The Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF)

What is SSDF (Secure Software Development Framework)?

NIST’s Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF) is a structured approach that provides guidelines and best practices for integrating security throughout the software development life cycle (SDLC).

With actionable advice for embedding security aspects into every stage of development, the SSDF helps teams identify and mitigate vulnerabilities while protecting against potential threats. The SSDF’s best practices for secure coding, testing, and deployment enhance software quality and build user trust.

Because the SSDF follows industry standards and regulatory requirements, it also makes compliance more straightforward. In this article, we’ll explore these benefits in greater detail along with ways you can integrate the SSDF into your workflows. Let’s dive in.

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Core principles of the SSDF

The Secure Software Development Framework is built on three fundamental principles that guide its implementation and effectiveness:

Security by design

Instead of treating security as a secondary concern, the SSDF emphasizes integrating security features and considerations directly into the software's design and architecture. This security by design approach facilitates the identification of potential vulnerabilities early in the development cycle and makes it easier to take steps to mitigate them.

Continuous improvement

It’s often said that security is an ongoing process rather than a one-time effort, and the Secure Software Development Framework underscores the need to regularly update and refine security practices, tools, and processes in response to new threats and evolving technologies.

By continually assessing and enhancing security measures, organizations can stay ahead of potential security risks and ensure their software remains robust against emerging threats.

Risk management

Effective risk management focuses on understanding potential threats and vulnerabilities, evaluating their impact, and implementing appropriate controls to manage and reduce risks. Risk management ensures that security efforts align with your organization’s risk appetite and business strategies.

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Major components of the SSDF

Now that we’ve looked the the principles behind the SSDF, let’s turn our attention to the framework’s six major components that address the security and integrity of systems:

Governance and policy

Security controls and governance frameworks need to cover the development, delivery, and operation of any software system. Governance and policy measures include:

• Allocating roles and responsibilities

• Setting up security goals

• Adhering to regulatory standards.

Secure design principles

Secure design principles focus on including security in the software architecture and design phase. After all, if security is part of architecture and design right from the start, then software can achieve unparalleled resilience.

Meet secure design standards by adopting secure software development practices such as employing defense-in-depth strategies and minimizing your attack surface by removing unnecessary features, services, and code; reducing entry points for attackers; and limiting access to critical resources.

Secure coding practices

It’s a tall order to create code that’s free from common security pitfalls and adheres to code security best practices. Still, techniques like output encoding, input validation, and intelligent error handling help eliminate common software vulnerabilities that threat actors could exploit.

Testing and verification

Testing and verification involve assessing software to confirm it meets security standards and performs correctly. Different types of testing—like static and dynamic analysis, penetration testing, and code reviews— help uncover and resolve security issues before software is released.

Deployment and maintenance

This SSDF component ensures that security procedures are maintained during and after deployment. It includes: 

• Setting up and deploying software in controlled environments to prevent misconfigurations and unauthorized access

• Regularly updating and patching software to address vulnerabilities, ensuring that software remains resilient against emerging threats 

• Prioritizing continuous monitoring to detect and respond to new security risks

• Maintaining thorough documentation and change management practices to track all updates and configurations, ensuring software remains secure, compliant, and up-to-date as the threat landscape evolves

Security awareness and training

Security awareness and training initiatives educate development teams and stakeholders on best practices and new threats. To meet these goals, offer regular training and resources to ensure that everyone involved in software development understands and follows security protocols.

The SSDF across the software development lifecycle

As we’ve seen, the SSDF’s principles and components are applicable across all phases of the software development lifecycle, including critical aspects of software supply chain security. Here’s how you can integrate the SSDF into each stage:

1. Requirements gathering: In the requirements gathering phase, define and record both universal and business-specific security requirements. Next, integrate the software security requirements you’ve identified into your project plan.

2. Design: During the design phase, incorporate measures to counter possible security threats (this process will form the basis of your secure design). To pinpoint possible security gaps, conduct threat modeling and risk assessments to look for threats. Remember: The earlier in the design phase that you identify and mitigate threats, the better.

3. Development: Ensure developers follow secure coding practices during this third phase. Leverage code reviews and static analysis of code to double-check that it’s resistant to vulnerabilities.

4. Testing: Perform different kinds of security testing, including penetration testing and dynamic analysis, before releasing your software. With comprehensive testing, you’ll know where your blindspots are—and be able to fix issues before deployment 

5. Deployment: Apply all available patches and updates. Use appropriate deployment strategies and best practices, such as red/black or blue/green deployment, to make sure new changes do not introduce any security risks.

6. Maintenance: Maintenance is an ongoing process. Continuously monitor your systems for threats and updates. Also incorporate periodic security audits into your maintenance processes to enforce security measures and ensure continued protection.

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Tools and technologies that support the SSDF

Several tools and technologies support the implementation of the SSDF by enhancing security practices. Here are the top four:

The SSDF and CISA attestation

While the tools and technologies described above are instrumental in implementing the SSDF, it is also essential to understand how the SSDF aligns with broader security frameworks. The SSDF supports CISA attestation by guaranteeing that software meets the required security standards. (CISA attestation confirms software companies that work with the U.S. federal government “leverage minimum secure development techniques and toolsets.”) The main advantages of CISA attestation are credibility, security, and trust.

Here’s how the SSDF’s governance and policies guarantee conformity to CISA’s criteria: 

• Security is infused into the design, proper coding standards are used, and extensive testing is done, all practices that CISA stresses for secure design and testing. 

• The SSDF provides security guidelines throughout the application lifecycle that align with CISA requirements, including monitoring and post-deployment updates and patches.

• The SSDF stipulates security awareness and training, which correlates with CISA’s emphasis on education.

Wiz support for SSDF

The Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF) plays a critical role in ensuring the security of software systems. In an era where cybersecurity threats are always evolving, adopting and implementing the SSDF is essential for developing resilient software systems.

Wiz, with its comprehensive cloud security platform, offers robust support for SSDF implementation by providing real-time visibility into your cloud environments, allowing you to automatically detect misconfigurations and vulnerabilities during the early stages of development. 

Wiz’s automated security assessments ensure that your software continuously meets SSDF standards by integrating with CI/CD pipelines. Moreover, with industry-leading advanced risk analysis tools, Wiz can help prioritize vulnerabilities based on their potential impact on your specific environment. Discover how Wiz can support your security efforts and streamline SSDF implementation by scheduling a free demo today.