of
sensitive data (e.g. tokens,
passwords)
Unsecured
networks
Vulnerabilities in the firewall
of the container environment
Source code is stored in an
unsecured repository
(without access control)
Vulnerabilities in the
application code
A wrongly configured container
image (e.g. “root”, i.e. administrator)
An attack on a computer on
which an image is being prepared
A supply chain attack (e.g.
external software components
with vulnerabilities installed)
Inadequately secured
employee computers
Unintentional disclosure of sensitive
data (e.g. tokens, passwords)
Unsecured networks
Vulnerabilities in the firewall of
the container environment
Source code is stored in an
unsecured repository
(without access control)
04
MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

Cyber threat management framework

How should we prepare appropriate cyber threat management procedures? At Stepwise we use a very practical approach in this respect. We conduct workshops with the customer and predict potential threats (attack vectors) then suggest preventive actions. The variety of business needs and conditions require a mix of operations, which is why we treat each single customer individually.

  • The benefits of proper cyber security management include
  • A high level of software security
  • A high level of data security
  • A smaller number of errors and code vulnerabilities
  • Stable operation of digital products
  • Legal security
  • Avoidance of fines
  • Trust of customers and partners
  • Increased company reputation
  • Cost-efficiency – prediction of potential threats and preparing adequate preventive actions at the onset of the project require less money than does identification and neutralisation of threats when they appear
  • Time-efficiency – Stepwise ensures advanced automation of many processes in cloud services. This allows maintenance of a high security level without additional specialists and time monitoring all components of the system

Your company will be able to develop smoothly once you gain the essential knowledge of securing your applications and data. Stepwise will prepare your organisation for conscious cyber security management of cloud native software. Contact us, and let us secure your software, business and customers.