Overview
Security by Design means that security is a core requirement from the very beginning of a project, rather than an afterthought. It involves proactive measures to identify and mitigate risks throughout the entire lifecycle of a product or system.
Key Principles
- Minimize Attack Surface: Reducing the number of entry points for attackers.
- Principle of Least Privilege: Granting only the necessary permissions.
- Defense in Depth: Using multiple layers of security.
- Fail Securely: Ensuring that if a system fails, it does so in a way that maintains security.
- Don't Trust External Inputs: Validating and sanitizing all data from outside sources.
Benefits
- Reduces the number of vulnerabilities in the final product.
- Lowers the cost of fixing security issues (it's cheaper to fix a design flaw than a production breach).
- Improves customer trust and regulatory compliance.