Learn the best secure development practices for your company

First and foremost, to create functional software, it's important to ensure good cybersecurity practices, which is essential for anyone running a web-based business . Therefore, implementing best practices for secure development requires both the use of tools and techniques, as well as the training of employees and users.

The use of secure code, for example, is an indispensable condition in any company that uses software and development systems . However, it is not enough to simply apply new security technologies. The software itself needs to close the risk gaps.

Take the opportunity to learn about the case study where the client abandoned outdated data security methods and began prioritizing the modern resources offered by Sky.One:

Now, let's learn about best practices for secure development , what secure code is, and how it's created .

Furthermore, you will learn tips on how to increase the security of web applications (which is not limited to just using the HTTPS protocol in conjunction with a login functionality), and you will also learn some important steps to ensure the necessary protection in the secure development of software.

What does secure code mean?

In short, secure coding is a strategy of anticipating security in software creation preventative practices, processes, and tools .

Therefore, this code can be developed for execution on mobile devices, as well as personal computers, servers, and other related tools. 

This feature is becoming a standard , especially in technology companies that produce software . Furthermore, secure code is also used as a strategy to create apps and systems that are increasingly less susceptible to bugs .

Vulnerabilities can vary: insufficient authentication, lack of encryption, weak protection against malicious code, and misconfiguration of web servers. 

Therefore, one of the best practices for secure development , very common in this regard, is to create types of protection only after identifying a possible vulnerability .

How to increase web application security with secure development

Certainly, having a plan together with the development team is essential .

Many companies approach defining security strategies without knowing where they want to go and without aligning them with the institution's objectives .

Creating an inventory of the resources the company uses, whether applications, virtual systems, or devices, is essential. 

Thus, we gain a broader view of how the organization works with the use of network connectivity and for what purpose . In this way, it becomes easier to map risk points and what solutions should be found.

The larger the organization , the greater the chances of finding redundant or useless applications . Inventory, in this regard, will be efficient in future processes. Therefore, invest the necessary time to collect details of each application used.

Let's look at some important resources that can lead to better practices in secure software development. See below:

1. Penetration Test

Here, developers simulate what an attack on the software would look like , also called a penetration test , in which some types of malware, viruses, and other malicious resources enter the system or virtual platform.

Based on the penetration test, risks are measured and classified into four levels – critical, high, medium, low – and, through a report, solutions will be defined.

2. Password control

Passwords are codes that can be easily stolen or read, especially if they are created by associating them with other codes or documents. This is a common mistake among most professionals, and therefore it's an important point to consider when increasing data security for the business you work in.

Experts suggest that every company should have a policy for managing complex passwords , with a minimum of 8 characters that include symbols, case-sensitive letters, numbers, and a defined expiration date. The risk increases if the same password is used on different platforms or authentication systems .

3. Software updates and configuration

Each environment and system requires its own configuration , and the constant updating of software ensures additional security for the entire connected network – servers, devices, web applications.

Therefore, it is also important to properly configure the development environment software , which is different from the production environment .

4. Vulnerability Scanners

In this case, protection is achieved using specific software that scans networked or internet-connected computers . The scanning is done constantly, with updated tests that prevent access to data and files. The verification can cover different devices – servers, laptops, printers, firewalls, switches, virtual machines.

To learn more, be sure to check out our other article : 10 vulnerability scanners you should know about.

Step-by-step guide to applying secure development best practices

Here are some important tips to help you define the best practices for promoting the your company's cyber environment

To develop software with few flaws , it's necessary to consider that there will always be vulnerabilities and hackers interested in circumventing the system .

Therefore, IT professionals will need to identify which encryption methods will be necessary, how users will be trained to ensure secure access and login , and other issues such as licensing and data usage .

Another point is the security of the architecture and programming language , as well as authentication and data transmission methods. Here, certifications and legal documentation in compliance with the General Data Protection Law are a requirement .

Learn more about the LGPD (Brazilian General Data Protection Law) and how its guidelines influence security processes in episode #5 of Sky.Cast:

Furthermore, we must test various security methods, especially in code blocks where confidential information , in order to ensure that the final product does not have easy vulnerabilities . And finally, constant monitoring of web applications is necessary.

Protect your business data with Sky.Security

In general, Brazil is one of the countries that suffers most from cybersecurity problems. Therefore, investing in data security is urgent and should be taken seriously.

Sky.Security is the security brand of Sky.One! Platforms and services to protect your business data through threat anticipation , continuous monitoring , and real-time responses to attack attempts.

Therefore, Sky.Security operates 24/7 and represents an investment in intelligence and technology to protect your business.

Your IT needs to be more strategic and less operational; our professionals are cybersecurity experts. With our support, IT teams become more strategic and less operational.

Want to chat about cybersecurity? Visit our website and talk to one of our experts.

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Written by Skyone