Rising cyber threats, increasing vulnerabilities in connected devices, and stringent regulatory demands - they all mean a growing urgency to adopt a Secure By Design (SBD) approach. According to Forescout's latest report, "The Riskiest Connected Devices in 2024," IoT vulnerabilities surged 136% last year.
This alarming trend underscores the need for integrating security at every stage of the software development lifecycle.
Security by design is a proactive strategy that embeds security measures throughout the software development process. This approach ensures that security is not an afterthought but a foundational element of development. However, the complexity of modern software and interconnected device ecosystems presents unique challenges.
According to the latest report from Gartner® on software supply chain risks, the quantity, complexity, and severity of software supply chain attacks have seen dramatic increases. Nearly two-thirds (61%) of U.S. businesses experienced a software supply chain attack in the 12 months ending in April 2023. This stark reality highlights the urgent need for robust, integrated security strategies.
The US Government, through CISA, has stepped up. CISA's Secure by Design (SBD) pledge is a commitment from a number of organizations, including Finite State, to embed security principles throughout the entire software development lifecycle. This pledge involves integrating security measures from the initial stages of design and development to deployment and maintenance.
By taking the SBD pledge, organizations aim to ensure that security is not an afterthought but a foundational aspect of their development process. The pledge promotes practices such as continuous monitoring, risk assessment, and the use of tools like Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) and binary analysis to enhance transparency, vulnerability management, and supply chain security. Ultimately, the Secure by Design Pledge helps organizations build more resilient and secure software systems, protecting against the growing landscape of cyber threats.
By taking the significant step of signing CISA's Secure by Design pledge, Finite State embraces our commitment to leading by example, aligning our own software security operations with those of our customers, demonstrating industry and thought leadership, and experiencing the evolution of Secure by Design in tandem with our customers, as they too work toward meeting the requirements and spirit of the pledge.
An SBOM is a comprehensive inventory of all components, libraries, and packages within a software application. This detailed inventory is crucial for:
Binary analysis examines the compiled or executable version of software, identifying security flaws that might not be detectable through source code analysis alone. It is essential for:
Integrating SBOM generation and binary analysis into the CI/CD pipeline ensures continuous transparency and security from the earliest stages of development. This integration supports:
Forescout's report highlights the most vulnerable device categories and types, emphasizing the need for secure-by-design principles:
A recent survey by BlackBerry reveals that over 75% of software supply chains were attacked in the past 12 months, causing significant financial, operational, and reputational damage. The survey underscores the importance of visibility and proactive monitoring, with many attacks exploiting previously unknown vulnerabilities in the supply chain.
While security by design is essential, comprehensive software supply chain security must extend beyond initial development phases. It involves securing every link in the supply chain—from initial code to final product delivery—addressing third-party component integrity, regulatory compliance, and ongoing threat management.
This broader scope ensures that the entire software lifecycle is protected against tampering, unauthorized access, and unintended code dependencies that could introduce vulnerabilities. Continuous monitoring and updating of software components are vital to protect against newly discovered vulnerabilities and exploits, ensuring resilience and trust throughout the software product lifecycle.
The integration of secure-by-design principles, SBOM, and binary analysis into development processes is critical in addressing the increasing vulnerabilities in IoT and software supply chains. By embedding security measures from the outset and maintaining continuous vigilance, organizations can enhance their security posture and mitigate the risks posed by evolving cyber threats.
For more insights on securing your software supply chain, explore Gartner's latest report . Stay proactive in safeguarding your digital ecosystem against the rising tide of cyber vulnerabilities.