What Is the SSDLC in Cybersecurity?
SSDLC stands for Secure Software Development Life Cycle. It’s like extension of the traditional Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
Instead of treating security in the final step before release, the SSDLC approach embeds security in every stage of SDLC, from design, coding, testing, to deployment and maintenance. The goal is to address vulnerability issues early, reducing the risk of costly fixes in the future and improving security in the application.
Key Practices in SSDLC
- Threat modeling - identifying threats from the design phase
- Secure coding - following the secure coding standard to prevent vulnerabilities
- Automated security testing - using security tools like SCA, SAST, DAST during development
- Code reviews and penetration testing - add manual validation together with automated security scans
- Continuous monitoring - maintaining security in production
SSDLC vs SDLC
Both are useful in software development but have different scopes:
| Aspect | SDLC | SSDLC |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Functionality, performance, and delivery of software. | Security integrated alongside functionality and performance. |
| Security Role | Often considered late in the cycle (e.g., pre-release testing). | Embedded throughout all phases, from design to maintenance. |
| Outcome | Software that works but may need patching after release. | Software designed to be secure by default, reducing vulnerabilities. |
In short, SDLC is about building software, while SSDLC is about building secure software.