The Role of Secure Coding Practices in Reducing Vulnerabilities

Roughly 70% of vulnerabilities that are found in software are down to simple coding errors.
Therefore it makes sense that secure code training is a core part of digital ecosystems.

These days businesses and individuals all face unique cyber threats that are not only disruptive but
costly – and with the potential to damage a company’s reputation.

Here’s how secure coding practices reduce vulnerabilities.

Secure code training explained

This is a special area of software training that educates developers on writing code that’s not only
functional but totally secure from a multitude of cyber threats.

It’s different from regular coding in its focus and approach, regular coding will prioritize functionality
and performance. Secure coding puts much more emphasis on the security aspects of the code and
considers how it could be exploited by hackers, thus developing code to prevent further attacks. A
tool like static application security testing is a great example.

The main components of secure code testing

One of the main components of secure code training is teaching developers about the different kinds of vulnerabilities that exist in software.

These include common vulnerabilities listed in industry resources that outline the most severe or critical security risks to web applications.

What are the benefits of secure code training?

Secure code training offers many benefits that are of great importance to developers globally. They
can ultimately enhance the security of software applications and also contribute to the overall digital
health and financial success of corporations. Let’s take a look at some of them.

The first benefit is that of improving the reliability of code. When developers train in secure coding,
they’re going to ultimately write code that’s more robust and free from errors. In the long term, it’ll
produce software that’s not only stable but much more efficient.

Secondly, it’ll reduce any risk of security breaches and the costs attached to them. Understanding
and implementing secure coding practices means that developers can work to prevent common
vulnerabilities that are often targeted by hackers. It can save companies quite a lot of money in the
long run.

Within most industries these days many legal and regulatory requirements affect data protection
and cybersecurity. Training in secure code makes sure that developers are aware of all of these
requirements, and how important they are – and that they’re equipped to comply with them. This is
important for organizations that work with a lot of sensitive data or work within sectors that are very
heavily regulated.

Building secure code practices means that ultimately, companies can develop much more trusting
relationships with their customers and their stakeholders. At a time in which data breaches are a
huge concern for many businesses who are looking at finding ways of making their online security
safer with the use of tools like VPNs, secure coding can give a significant competitive advantage.
Businesses and customers are more likely to trust other companies that can prove they’ve got plans
in place to protect everyone’s data.

Secure code training gives developers a real advantage in terms of their skills and knowledge. It
takes coders way beyond the most basic of programming concepts and helps them delve into the
nitty gritty of cybersecurity. They’ll learn about all the latest security threats and how to stop them
in their tracks – not only that, but they’ll be able to develop coding that prevents similar attacks from
happening. Ultimately, this creates a team of very skilled and versatile professionals.

Conclusion

Once a developer is trained in secure coding – they’re much better equipped to resolve security
issues more speedily, meaning the potential for less downtime. The capability to respond rapidly to
security issues and vulnerabilities with secure coding practices minimizes any breaches, saves time
and money, and ultimately creates safer websites.

FAQs