How To Ensure Safety First With Custom Software Development

Safety first applies to many activities, including building software. One small mistake can lead to a massive data breach and million-dollar penalties.

A Chicago custom software development agency takes multiple steps to secure your application before, during, and after the launch. This article discusses five.

• Build a solid, trustworthy development team.
• Develop a security policy.
• Test, test, test.
• Enforce zero-trust access control.
• Create a cohesive OT/IT environment.

Let us expound on these points in the article below! Let's go!

Watch this video to learn how Digital Authority Partners designs software that works for your business!

1. Build a Solid, Trustworthy Custom Software Development Team

Do you know that inside jobs account for many data breach cases? These happen for several reasons:

• A worker accessed the code or the database using an unsecured network.
• One of the developers lost their mobile device.
• Someone left their browsers open, free for others to check and explore.
• A disgruntled employee leaked confidential information.
• Incompetent software developers make your system or program vulnerable to various risks.
• Your company does not religiously follow the “bring your own device” (BYOD) policy.

Whether deliberate or accidental, a cybersecurity breach hurts your pocketbook and reputation. Meanwhile, a vulnerability is a door waiting to be exploited. 

The best solution is to pick a reliable custom software development team. However, how do you know they are trustworthy? Ask these questions when narrowing your selections:

• What is your experience in custom software development in our industry or domain?
• Can you provide examples of similar successful projects?
• What programming languages, frameworks, and technologies do you use?
• How do you ensure the code you write is secure and free from vulnerabilities?
• How do you handle user data and ensure its privacy and protection?
• Do you conduct regular security audits and penetration testing?
• What measures do you take to mitigate risks?
• Do you follow coding best practices and industry standards?
• How do you ensure code quality and readability?

2. Develop a Security Policy

A security policy is necessary if you want a safe, custom solution. This multi-page document outlines the protocols that those working on your app should follow.

In particular, it

• Safeguards sensitive information from unauthorized access, theft, or misuse. These include customer data, intellectual property, and trade secrets.
• Ensures your application complies with federal, international, industry, and state guidelines.
• Illustrates the necessary measures to prevent security vulnerabilities and detect potential threats.

An expert Chicago custom software development firm usually drafts the top necessary security guidelines. It also employs an experienced cybersecurity team.

The guidelines should cover user authentication and data encryption. They must also discuss network firewalls, antivirus software, and other similar measures.

3. Test, Test, Test

Mobile applications or desktop software still function like any other product. It is not ready for release unless it works as it should.

How do you know that it is ready to launch? You test it again and again.

Testing involves validating that the software meets the specified requirements. It also checks if it functions well and is free from defects.

Tests can be manual or automated using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve custom software development. Either way, the best assessment often depends on the development phase. 

These are the most common types of testing:

• Unit testing measures every software component in isolation. It guarantees the individual parts work fine before integrating them into the larger system.
• Integration testing focuses on the interactions between different platform components. It verifies the integrated parts work together well. It also identifies issues that might arise from their interactions.
• Functional testing validates that the software performs according to the specified requirements.
• Performance testing evaluates software speed, responsiveness, and stability under various conditions. Examples are high user load or limited resources. Doing this determines potential bottlenecks and optimizes performance.
• Security testing aims to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses attackers can exploit. These risks include injection attacks, cross-site scripting, and authentication flaws.
• Regression testing ensures that updated software changes do not introduce any unexpected issues.

4. Enforce Zero-Trust Access Control

The zero-trust concept assumes you cannot trust anyone in your environment. Instead, you should treat all users as external.

A Chicago custom software development agency adopts zero trust with these strategies:

• Implementing strong identity and access management (IAM) policies. These include multi-factor authentication (MFA) and role-based access controls (RBAC). Another is using trusted access management.
• Segmenting the network into separate zones based on resource sensitivity and functionality,
• Monitoring and logging all activities within the software development environment — examples are user access, code changes, and system events.
• Applying the principle of least privilege. Grant users the lowest access level possible to perform their tasks.
• Regularly reviewing and updating user permissions to align with their current roles and responsibilities.
• Encrypting sensitive data.
• Educating non-IT employees about secure-access practices.

5. Create a Cohesive OT/IT Environment

Software development involving legacy systems or mechanical infrastructure (OT) can be complex. Problems between them can increase your app’s risks and affect its performance.

Let us assume your company is building a custom software solution. Your goal is to streamline production processes and improve efficiency. The platform’s data must integrate with OT systems, such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs).

This integration connects a former isolated OT environment to the IT network. If cybercriminals attack the latter, the former becomes vulnerable.

How do you prevent this from happening? Create an environment where the two sectors work together as one. This includes:

• Understanding the security needs of your organization’s OT and IT systems
• Conducting a comprehensive risk assessment
• Establishing secure communication protocols, such as virtual private networks (VPNs)
• Applying security patches and updates
• Crafting an incident response plan
• Adopting sound custom software development trends

Summing Up

These five tips are critical to protecting your organization’s assets, data, and reputation. Even better, they provide your business with a holistic approach to cybersecurity.  But they are not the only points to watch.

Building a platform is a challenging project. You need a trusted partner. This team helps you navigate the complexities of secure custom development.

Digital Authority Partners (DAP) delivers innovative, reliable, and secure solutions. Contact us today to learn more.