Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) Policy (ENG-POL-001)
1. Objective
The objective of this policy is to establish a comprehensive framework for integrating security controls throughout the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) at [Company Name]. This policy ensures that security considerations are systematically incorporated into every phase of software development, from initial requirements gathering through deployment and maintenance. By implementing a structured secure development lifecycle framework and comprehensive security training programs, [Company Name] ensures that all software applications and systems are designed, developed, and maintained with appropriate security safeguards to protect electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) and maintain compliance with HIPAA, HITECH, and SOC 2 requirements.
2. Scope
This policy applies to all [Company Name] workforce members involved in software development activities, including developers, architects, testers, DevOps engineers, product managers, project managers, and security engineers. It encompasses all software development projects including new applications, system modifications, third-party integrations, mobile applications, web applications, APIs, and infrastructure-as-code. This policy covers all development methodologies (Agile, DevOps, Waterfall), deployment models (on-premises, cloud, hybrid), and development environments (development, testing, staging, production). It applies to both internally developed software and customizations of third-party applications, establishing the overarching framework that is implemented through the Secure Coding and Testing Policy (ENG-POL-005) and Third-Party Component Management Policy (ENG-POL-006).
3. Policy
[Company Name] shall implement a comprehensive secure development lifecycle framework that systematically integrates security controls into every phase of software development, supported by comprehensive security training programs to ensure all development team members possess the knowledge and skills necessary to build secure applications.
3.1 Secure Development Lifecycle Framework
All software development projects shall follow a structured secure development lifecycle that integrates security activities into each phase of development.
3.1.1 Security Development Lifecycle Phases
- Requirements and Design Phase:
- Security requirements shall be identified and documented during the requirements gathering process for all software development projects.
- Threat modeling shall be conducted for all applications that process, store, or transmit sensitive data to identify potential security risks.
- Security architecture reviews shall be performed for new applications and significant modifications to ensure secure design principles.
- Privacy impact assessments shall be completed for applications handling ePHI or personal information to meet regulatory requirements.
- Secure design principles shall be applied including defense in depth, least privilege, and fail-secure defaults to establish foundational security.
- Development Phase:
- Secure coding standards shall be followed for all programming languages and frameworks used in software development.
- Security-focused code reviews shall be conducted for all code changes to identify potential security vulnerabilities.
- Static Application Security Testing (SAST) tools shall be integrated into the development process for automated vulnerability detection.
- Dependency scanning shall be performed to identify vulnerable third-party components and libraries.
- Security unit tests shall be developed and executed as part of the testing framework to validate security controls.
- Testing Phase:
- Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) shall be performed on all applications before production deployment to identify runtime vulnerabilities.
- Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST) shall be implemented where technically feasible to provide real-time security feedback.
- Penetration testing shall be conducted for all applications handling ePHI or Confidential data to validate security controls.
- Security test cases shall validate proper implementation of security controls and requirements.
- Vulnerability assessments shall be performed on the complete application stack to identify security weaknesses.
- Deployment Phase:
- Security configuration reviews shall be conducted before production deployment to ensure secure system settings.
- Infrastructure security scanning shall validate secure deployment configurations against established baselines.
- Secrets management processes shall ensure secure handling of credentials and keys throughout deployment.
- Production environment hardening shall be verified against security baselines before application release.
- Security monitoring and logging shall be implemented for all production applications to enable threat detection.
- Maintenance Phase:
- Regular security assessments shall be conducted on production applications to identify emerging vulnerabilities.
- Security patches and updates shall be applied according to established timelines based on vulnerability severity.
- Continuous monitoring shall detect and alert on security vulnerabilities and threats in production environments.
- End-of-life procedures shall ensure secure decommissioning of applications and data when systems are retired.
3.1.2 Security Gates and Approval Process
Security gates shall be implemented at key phases to ensure security requirements are met before proceeding:
- Design Gate: Security architecture review and threat model approval shall be required before proceeding to development.
- Code Gate: Static analysis results and code review approval shall be required before proceeding to testing.
- Test Gate: Dynamic testing results and penetration test approval shall be required before proceeding to deployment.
