Secure Design

Our secure design principles are integral to the development process, ensuring that the software is built with a strong foundation of security. These principles guide our architectural and design decisions, aiming to protect systems against vulnerabilities and threats. Here are the key principles we adhere to:

Principle of Least Privilege (POLP)

• Definition: Ensuring that every module (such as processes, users, and systems) has only the minimum access or permissions needed to perform its functions.
• Implementation: This principle is applied by assigning roles and permissions carefully within the system. For instance, a user account used for reading database entries does not have write permissions unless absolutely necessary.

Defense in Depth (DiD)

• Definition: A layered approach to security, ensuring that if one security measure fails, additional measures will provide subsequent layers of protection.
• Implementation: We implement DiD by using multiple security mechanisms across different layers of our software stack. This might include network segmentation, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and secure coding practices, among others. Each layer is designed to catch threats that might slip through the previous layer.

Separation of Duties (SoD)

• Definition: Dividing critical tasks and privileges among multiple users or systems to reduce the risk of fraudulent or malicious activity.
• Implementation: In practice, SoD means ensuring that no single entity has control over all aspects of any critical function. For example, the person who requests a financial transaction should not be the same person who authorizes it. In software development, this might translate to having separate roles for code development, code review, and code deployment.

Incorporating these principles of secure design from the early stages of development helps in creating a robust and resilient software architecture. By ensuring the Principle of Least Privilege, employing Defense in Depth strategies, and adhering to the Separation of Duties, we lay a strong foundation for securing our software against a wide array of potential threats. This proactive approach to security significantly contributes to the overall integrity, confidentiality, and availability of our systems.