1st Edition

The 7 Qualities of Highly Secure Software

By Mano Paul Copyright 2012
    160 Pages 25 B/W Illustrations
    by Auerbach Publications

    The 7 Qualities of Highly Secure Software provides a framework for designing, developing, and deploying hacker-resilient software. It uses engaging anecdotes and analogies—ranging from Aesop’s fables, athletics, architecture, biology, nursery rhymes, and video games—to illustrate the qualities that are essential for the development of highly secure software.

    Each chapter details one of the seven qualities that can make your software highly secure and less susceptible to hacker threats. Leveraging real-world experiences and examples, the book:

    • Explains complex security concepts in language that is easy to understand for professionals involved in management, software development, and operations
    • Specifies the qualities and skills that are essential for building secure software
    • Highlights the parallels between the habits of effective people and qualities in terms of software security

    Praise for the Book:

    This will be required reading for my executives, security team, software architects and lead developers.
    —David W. Stender, CISSP, CSSLP, CAP, CISO of the US Internal Revenue Service

    Developing highly secure software should be at the forefront of organizational strategy and this book provides a framework to do so.
    —Troy Leach, CTO, PCI Security Standards Council

    This book will teach you the core, critical skills needed to raise the security bar on the attackers and swing the game in your favor.
    —Michael Howard, Principal Cyber Security Program Manager, Microsoft

    As a penetration tester, my job will be a lot harder as people read this book!
    —Kevin Johnson, Security Consultant, Secure Ideas

    Preface

    Quality Security Is Built In versus Bolted On (Be Proactive)
    Prelude: The Ant and the Grasshopper
    Introduction
    Security Myths That Need Busting
    Myth #1: We Have a Firewall
    Myth #2: We Use SSL
    Myth #3: We Have Intrusion Detection Systems and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IDSs/IPSs)
    Myth #4: Our Software Will Not Be Accessible from the Internet
    Myth #5: We Have Never Been Compromised
    Myth #6: Security Is "Not my Job" but the Responsibility of the Service Provider
    Myth #7: Security Adds Little to No Value to the Business
    Build Security In: The Need
    Build Security In: What It Takes
    Build Security In: The Value-Add
    Conclusion
    References

    Quality Functionality Maps to a Security Plan
    (Begin with the End in Mind)
    Prelude: Breaking the Tape Introduction
    What Is a Security Plan?
    Security Plan Development
    Step 1: Identify Security Objectives
    Step 2: Identify Applicable Requirements
    Step 3: Identify Threats
    Step 4: Identify Applicable Controls
    Benefits of a Security Plan
    Mapped Software
    Conclusion
    References

    Quality Includes Foundational Assurance Elements (Put First Things First)
    Prelude: What Lies Beneath?
    Introduction
    Data: The New Frontier
    Data Under Siege
    The Foundational Assurance Elements
    Confidentiality
    Integrity
    Availability
    Authentication
    Authorization
    Auditing
    Conclusion
    References

    Quality Is Balanced (Think Win-Win)
    Prelude : The Clown Fish and the Anemone
    Introduction
    The Balancing Scale: Risk and Reward
    The Balancing Scale: Functionality and Assurance
    The Balancing Scale: Threats and Controls
    Conclusion
    References

    Quality Incorporates Security Requirements
    (Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood)
    Prelude: Lost in Translation
    Introduction
    Types of Software Security Requirements
    Techniques to Elicit Software Security Requirements
    Traceability of Software Security Requirements
    Requirements to Retirement
    Conclusion
    References

    Quality Is Collaboratively Developed
    (Synergize)
    Prelude: There Is No "I" in Team!
    Introduction
    Stakeholders in the Game: Whose Perspective?
    Business
    Security
    Management
    Development
    Legal
    Privacy
    Auditors
    Vendors
    Conclusion
    References

    Quality Is Adaptable (Sharpen the Saw)
    Prelude: The Shark is a Polyphyodont
    Introduction
    The Law of Resiliency Degradation
    Software Adaptability: Technology, Threats, and Talent
    Technology
    Threats
    Talent
    Begin with the Future in Mind
    Secure Software Requires Security-Savvy
    People
    Conclusion
    References

    Epilogue
    Quality Habits

    Index

    Biography

    Manoranjan (Mano) Paul is the Software Assurance Advisor for (ISC)2, the global leader in information security education and certification, representing and advising the organization on software assurance strategy, training, education, and certification. He is also a member of the Application Security Advisory Board. He is the winner of the first Information Security Leadership Awards (ISLA) as a practitioner in the Americas region. His information security and software assurance experience includes designing and developing security programs from compliance-to-coding, security in the SDLC, writing secure code, risk management, security strategy, and security awareness training and education.

    Paul started his career as a shark researcher in the Bimini Biological Field Station, Bahamas. His educational pursuit took him to the University of Oklahoma where he received his Business Administration degree in Management Information Systems (MIS) with various accolades and the coveted 4.0 GPA. Following his entrepreneurial acumen, he founded and serves as the CEO and President of Express Certifications, a professional certification assessment and training company that developed studISCope, (ISC)2’s official self-assessment offering for their certifications. Express Certifications is also the self-assessment testing company behind the US Department of Defense certification education program as mandated by the 8570.1 directive. He also founded SecuRisk Solutions, a company that specializes in security product development and consulting. Before Express Certifications and SecuRisk Solutions, Paul played several roles from software developer, quality assurance engineer, logistics manager, technical architect, IT strategist, and security engineer/program manager/strategist at Dell, Inc.

    Paul is the author of the Official Guide to the CSSLP (Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional) and is a contributing author to the Information Security Management Handbook, and has contributed to several security topics for the Microsoft Solutions Developer Network (MSDN). He has served as Vice-President, industry representative, and an appointed faculty member of the Capitol of Texas Information System Security Association (ISSA) chapter and vice president of the cloud Security Alliance (CSA), Austin chapter. He has been featured in various domestic and international security conferences and is an invited speaker and panelist, delivering talks, training, and keynotes at conferences such as the SANS, OWASP, ASIS, CSI, Gartner Catalyst, and SC World Congress. Paul holds the following professional certifications: CSSLP, CISSP, AMBCI, MCSD, MCAD, CompTIA Network+, and ECSA certification.

    This will be required reading for my executives, security team, software architects and lead developers.
    —David W. Stender, CISSP, CSSLP, CAP, CISO of the US Internal Revenue Service

    Developing highly secure software should be at the forefront of organizational strategy and this book provides a framework to do so.
    —Troy Leach, CTO, PCI Security Standards Council

    This book will teach you the core, critical skills needed to raise the security bar on the attackers and swing the game in your favor.
    —Michael Howard, Principal Cyber Security Program Manager, Microsoft

    As a penetration tester, my job will be a lot harder as people read this book!
    —Kevin Johnson, Security Consultant, Secure Ideas

    At 130 pages, the book quickly focuses on the core points of the issue. Paul writes in an easy to read and understand style. With the use of various stories and examples; the need for secure software development is undeniable. ... The 7 Qualities of Highly Secure Software highlights the qualities that are essential and critical to stop insecure code. This is a highly valuable book that can be of significant use to every stakeholder—from those in the boardroom to the developers and head of application development. Ultimately, this is a book you want all of your software developers to read.
    —Ben Rothke, CISSP, CISA, Information Security Manager, Wyndham Worldwide