The UK’s New Software Security Code of Practice and How JFrog Can Help

The UK government has taken a proactive step by recently releasing the Software Security Code of Practice, a vital framework aimed at strengthening the cybersecurity posture of organizations that develop and sell software. This code outlines essential practices and principles, guiding companies to enhance their software security throughout the development lifecycle, from initial design to final deployment. By adopting these recommendations, businesses can significantly reduce vulnerabilities, mitigate risks, and ultimately deliver safer products to their end users.

The significance of this code extends beyond mere compliance, as it represents a cultural shift towards prioritizing security throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC), from the first lines of code to running applications. As application security threats become increasingly sophisticated, and with more than 25% of UK businesses hit by cyber-attack in the last year, demonstrating a commitment to robust security practices can set a company apart from its peers and foster a more resilient business model.

In this context, JFrog stands out as a dedicated ally for organizations striving to meet the Software Security Code of Practice and other emerging security regulations. With its comprehensive suite of tools designed to facilitate secure software development and delivery in every step of the SDLC, JFrog is committed to helping companies enhance overall security and streamline relevant compliance efforts. In this blog, we will explore how JFrog’s end-to-end security solutions can empower organizations to embrace the recommendations of the Code, ensuring that security is woven into every step of their software development processes.

Secure Design and Development

As stated in the Code: “These principles ensure that the software is appropriately secure when provided. The Senior Responsible Owner in vendor organisations shall gain assurance that their organisation achieves the following in relation to any software or software services sold by their organisation”.

Here are some highlights suggesting what is required for organizations to comply with Code:

1. Follow an Established Secure Development Framework

A Secure Development Framework is a structured approach that incorporates security principles and practices throughout the SDLC. Its main goal is to reduce vulnerabilities and risks by embedding security into every phase, from design to deployment and even applications running in end user environments. By integrating security tools from JFrog, such as Software Composition Analysis (SCA), Static Application Security Testing (SAST), and secrets scanning, seamlessly into existing developer tools and DevOps processes, organizations can create a robust foundation that addresses risks effectively.

In addition to providing a comprehensive suite of security solutions that are woven into the development tools, JFrog supports customers in proactively enforcing security policies and best practices while focusing their time and effort only on vulnerabilities and risks that are actually applicable to their applications. This commitment helps organizations cultivate a culture of security awareness and ensures that a clear secure development framework is established. It ensures critical resources aren’t wasted chasing false positives and manually performing repetitive tasks.

DIST provides a comprehensive framework for organizations and technology providers.

2. Understanding Software Composition and Assessing Risks

Understanding the composition of software and assessing the risks associated with third-party components is essential for maintaining security throughout the development lifecycle. Today, most applications rely on external libraries and frameworks, which can introduce a wide range of vulnerabilities and risks if not properly managed.

By conducting thorough Software Composition Analysis, organizations can identify the third-party components they utilize and evaluate the associated security risks. These insights help DevOps teams and security professionals make informed decisions regarding the acceptance of these components, helping to establish a secure foundation for software development. By using JFrog Xray, SCA becomes an integral part of the development process, ensuring a fully secure software supply chain.

3. Establishing a Clear Process for Testing Software and Updates

Having a well-defined process for testing software and updates before distribution is critical to ensuring application security. A structured testing approach allows teams to identify vulnerabilities early in the development lifecycle, minimizing the risk of issues arising in production.

By utilizing a combination of testing methodologies, such as SAST and runtime security, organizations can gain a comprehensive understanding of their applications’ security posture. JFrog provides security “Gates” at every stage of development that can, for example, block code promotion or a build if they don’t comply with the organization’s security policies. Establishing clear and consistent security policies, not only fosters confidence in the quality of the software being released but also reinforces a commitment to security culture across development, operations and security teams.

4. Implementing Secure by Design and Secure by Default Principles

The principles of Secure by Design and Secure by Default are fundamental to creating inherently secure software. Secure by Design means that security considerations are integrated into the software’s architecture from the very beginning of the development process. Secure by Default refers to the practice of ensuring that security features and configurations are enabled by default in software products.

Following both “secure by design” and “secure by default” principles is vital for embedding security deeply into the development lifecycle. In addition to “secure by design” capabilities, JFrog also supports “secure by default” with its Curation offering.

JFrog Curation protects the software supply chain by enabling early blocking of malicious or risky open-source packages before they even enter the development environment. It seamlessly identifies harmful, vulnerable, or risky packages, ensuring increased security, compliance, and developer productivity by automatically blocking inclusion of suspicious packages, based on organizational policies.

Securing your Code with JFrog

A critical theme of the UK Code of Practice is secure deployment and maintenance, which is vital for ensuring that an application remains safe and reliable throughout its lifecycle. As software systems are increasingly exposed to evolving threats, organizations must adopt comprehensive practices that not only secure the initial deployment but also address the ongoing maintenance of applications. This includes distributing software securely to customers, which helps prevent unauthorized access and potential exploitation.

Additionally, implementing an effective vulnerability disclosure process allows both developers and users to report and address security issues in a timely manner, creating a collaborative environment geared towards continuous improvement – even after the software has been released.

Another key aspect of secure deployment and maintenance involves proactively detecting, prioritizing, and managing vulnerabilities within software components. Organizations must establish clear processes and maintain thorough documentation to ensure that vulnerabilities are identified and addressed before they can be exploited. Reporting vulnerabilities to relevant parties, when appropriate, further strengthens community collaboration in managing security risks, while providing timely security updates, patches, and notifications to customers is essential for maintaining their trust and safeguarding their systems. This can be done using JFrog’s Evidence Collection, which automates the collection of verified evidence, providing proof of security postures and actions to regulators and auditors.

JFrog plays a crucial role in facilitating these practices by offering a solution that is designed to enhance security throughout the software delivery pipeline, including in running applications. By leveraging the  JFrog Platform, organizations can automate vulnerability scanning and manage security policies effectively, ensuring that vulnerabilities are identified and remediated before software is deployed, and that it is securely maintained afterwards.

Take Aways

In summary, the UK’s Software Security Code of Practice serves as an important blueprint for organizations navigating the complexities of application security in today’s digital landscape. By emphasizing principles such as secure design, understanding software composition, establishing rigorous testing processes, and ensuring secure deployment and maintenance, the Code empowers companies to adopt a proactive approach to cybersecurity. While this blog does not claim to cover all the themes presented in the Code, it demonstrates how JFrog stands ready to assist organizations as they aim to comply with it. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the Code and its ramifications, we strongly recommend reading the full guidelines in the original publication.

JFrog’s comprehensive software supply chain platform ensures that security is integrated seamlessly into existing development workflows, while cultivating collaboration and establishing a  shared security culture for development, operations and security teams. As organizations embrace these guidelines and leverage JFrog’s solutions, they can create safer high quality software products and build trust with their customers, ensuring they remain competitive and secure in an ever-evolving threat landscape.

To see for yourself how JFrog can provide support for your Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) program,  take an online tour, schedule a one-on-one demo or start a free trial at your convenience.