Security Best Practices in Agile Teams

There are many discussions about what Scrum teams should include in their Definition of Done (DoD). However, security is rarely mentioned during these talks, even if more and more hacking incidents are revealed to the public. This article outlines some major security best practices for Agile teams. Agile is a project management approach that delivers the project in increments and iterations throughout the project life cycle. Agile was first introduced for software development, where it remains a popular approach. Developing software requires excellent attention to security. Agile teams need to follow best practices to deliver a working yet secure product. Security has to be an active consideration throughout the entire life cycle. Unfortunately, many teams neglect security since it’s considered a non-functional requirement.  This article will outline some of the major security best practices for agile teams. Security starts from the top The approach to cybersecurity is rooted deep within a company’s culture. In the last decade, companies have moved away from well-thought-out yet slow projects. Now, they focus on projects with quick turnaround and little testing. But, recent spikes in cyber incidents have forced many to rethink their approach. Now, cybersecurity is a trending topic among C-level executives, which spills over to the agile development teams. This trend has to continue for security to be a central focus point during the development process. CEOs have to prioritize cybersecurity throughout the organization. Many teams are dead-set in their ways, and even if they have the technical skills, the organization’s culture may [...]