Build a program that embeds security ownership in workload teams

Incorporating security ownership within workload teams fosters a culture of accountability and ensures that security considerations are integrated into every phase of the software development lifecycle. This approach allows builder teams to make informed security decisions, empowering them to address potential vulnerabilities effectively and proactively.

Best Practices

Embed Security Ownership in Development Teams

• Establish clear security roles within development teams to ensure accountability. This will empower teams to make informed security decisions during the software lifecycle.
• Implement regular security training sessions for developers to keep them updated on best practices and emerging threats. This raises awareness and builds a security-first mindset.
• Integrate automated security testing tools within the CI/CD pipeline to identify vulnerabilities early in the development process. This ensures that security is part of the workflow rather than an afterthought.
• Conduct regular security reviews and threat modeling sessions to validate security properties and dependencies. This promotes collaboration between development and security teams and strengthens overall security.
• Foster a culture that encourages sharing of security knowledge and experiences. This can be done through regular security-focused meetings or workshops, enhancing team cohesion and expertise.

Questions to ask your team

• How do workload teams receive security training and resources to embed security practices into their processes?
• What mechanisms are in place to ensure that security practices are adhered to throughout the development lifecycle?
• Can you describe how security ownership is communicated and reinforced within the workload teams?
• How often does the security team conduct reviews of the workload teams to validate security practices?
• What tools and practices do workload teams use to automate security testing during development?
• How is security feedback from deployment utilized to enhance future releases and security practices?
• In what ways are dependency management and threat modeling integrated into the workload teams’ processes?
• How is accountability for security outcomes measured and reported within the teams?

Who should be doing this?

Security Champion

• Act as the primary point of contact for security concerns within the workload team.
• Educate team members on security best practices and principles.
• Foster a culture of security ownership and accountability within the team.
• Ensure that security considerations are integrated into every phase of development.

DevOps Engineer

• Implement automated testing and continuous integration tools that include security checks.
• Deploy infrastructure with security best practices in mind, ensuring compliance with security policies.
• Collaborate with application developers to integrate security into the deployment pipeline.

Application Developer

• Design and develop applications with security features embedded in the code.
• Conduct code reviews with a focus on security vulnerabilities.
• Participate in training sessions to stay updated on security trends and techniques.

Security Team Member

• Conduct regular security reviews and assessments of applications developed by workload teams.
• Provide guidance and support to teams in addressing identified security issues.
• Validate security practices and tools used by the workload teams to ensure effectiveness.

Compliance Officer

• Ensure that all development practices comply with regulatory requirements and organizational policies.
• Monitor and report on security-related metrics and incidents.
• Assist teams in understanding compliance implications related to their software.

What evidence shows this is happening in your organization?

• Security Ownership Program Template: A template for creating a security ownership program that outlines roles, responsibilities, and processes for embedding security ownership within workload teams.
• Security Decision-Making Guide: A comprehensive guide to help teams make informed security decisions, including risk assessment frameworks and best practices tailored for their development environments.
• Automated Security Validation Checklist: A checklist that teams can use to validate security properties throughout the development lifecycle, emphasizing automation tools and techniques.
• Security Review Process Report: A report detailing the process for security reviews, including checklists and criteria for evaluating security during design and deployment phases.
• Training Plan for Security Awareness: A strategic plan outlining training programs to promote security awareness across teams, focusing on roles, responsibilities, and best practices.
• Metrics Dashboard for Security Performance: A dashboard that tracks key performance indicators related to security ownership and incidents, enabling teams to visualize their security posture.
• Embedded Security Communication Playbook: A playbook to facilitate effective communication between workload teams and the security team, ensuring continuous dialogue and collaboration on security issues.
• Security Tools Integration Matrix: A matrix evaluating various security tools and their integration points within the development lifecycle to ensure continuous validation of security properties.

Cloud Services

AWS

• AWS CodePipeline: Automates the build, test, and deployment phases of your release process, allowing you to incorporate automated security checks.
• Amazon Inspector: Automatically assesses applications for vulnerabilities or deviations from best practices, providing insights that help teams embed security throughout the development lifecycle.
• AWS Secrets Manager: Helps you protect access to your applications, services, and IT resources without the upfront investment and on-going maintenance costs of operating your own infrastructure.
• AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM): Enables you to securely control access to AWS services and resources for your users, empowering teams to manage permissions actively.

Azure

• Azure DevOps: Provides integrated tools for application lifecycle management, enabling collaboration and automation that includes security in the development process.
• Azure Security Center: Helps to prevent, detect, and respond to threats with advanced cloud-based security, ensuring adherence to security best practices throughout development.
• Azure Active Directory: Offers identity management capabilities that help secure access to applications and services, allowing teams to implement effective access controls.

Google Cloud Platform

• Cloud Build: Allows you to build and deploy applications quickly while integrating security checks directly into your CI/CD pipeline.
• Google Cloud Security Command Center: Provides security and risk data across your GCP projects, allowing for real-time visibility and risk management during development.
• Cloud IAM: Allows you to manage access control by defining who (identity) has what access (roles) to which resources, enhancing security ownership.

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