IT SECURITY: SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT IN FOCUS
December 4, 2024
Security by design will be key in 2025: new laws such as NIS-2 demand secure IT from the outset. Companies are facing major challenges.
IT security in software development
The latest status report from the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) reveals an alarming trend: cyberattacks are not only becoming more frequent, but also more targeted. Companies with complex software environments, in particular, face the challenge of making their systems more resilient.
In addition, legal requirements such as the NIS 2 Directive and the IT Security Act 2.0 are increasing the pressure to implement and demonstrate compliance with security standards.
But what specific measures can companies take to make their software more secure?
Security by design
Security considerations should be integrated into the development process from the very beginning. This means that potential risks are identified as early as the planning phase and minimized through appropriate architectural decisions.
Code reviews and automated tests
Regular code reviews by the team, along with the use of automated security tests (such as Static Application Security Testing, SAST), help identify vulnerabilities—such as insecure memory access or faulty authorization checks—at an early stage.
Secure API development
APIs should be protected using authentication methods such as OAuth 2.0 and token-based access controls. Rate limiting can also prevent APIs from being overwhelmed by malicious requests.
Secure databases
Access to databases should be controlled through role-based permissions, and firewalls should only grant access to authorized applications. In addition, strict patch management for database servers is required to address known vulnerabilities.
Secure app development
Mobile apps should be secured using security mechanisms such as encrypted data transmission (TLS) and locally encrypted data storage. In addition, it is important to take app store security checks into account and to avoid storing sensitive data in the app code or configuration files.
Zero trust models for software infrastructure
The software should be designed so that access must be authenticated and authorized even within the internal infrastructure. This protects against attacks that may arise from compromised systems or insider threats.
Zero Trust models in detail
We will now take a closer look at one aspect of software resilience: Zero Trust is based on the principle of trusting no one—neither inside nor outside the network. The goal is to authenticate, authorize, and continuously verify every access attempt, regardless of whether it originates from the internal network or from outside.
This concept replaces the traditional “castle-and-moat” model, in which everything within the network was considered trustworthy. Zero Trust assumes that threats can arise at any time and minimizes the attack surface through strict security mechanisms.
Authentication
Every HTTP request must prove its identity, for example, through an API key, an OAuth token, or mutual TLS (mTLS). This prevents unauthorized requests from being processed at all.
Authorization
After authentication, the system verifies whether the sender of the request has the necessary permissions for the requested action or resource. This strict role- and permission-based verification minimizes the potential for misuse.
Least privilege principle
Access should be limited to the minimum necessary permissions. For example, a service that requires only read permissions should not be able to perform write or delete operations.
Monitoring and logging
All HTTP requests and their responses are continuously logged and analyzed. This allows suspicious or unusual patterns to be detected early and mitigated before any damage occurs.
Agency for app development
“Security by Design: For the first time, products are legally required to integrate security aspects directly into the development phase,” states the BSI 2024 Situation Report. This has been standard practice at devsuit for years: in requirements management and product planning, software architecture, and monitoring.
But don’t worry—you don’t need to know all the relevant details. We’ll help you build the app of your dreams—one that’s not only innovative but also secure.
Interested?
Schedule a no-obligation consultation today!
René Krause
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