Automate testing throughout the development and release lifecycle

Automating testing for security properties at every stage of the development and release lifecycle is crucial. By ensuring consistent and repeatable testing, teams can identify potential vulnerabilities early on, which significantly reduces security risks in final deployments.

Best Practices

Implement Continuous Security Testing

• Integrate security testing tools into your CI/CD pipeline to automatically assess security properties during code integration and deployment.
• Utilize static application security testing (SAST) tools to analyze source code for vulnerabilities early in the development process.
• Employ dynamic application security testing (DAST) to evaluate running applications for security weaknesses before production release.
• Conduct regular security assessments, including penetration testing, to identify and remediate vulnerabilities.
• Incorporate security training for development teams to ensure they are aware of best practices and common security pitfalls.

Questions to ask your team

• What security testing frameworks are you using in your development lifecycle?
• How do you ensure that security tests are automated and integrated into your CI/CD pipelines?
• What tools are you leveraging for static and dynamic application security testing?
• How frequently are your security tests run, and how are results tracked and addressed?
• Do you have a process for evaluating and updating your automation testing strategy as new vulnerabilities are discovered?

Who should be doing this?

Security Engineer

• Design security measures and frameworks to integrate into the development lifecycle.
• Identify security requirements and risks associated with applications.
• Develop and maintain automation scripts for security testing.

DevOps Engineer

• Implement CI/CD pipelines that include automated security testing.
• Manage the integration of security tools within the deployment process.
• Monitor and audit automated security test results and compliance.

Software Developer

• Write code that adheres to security best practices and guidelines.
• Collaborate with security teams to ensure the application meets security requirements.
• Address vulnerabilities identified during automated security tests.

Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer

• Develop test cases that include security testing elements.
• Execute automated security tests and report findings.
• Ensure that security testing is incorporated into the overall quality assurance process.

Project Manager

• Coordinate security testing activities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure resources and training are available for team members regarding security practices.
• Monitor the progress of security integration and communicate risks to stakeholders.

What evidence shows this is happening in your organization?

• Security Testing Automation Plan: A comprehensive plan detailing the integration of automated security testing tools in the CI/CD pipeline, including specific tools, scheduling, and environment setup.
• Automated Security Testing Checklist: A checklist that outlines the essential security tests to be automated at each stage of the development lifecycle, ensuring coverage of common vulnerabilities and compliance requirements.
• Security Testing Dashboard: An interactive dashboard that visualizes the results of automated security tests including trends over time, identified vulnerabilities, and remediation status.
• Policy on Security Testing Practices: A formal policy document that outlines the organization’s commitment to security testing, roles and responsibilities, testing standards, and adherence to compliance.
• Security Testing Strategy Guide: A strategic guide outlining the goals, methodologies, and tools for implementing effective automated security testing across all development and deployment stages.

Cloud Services

AWS

• AWS CodePipeline: Automates the building, testing, and deployment of applications, allowing for integration of security testing in the CI/CD pipeline.
• Amazon Inspector: Automatically assesses applications for vulnerabilities and security best practices, providing valuable insights during the development lifecycle.
• AWS Security Hub: Aggregates security findings from multiple AWS services, providing a comprehensive overview of security posture and compliance throughout application lifecycles.

Azure

• Azure DevOps: Provides CI/CD tools to automate testing and deployment, integrating security testing at every phase of application development.
• Azure Security Center: Continuously monitors your Azure resources to identify security vulnerabilities and recommends mitigations, supporting secure development practices.
• Azure Active Directory (AD): Enables secure identity management and access control, helping to assert security measures throughout the application lifecycle.

Google Cloud Platform

• Cloud Build: Automates the CI/CD process, allowing for the integration of security testing as part of the build and deployment process.
• Container Analysis: Provides vulnerability scanning for container images, ensuring that security is addressed early in the development process.
• Google Cloud Security Command Center: Offers risk assessment and security posture management tools for all Google Cloud services, helping secure applications in development.

Question: How do you incorporate and validate the security properties of applications throughout the design, development, and deployment lifecycle?
Pillar: Security (Code: SEC)