3.12 Security in Agile Development Explained
Key Concepts
Security in Agile Development involves integrating security practices throughout the Agile development lifecycle. Key concepts include Secure by Design, Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) with Security, and Security Testing in Sprints.
Secure by Design
Secure by Design means incorporating security considerations from the initial stages of software development. This approach ensures that security is not an afterthought but a fundamental part of the design and architecture.
Example: A development team starts a new project by conducting a threat modeling session during the initial planning phase. They identify potential security risks and design the system to mitigate these risks from the outset.
Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) with Security
CI/CD with Security integrates automated security checks into the continuous integration and continuous deployment pipelines. This ensures that security vulnerabilities are detected and addressed early in the development process.
Example: A development team uses a CI/CD pipeline that includes automated security scans for every code commit. If a vulnerability is detected, the pipeline stops the deployment until the issue is resolved, ensuring that only secure code is deployed to production.
Security Testing in Sprints
Security Testing in Sprints involves incorporating security testing activities into the Agile sprint cycles. This ensures that security is regularly assessed and addressed throughout the development process.
Example: During a two-week sprint, a development team includes security testing tasks such as penetration testing and code reviews. These tasks are completed alongside functional testing, ensuring that security is continuously evaluated and improved.
Conclusion
Security in Agile Development is crucial for creating secure software efficiently. By integrating security practices from the design phase, automating security checks in CI/CD pipelines, and conducting security testing in sprints, organizations can develop robust and secure applications that meet both functional and security requirements.