3 days Ago By Noor
Share Tweet Share Share Email Security is important at every stage from design to deployment to maintenance. With cyber attacks on the rise you need to bake security in from the start to protect your data, privacy and reduce vulnerabilities. Chandra Sekhar Kondaveeti , a leading cybersecurity expert and Technical Lead at Acentra Health, advocates for incorporating security from the start.
As he puts it, “Building secure software at the end of the project is like trying to put the roof on a house after it’s already been built—it’s much harder, and the damage could already be done.” The Risks of Ignoring Security Early in the Process Failing to prioritize security at the beginning of the development lifecycle exposes software to vulnerabilities, which can result in data breaches, financial loss, and reputational damage. According to IBM’s 2024 report the global average cost of a data breach is $4.
88 million, 80% of which are caused by human error, system misconfigurations or inadequate security practices. Ignoring security from the start increases these risks. For example, secure APIs like OAuth2 token-based authentication should be added early to minimize risks.
This proactive approach means only authorized users can access sensitive data reducing the chance of breaches and securing critical information. The cost of fixing security flaws increases as the project progresses. NIST’s 2020 study showed it’s 30 times more expensive to fix vulnerabilities later in development.
By addressing security early in the process as done in the OWCP project with tools like Fortify for vulnerability scanning the long term costs are reduced and unnecessary disruptions are avoided. Chandra says “Security isn’t a feature you add at the end; it’s the foundation you build on.” Key Stages in the Software Development Lifecycle and Security Integration Security must be added at each stage of the software development lifecycle to minimize vulnerabilities and risks.
In the requirements gathering and planning phase security needs to be identified early. Working with stakeholders ensures security requirements are addressed from the start. As Chandra says “The foundation of a secure system is built at the start”.
In the design phase security is built into the architecture by applying secure coding principles and robust security mechanisms. For the OWCP project secure design was achieved with a microservices architecture and OAuth2 authentication. Security can’t be an afterthought, it must be woven into the design.
In the development phase secure coding practices like input validation, error handling and data encryption are critical. Tools like Fortify help detect and resolve vulnerabilities early. Chandra, a Titan award winner in Technology, says “Secure code isn’t just a nice-to-have it’s a must-have”.
Security testing including penetration testing and vulnerability scanning is just as important as functional testing. Chandra says “Testing isn’t only about functionality it’s about security too” Testing ensures security gaps are fixed before deployment. Security doesn’t stop at deployment.
Ongoing monitoring, patching and adapting to new threats. As Chandra says “Deployment is just the beginning—continuous vigilance keeps the system secure” OWCP did ongoing security reviews and updates to protect sensitive data so the system remains secure after deployment. Security Frameworks and Standards Security frameworks guide software development practices and ensure compliance with industry standards.
By adopting frameworks like OWASP, ISO/IEC 27001 and NIST, organizations can establish a strong foundation for security throughout the development lifecycle. Chandra, a Globee award judge in Cybersecurity, says, “Building secure software isn’t about checking boxes; it’s about following a blueprint that guides you through every phase of development” Adopting these frameworks ensures security becomes a proactive measure, not just a requirement. Financial and Operational Impact of Prioritizing Security Prioritizing security from the start can save both money and time.
Early integration of security measures reduces the risk of post-launch fixes and minimizes the impact of data breaches. According to a report by Ponemon Institute, proactive security can save companies an average of $3.58 million per data breach in costs like legal fees, remediation and reputational damage.
Operationally, security in the early stages simplifies the development process, reduces delays and downtime. DevSecOps practices can reduce security issue resolution time by up to 50%. And early stage security ensures compliance with regulations like GDPR and HIPAA, so you avoid the costly penalties.
And security also builds customer trust. A KPMG survey found 78% of consumers would stop using a company’s services after a data breach, that’s the financial cost of protecting customer data. As Chandra Sekhar Kondaveeti says, “Security isn’t just a cost—it’s an investment that protects your future”.
The Future of Security in Software Development Looking ahead, Chandra envisions the future of software security being deeply influenced by emerging technologies. He sees artificial intelligence and machine learning playing a central role—systems that not only govern and secure themselves, but also adapt intelligently to protect critical data and operations. In finance and healthcare, he anticipates blockchain becoming more widely adopted, bringing with it a growing need for secure smart contracts and robust decentralized networks.
As the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to expand, Chandra underscores the importance of coordinated device management, encrypted data transfer, and autonomous security mechanisms to safeguard these interconnected systems. Cloud security, he believes, will evolve with the advancement of zero trust models, automated threat detection, and enhanced protections for cloud-native applications. “Security,” Chandra emphasizes, “should be built in from the beginning and designed to evolve with emerging technologies.
” In this software development world, Chandra Sekhar Kondaveeti, a ICMR-IIT Advisory committee member, emphasizes that security should be core and not an afterthought. Building security from design to deployment will help to protect data and be ahead of threats for a secure future for businesses and users. Related Items: security , Software Development Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you How to Leverage AI for Infrastructure Management in Software Development? Engineering the Future: How AI and Distributed Systems Are Reshaping Software Development Why Businesses Are Turning to Custom Software Development for Tailored Solutions Comments.
