Thought Leadership
The days when cyber security was an afterthought are over. The EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) and the EU’s new Product Liability Directive make it clear: software must be secure from the outset. “Security by design” is thus turning from a buzzword into a survival strategy. Cycode shows how companies are mastering this paradigm shift in four concrete steps.
1. anchoring safety thinking in the company’s DNA
The responsibility for secure software must not rest solely on developers – the pressure is too high and resources are often too scarce. Application security must therefore become a fundamental principle: from the outset and across all departments. This means rethinking the corporate culture – speed must no longer take precedence over security.
2. breaking down silos: teams must secure together
Security gaps often arise because teams work in isolation. There is a lack of cross-departmental communication, especially in large development departments. A functioning “security by design” approach requires cross-team collaboration – in other words, clear communication channels and a shared understanding of security objectives across the entire software development lifecycle (SDLC).
3. compliance at a glance – and automatically under control
Good intentions are not enough. Companies need to define clear compliance requirements and monitor adherence to them automatically. This is the only way to ensure that security is consistently adhered to throughout the entire process – from the first snippet of code to go-live. This requires not only technology, but also interdisciplinary know-how about current regulatory requirements.
4. real-time transparency instead of tool chaos
The question “How secure is our software at the moment?” can only be answered with a holistic view – ideally in real time. But in many companies, the security tool stack is overloaded and fragmented. An ASPM platform (Application Security Posture Management) bundles existing tools, provides real-time data on the security situation and helps to prioritize risks based on context. After all, not every error is critical – and not every critical error needs to be patched immediately.
Conclusion: Security starts today, not tomorrow
Security by design is no longer an option – it is the new obligation. Those who fail to act now risk not only high penalties, but also the trust of their customers. Companies that fundamentally rethink their security strategy and rely on Cycode’s four steps will be better equipped for an increasingly digital and regulated world.
“Security by design is a mix of cultural change within the company, the establishment of strict compliance guidelines and the practical implementation of the highest quality standards in software development,” explains Jochen Koehler, Vice President of Sales EMEA at Cycode. “Unfortunately, good will and the best employees are not enough in this context if there is no central platform where all the information comes together. To truly implement security by design and obtain a holistic overview of all processes, there is no way around a holistic ASPM solution.”
(vp/Cycode)
