Why a Secure Software Development Life Cycle Is Essential for Modern Manufacturers

[johny899]

Think about what would happen if a factory went dark due to a cyber attack? Machines would stop, orders would be delayed, money would be lost. This is a terrible scenario and unfortunately, it’s one that happens when businesses do not put enough emphasis on software security. Therefore, the importance of the Secure Software Development Life Cycle (SSDLC) is paramount for manufacturers.

The mass majority of organizations (manufacturers included) are still focused solely on machinery and hardware. However, the reality of life today is that nearly everything operates with software - from machinery to supply chains. Ultimately, if that software isn’t secure, an attacker can sneak in without detection and create severe impacts/hauling.

You may have wondered how hackers can hack into systems without breaking anything? Weak software has often been their entry point.

Why Is Manufacturing at A Greater Risk?​

Manufacturers have a lot of third-party tools that have been developed by other companies. Developers tend to copy and paste code from the internet to avoid reinventing the wheel. While this is very common, it also creates risk. An attacker can easily hide malicious code in these types of tools, while the developer is none the wiser.

Once the system is compromised by malicious code, the following can happen:

• Production lines may be brought to a halt
• Company information may be unlawfully removing
• Machines that are linked together may be destroyed
• Inconveniently long shutdowns

Once again, let’s make clear. Correcting problems at a later stage costs far more than prevention at the earliest stages.

How SSDLC Assists​

The secure software development lifecycle integrates security at every stage of development, not just at the final release date. Security becomes a priority in the development process, so security issues can be found before the product is developed.

In other words, SSDLC is concerned with:

• Planning for security issues prior to any type of coding
• Providing education to programmers about writing secure code
• Verifying the security of software from third-party companies prior to the release of that software
• Test software on a regular basis to identify any potential problems
• Generate safe updates, without introducing new security risks.

The bottom line, is, by using the SSDLC, a company will save time, money, and aggravation.

Final Opinion​

To not use the SSDLC, is like locking the door to your office, then leaving all of the windows open. It no longer makes any logical sense. Manufacturers rely upon software for a lot of their processes, therefore secure software development is now a requirement.