Generally, there are two kinds of software: the first is in-house software, which is developed internally, and the second is 3rd-party software, which is purchased from an outside source.
When software is built in-house, an organization can dictate its own set of controls to build and operate their software securely. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for software built by 3rd-party developers. The Managing Application Security survey data indicates that most large organizations rely solely on broad security standards, like those based on ISO 27001, to protect software they had made by 3rd-party vendors. So, when software development isn’t under a company’s direct supervision, there’s less emphasis on stringent software security practices.
Organizations can procure two different kinds of 3rd-party software: the first is custom software, made exclusively for you by 3rd-party developers. The second is commercial off-the-shelf software (COTS), which you purchase as-is from a 3rd party. In both of these cases, the software is more prone to security threats than in-house software. In fact, the most costly data breaches have been those made on 3rd-party software developers. It’s reported that those companies who use 3rd-party vendors have lost $1.11 million from targeted attacks on the associated third-party company and $909,000 from third-party data leaks.
For those who have custom software developed by a 3rd-party vendor, our SD Elements platform offers a unique solution: it can be used to quickly compile a comprehensive set of security and compliance requirements that the 3rd-party company can adhere to, lending your software thorough security protections.
There are a couple of ways that our platform can be used in this context: you can model the 3rd-party software in SD Elements and then send the security requirements report to your vendor. From this point, the 3rd-party developers can easily follow the security requirements while building your software. This report can also be included as an appendix in legal documents to hold 3rd parties accountable.
Alternatively, you can give your 3rd-party developers special access to SD Elements, so that they can interact with the platform themselves, during the development of your custom software. They can update completion status of tasks directly from their Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) tools and upload corresponding test results, giving you visibility into their progress as well as an accurate view into the cybersecurity posture of the application.
The SD Elements platform also includes training, which allows 3rd-party developers to learn security requirements while integrating them into your software, ultimately minimizing your security risks.
To learn more about how SD Elements is protecting enterprise companies and improving the quality of their software, check it out on our website.