What are the best practices for ensuring system security and privacy when requirements change?

A core goal of security by design is to take a holistic approach for product development such that in each stage of development, all potential threats to a system should be adequately addressed, and the system’s deployment process accounted for. To properly account for requirement changes in security by design would mean that updates and changes to the initial risk assessment must be updated to reflect changes to security requirements and design. The dynamic and static security testing and code review recommended by the NIST SSDF need to be redone. To ease the task, modular design and the use of memory-safe programming languages (e.g. RUST) would help. Adopting defense-in-depth could also increase the resilience against work shortfalls.

When designing a system architecture for a co-located team, consider the modularity and cohesion of system components. Modularity divides the system into smaller, interchangeable units, while cohesion ensures each unit has a clear responsibility. These principles enhance maintainability, reusability, and testability, while reducing complexity and dependency. Additionally, they enable parallel development, fostering agility within the team.

Security testing and reviews are like regular check-ups for your system's safety. By conducting these tests at different stages of development, you can catch and address any security issues early on. It's like having a team of inspectors who constantly examine your system to keep it secure. Plus, using methods like code analysis and vulnerability scanning adds layers of protection, making sure your system stays safe and reliable.

Regular security testing and reviews are vital to verify compliance with security and privacy standards, detect, and address any vulnerabilities. These assessments should occur throughout the system development lifecycle, particularly during requirement changes. Methods include code analysis, penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, and security audits.

Security and privacy are not only technical concerns but also involve people. Stakeholders and users contribute to system security by following policies, reporting incidents, and offering feedback. Educating them fosters a culture of awareness and trust, ensuring active participation in maintaining system safety and privacy.

Educating and engaging stakeholders and users is crucial for ensuring system security and privacy. By providing clear information, guidance, and training, and fostering a culture of security awareness and trust, they can contribute significantly to system safety.

Best practices for adapting to evolving security and privacy requirements. Continuous Risk Assessment: Regularly update risk models to reflect new fraud patterns and regulatory changes. Agile Development: Use agile methodologies to quickly iterate on the system design Data Encryption: Implement end-to-end encryption for sensitive data both in transit and at rest. Access Control: Strictly enforce role-based access controls (RBAC) Auditing and Logging: Maintain detailed logs of system and user activities to facilitate audits and identify suspicious behaviors. Regular Updates and Patching: Keep all system components updated to protect against known vulnerabilities. User Privacy: Anonymized or pseudonymized personal data

Data minimization: Collect and retain only the data that is necessary for your operations. This reduces the risk of data breaches and minimizes the impact of a potential breach. Regular security audits: Conduct regular security audits to identify and address any security vulnerabilities in your systems. Incident response plan: Have a well-defined incident response plan in place to quickly and effectively respond to security incidents. User training: Provide regular security training to your users to help them recognize and avoid security threats such as phishing attacks.

Data minimization: Only collect and retain the minimum amount of personal data necessary for your system's operation. This reduces the risk of data breaches and privacy violations. Access control: Implement strict access controls to ensure that only authorized users have access to sensitive data and system resources. Use role-based access control (RBAC) and least privilege principles to limit access. Data encryption: Encrypt sensitive data both at rest and in transit to protect it from unauthorized access. Use strong encryption algorithms and ensure that encryption keys are managed securely.