A recent survey casts light on a critical paradox in the world of software development: while developers increasingly recognize the importance of security, it often takes a backseat to other priorities. The “State of Developer-Driven Security 2022” survey by Secure Code Warrior reveals that a significant majority of developers – a mere 29% – believe that writing vulnerability-free code should be a top priority. This gap between understanding the significance of secure coding and actively practicing it raises crucial questions, especially for agile development teams striving for speed and efficiency without compromising on security.
The Disconnect: Security Awareness vs. Prioritization
The survey of 1,200 developers across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America highlights a concerning trend. Despite acknowledging the potential impact of vulnerabilities, a staggering 86% of developers do not consider application security as a primary focus when writing code. This isn’t due to a lack of awareness. Instead, it points to systemic challenges and competing pressures within the development lifecycle that push security considerations down the priority list. More than half of the surveyed developers admitted they couldn’t confidently protect their code against seven common vulnerabilities, directly contributing to the low prioritization of vulnerability-free code. This reactive approach to security, addressing flaws after they are discovered, remains prevalent even when developers and organizations recognize the benefits of early mitigation.
Barriers to Secure Coding in Agile Environments
Agile development, with its emphasis on rapid iteration and quick releases, can inadvertently exacerbate the challenge of prioritizing secure coding. The survey identifies several key barriers that developers face:
- Time Constraints and Deadlines: Nearly a quarter (24%) of developers cite the pressure to meet deadlines as the primary obstacle to writing secure code. Agile sprints, while promoting efficiency, can sometimes feel like a race against the clock, pushing security tasks to the side in favor of feature delivery.
- Lack of Guidance and Training: 20% of developers report insufficient training or guidance from their managers on implementing secure coding practices. In fast-paced agile environments, on-the-job learning is crucial, but without structured support and clear expectations, security knowledge can lag behind.
- Tooling and Methodologies: As Pieter Danhieux, Co-founder and CEO of Secure Code Warrior, points out, the tools and methods currently employed often lead to a “getting by” mentality rather than a proactive risk reduction strategy. Agile teams need security tools seamlessly integrated into their workflows to make secure coding an efficient and natural part of the process.
The Training Paradox: Usage vs. Effectiveness
Training emerges as a critical factor in developer security practices. An encouraging 81% of developers utilize their security training knowledge almost daily. However, the survey reveals a paradox: 67% of developers still knowingly ship code with vulnerabilities. This suggests that while training is being consumed, its current format and delivery are not effectively translating into tangible improvements in code security. Developers are calling for more practical, self-paced, and industry-recognized training formats. Specifically:
- Self-Paced Multimedia Training: One in four developers prefers self-guided multimedia resources, allowing them to learn at their own pace and integrate training into their busy schedules.
- Industry Certifications: One in five developers believes industry certifications would significantly enhance the perceived value and effectiveness of security training. Certifications can provide a benchmark of competency and motivation for developers to master secure coding skills.
- Practical, Real-World Scenarios: 30% of developers want more practical training with real-world scenarios and outcomes, highlighting the need for training that directly addresses the challenges they encounter in their daily work.
Moving Forward: Empowering Agile Developers to Embrace Secure Coding
To bridge the gap between security awareness and action, organizations need to empower agile developers to prioritize secure coding. This requires a multi-faceted approach:
- Formalizing Secure Coding Standards: Organizations must clearly define secure coding standards and integrate them into the daily workflows of developers. This includes providing accessible guidelines, code examples, and automated checks within the development environment.
- Investing in Effective Security Training: Moving beyond generic security awareness programs to hands-on, practical training that aligns with developer preferences for self-paced learning and real-world application is crucial. Incorporating industry-recognized certifications can further incentivize and validate secure coding skills.
- Integrating Security Tools into Agile Workflows: Seamlessly integrating security tools into the development pipeline, from IDE plugins to automated security testing in CI/CD pipelines, can make secure coding less of a separate task and more of an integral part of the agile development process.
- Fostering a Security-Conscious Culture: Creating a culture where security is a shared responsibility, not just the security team’s domain, is essential. Encouraging collaboration between security and development teams, recognizing and rewarding secure coding practices, and promoting open communication about security concerns can contribute to a more secure development environment.
The survey findings underscore that agile developers are not inherently averse to secure coding. They are operating within systems that often prioritize speed and feature delivery over security. By addressing the identified barriers – time constraints, lack of targeted training, and insufficient integration of security into development workflows – organizations can empower their agile development teams to not just care about secure coding, but to actively make it a priority in every sprint and every line of code. To delve deeper into the “State of Developer-Driven Security 2022” survey and explore actionable strategies, visit www.securecodewarrior.com/blog/where-is-secure-code-in-development-team-priorities.