- Deploy Gate: Security configuration review and vulnerability scan approval shall be required before production release.
- Production Gate: Security monitoring implementation and incident response procedures shall be verified before full production deployment.
3.2 Secure Coding and Testing Implementation
All secure coding practices, code review requirements, static analysis tools, and security testing methodologies shall be implemented as defined in the Secure Coding and Testing Policy (ENG-POL-005). This includes comprehensive secure coding standards for all programming languages and frameworks, mandatory code review processes, automated static and dynamic security testing, and regular penetration testing requirements.
3.3 Third-Party Component and DevOps Security Management
All third-party component management, DevOps security practices, CI/CD pipeline security, and supply chain risk management shall be implemented as defined in the Third-Party Component Management Policy (ENG-POL-006). This includes automated dependency scanning, vendor security assessments, secure CI/CD pipeline implementation, secrets management, and comprehensive supply chain security controls.
3.4 Security Training and Awareness
All development team members shall receive comprehensive security training appropriate to their roles and responsibilities.
3.7.1 Developer Security Training
- Initial Training Requirements:
- Secure coding training for all new developers shall be completed within [Timeframe, e.g., 30 days] of hire.
- Language and framework-specific security training shall be provided to ensure developers understand secure practices for their technology stack.
- OWASP Top 10 awareness and prevention techniques shall be included in all developer security training programs.
- Threat modeling and security design principles shall be taught to enable developers to identify and mitigate security risks.
- Security tool usage and integration training shall be provided to ensure effective use of security testing tools.
- Ongoing Training and Awareness:
- Annual security training updates covering emerging threats and vulnerabilities shall be provided to all development team members.
- Specialized training for developers working on critical or high-risk applications shall be provided to address specific security requirements.
- Security conference attendance and knowledge sharing shall be encouraged to maintain current security expertise.
- Internal security awareness presentations and workshops shall be conducted to share security knowledge across teams.
- Gamification and hands-on security challenges shall be implemented to engage developers in security learning.
3.7.2 Security Champions Program
- Security Champion Selection:
- Designated security champions within each development team shall be identified and formally appointed.
- Additional security training and certification for champions shall be provided to enhance their security expertise.
- Regular security champion meetings and knowledge sharing shall be conducted to maintain security awareness across teams.
- Champion responsibility for promoting security within their teams shall be clearly defined and communicated.
- Recognition and incentives for effective security championship shall be provided to encourage participation and excellence.
4. Standards Compliance
5. Definitions
See Annex: Glossary
6. Responsibilities
| Role | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Security Officer | SDLC security policies shall be developed and maintained, security training programs shall be overseen, security gate reviews shall be coordinated, and compliance with security standards and regulations shall be ensured. |
| Development Team Lead | Team compliance with SDLC security requirements shall be ensured, security gate approvals shall be coordinated, team security training shall be managed, and security processes within development workflows shall be implemented. |
| Software Developers | SDLC security requirements shall be followed, participation in security gates and reviews shall be provided, required security training shall be completed, and security considerations shall be integrated into development activities. |
| Security Engineers | Security requirements and gates shall be defined, security architecture reviews shall be performed, threat modeling sessions shall be conducted, security guidance shall be provided, and security gate approvals shall be validated. |
| Product Managers | Security requirements for products shall be defined, threat modeling activities shall be coordinated, security features shall be prioritized, and security considerations shall be ensured in product planning and decisions. |
| Architecture Team | Secure system architectures shall be designed, security design reviews shall be conducted, security patterns and standards shall be established, and architectural security guidance shall be provided to development teams. |
| Project Managers | Security gates shall be incorporated into project timelines, security activities shall be coordinated, security requirements completion shall be tracked, and security training for project teams shall be facilitated. |
| Quality Assurance Team | Security requirements implementation shall be validated, security test cases shall be executed, security testing activities shall be coordinated, and security gate completion criteria shall be verified. |
| All Workforce Members | Security training programs shall be participated in, established SDLC security procedures shall be followed, security concerns shall be reported, and security initiatives shall be supported within their respective roles. |