The Secure Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a framework used to ensure that software systems are built securely from conception through to deployment. The process encompasses planning, requirements gathering, design, implementation, testing, and maintenance stages. By embedding security principles and practices into each stage of development, vulnerabilities and risks can be identified and mitigated early, resulting in more robust applications and reduced overall risk. These practices may include threat modeling, integrating security within coding standards, and performing regular security assessments.

Software Security Requirements are the set of security-related specifications necessary to ensure that a software system is built and operates securely. These requirements are gathered during the initial planning and analysis stage of the SDLC and serve as the basis for subsequent design and development stages. By identifying and defining specific security needs, developers can ensure that they address potential vulnerabilities and meet applicable regulatory and compliance requirements. Examples of security requirements may include data encryption, access control, logging and monitoring, and secure coding practices.

Threat Modeling is a systematic process used to identify and evaluate potential threats and vulnerabilities within a software system during the design stage. By analyzing the software architecture and data flow, developers can identify potential attack vectors, types of attackers, and the system's assets. Once identified, developers can prioritize threats and determine appropriate security measures to mitigate them. Commonly used threat modeling techniques include STRIDE (Spoofing, Tampering, Repudiation, Information Disclosure, Denial of Service, and Elevation of Privilege) and Attack Trees.

Static Application Security Testing (SAST) and Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) are automated security testing methodologies employed throughout the SDLC to identify vulnerabilities and potential threats in source code, compiled binaries, or running applications. SAST involves scanning the source code for potential security issues, enabling developers to fix problems early in the development process. DAST, on the other hand, focuses on analyzing a running application to identify vulnerabilities exposed during runtime. Both testing methodologies are complementary and essential components of a comprehensive software security assurance program.

Secure Coding Practices are guidelines and principles followed by developers during the implementation stage of the Secure SDLC to minimize the introduction of vulnerabilities in software systems. These practices include input validation, output encoding, proper error handling, and least privilege principle. Adherence to secure coding standards, such as OWASP Top Ten Proactive Controls or CERT Secure Coding Standards, can significantly reduce the likelihood of vulnerabilities being introduced, ultimately resulting in more secure software. Secure coding also involves regular code reviews and training for developers to ensure compliance with these practices and the consistent application of security best practices.

Software Security Architecture refers to the process of designing, building, and implementing security measures into the foundation of a software system. These measures aim to protect the system from threats, vulnerabilities, and risks related to information assurance. Key aspects of Software Security Architecture include security objectives, security patterns, security tactics, and trade-offs between security and other quality attributes. By incorporating security during system design, developers ensure a more robust and secure product, reducing the likelihood of security breaches and minimizing the costs associated with fixing vulnerabilities after deployment.

Data Protection and Privacy are fundamental concepts in software development security that pertain to safeguarding an individual's or organization's information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, modification, or destruction. As part of the software development process, developers must implement secure data handling techniques, such as encryption, access control, data masking, and data minimization. By doing so, organizations can comply with data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA), reduce the risk of data breaches, and maintain trust with customers and partners.

Incident Response Planning involves creating, testing, and updating an organized methodology for detecting, containing, eradicating, and recovering from security incidents affecting software systems. An effective incident response plan should identify the roles and responsibilities of team members, establish a clear communication plan, and outline the procedures for incident analysis, containment, eradication, and recovery. By incorporating Incident Response Planning into software development security, organizations can better prepare for and manage security incidents, minimize the impact of such incidents on business operations, and reduce the overall risk to the organization.

DevSecOps is the practice of integrating security principles, processes, and tools within the development (Dev) and operations (Ops) workflows in the software development life cycle. The concept aims to bridge the gap between conventional software development and cybersecurity, resulting in more secure, resilient, and reliable applications. By implementing DevSecOps, organizations can improve their security posture, reduce the time required to identify and remediate vulnerabilities, and ensure that security considerations are addressed from the onset of a project, rather than as an afterthought. Key activities in DevSecOps include continuous security testing, threat analysis, proactive monitoring, and automated vulnerability remediation.

An application security risk assessment involves evaluating the potential risks and vulnerabilities associated with an application. This methodology helps identify and prioritize security concerns, allowing organizations to address them in a systematic and efficient manner. Conducting a risk assessment early in the development process ensures that security measures can be incorporated before deployment. A comprehensive risk assessment consists of several steps, including the identification of system assets, determining threats to the system, assessing the potential impact of any security breaches, and evaluating the likelihood of an attack or security incident occurring. This data is then used to prioritize security enhancements and guide future development efforts.

Application Security Monitoring and Logging involves the systematic collection and analysis of data to detect and mitigate security threats in real-time. Effective monitoring and logging strategies can help identify potential vulnerabilities, protect sensitive data, and maintain the overall integrity of an application. In the context of software development security, integrating monitoring and logging tools throughout the development process enables organizations to identify potential security issues early on, before they can be exploited by attackers. Key components of an effective monitoring and logging strategy include configuring log levels to capture relevant information, centralizing log management, implementing real-time monitoring tools, and analyzing log data to identify and respond to potential security incidents.

Container Security refers to the practice of applying security measures within containerized environments. Containers, widely used in modern software development, facilitate scalable deployment and streamlined application management. However, they also introduce new security challenges. Inherent risks associated with containers include but are not limited to unauthorized access to container images, vulnerabilities within the container runtime, and a shared kernel between containers that can lead to potential compromises. Effective container security strategies encompass secure configuration of container images, validating the source and authenticity of images, hardening container host systems, implementing run-time isolation measures, and continuous monitoring to identify malicious activities.