Integrating security into the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) has never been more critical. With threats evolving and organisations accelerating their development cycles, identifying and addressing vulnerabilities early has become paramount. This article explores how modern security practices and tools, like those offered by AppCheck, can fortify the SDLC against potential threats.
Shifting security left—integrating security practices earlier in the development lifecycle—is a proven approach to reducing vulnerabilities and associated costs. According to Gartner, organisations that adopt shift-left practices resolve vulnerabilities 45% faster than those that wait until later stages. AppCheck’s seamless integration with CI/CD tools enables development teams to incorporate security from the earliest stages, providing real-time feedback and addressing vulnerabilities before they escalate.
Modern development practices, such as continuous integration and delivery, have increased the speed of software delivery. However, this agility often exposes organisations to greater risks. A 2024 report from Cybersecurity Ventures indicates that vulnerabilities introduced during the development process contribute to over 60% of all reported application breaches.
Neglecting security early in development can result in vulnerabilities making their way into production, where they are more expensive and challenging to fix. A study by the Ponemon Institute found that fixing vulnerabilities post-deployment can cost up to 15 times more than addressing them during early development stages. Addressing them early in the SDLC is vital to avoid costly and risky late-stage fixes.
Many mature SDLC pipelines include dynamic testing phases, which typically use automated tools to validate functional expectations. By extending this phase to include non-functional (security) tests, organisations can integrate Secure SDLC practices. This approach, often referred to as “Security as Code (SaC),” builds security directly into the existing tools within the DevOps pipeline.
In a Secure SDLC, every build delivered by the development team is scanned in real-time for issues, with developers receiving immediate feedback to correct vulnerabilities. AppCheck’s integration with CI/CD tools like Jenkins and Azure DevOps enables seamless security checks with every build, ensuring consistent coverage without slowing development cycles.
There is no single toolchain established for DevOps, but tools and workflows often align with stages of the SDLC:
Modern applications face a range of security challenges, from securing APIs to managing complex authentication flows and scaling across expansive estates. APIs, which form the backbone of communication between systems, are a frequent target for attackers. AppCheck addresses these risks with robust API security scanning, thoroughly examining endpoints, configurations, and data flows. By leveraging support for Swagger (OpenAPI), GraphQL, and SOAP, AppCheck helps mitigate potential breaches at the earliest stages.
Securing complex authentication flows is another critical need for organisations. AppCheck’s GoScript enables teams to model and test multi-step workflows, uncovering vulnerabilities that could otherwise go unnoticed. Additionally, the platform’s scalability ensures that growing organisations can maintain effective security management with unlimited scans and users.
By integrating shift-left practices, AppCheck empowers development teams to detect vulnerabilities early in the pipeline. This proactive approach reduces the likelihood of issues escalating, saving time and resources. Features such as automatic vulnerability rescanning and custom scan profiles further streamline the process, ensuring that security remains efficient and targeted to specific application needs.
Finally, AppCheck’s dual-layer scanning capabilities cover both Infrastructure as Code (IaC) deployments and web applications. This comprehensive approach simplifies security processes for teams managing complex DevOps pipelines, providing confidence in both application and infrastructure security.
Integrating security into the SDLC is essential for building robust and resilient applications. By addressing vulnerabilities early and leveraging advanced tools like AppCheck, organisations can protect their software and maintain agility in today’s fast-paced development environments.
AppCheck offers comprehensive solutions for API scanning, DAST, and vulnerability management, ensuring your SDLC remains secure at every stage. Contact us to learn how AppCheck can help your organisation achieve its security goals and safeguard its software development lifecycle.
AppCheck is a software security vendor based in the UK, offering a leading security scanning platform that automates the discovery of security flaws within organisations websites, applications, network, and cloud infrastructure. AppCheck are authorized by the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) Program as a CVE Numbering Authority (CNA).
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AppCheck is a software security vendor based in the UK, offering a leading security scanning platform that automates the discovery of security flaws within organisations websites, applications, network and cloud infrastructure. AppCheck are authorized by te Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) Program aas a CVE Numbering Authority (CNA)
