Without software, most computers would be useless. For example, a web browser is a software application that allows users to access the Internet. An operating system (OS) is software that serves as the interface between other applications and the hardware on a computer or mobile device. TCP/IP is built into all major operating systems to allow computers to communicate across networks over long distances. Without the OS or the protocols built into it, it would be impossible to access a web browser.

Most software is written in high-level programming languages because the language is closer to natural human language than machine language. The high-level language is then translated into low-level machine code using a compiler or interpreter so that the computer can understand.

The history of software

Software requires a general-purpose processor and computer memory in which reusable sets of subroutines and mathematical functions can be stored, started, and stopped. This type of technology has appeared quite recently.

Ada Lovelace wrote the first known computer program in 1843 for an analytical engine. The Analytical Engine was developed by Charles Babbage in 1837 and was the concept of the first general mechanical computer. However, the program remained theoretical as the Analytical Engine was never physically built. The first modern theory of software was proposed by Alan Turing in his 1935 essay “Computational Numbers with Application to Entscheidungsproblems”.

The first time a computer with a stored program kept a piece of software in its electronic memory and successfully executed it was on June 21, 1948. Scientists Tom Kilburn and Freddie William built one of the first computers, the Manchester Small Scale Experimental Machine (SSEM), at the University of Manchester in England. The SSEM was programmed to perform mathematical calculations using machine code instructions. It took the software 52 minutes to correctly calculate the greatest divisor of two to the power of 18 (262,144).

In the late 1950s, the first programming language, Fortran, appeared. COBOL and BASIC soon followed, allowing programs to be abstractly specific and independent of the details of the computer’s hardware architecture. The languages were mainly intended to specify numerical calculations.

Software gained its popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, when personal computers were already available. In 1977, Apple released the Apple II, an 8-bit home computer and one of the world’s first successful mass-produced microcomputer products.

VisiCalc was the first spreadsheet software for personal computers. It was released for the Apple II in 1979. The software was written in a specialized assembly language. Other companies, such as IBM, soon developed home computers. Productivity and business software developed in the early stages of personal computers. Popular software applications during this time included AutoCAD, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel.

Another major innovation in the history of software development was the emergence of Linux in the 1990s. It is an open source operating system. Interest in Linux increased dramatically after the publication of the source code for the Netscape Navigator browser in 1998.

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Types of application software include:

• word processors – programs used for documentation: Microsoft Word, Google Docs, AppleWorks;
• Software for working with spreadsheets, for calculating quantitative data: Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, and Quattro Pro;
• Database creation and management software for organizing data and managing databases: MySQL, Clipper and FileMaker;
• multimedia software – tools that can play, create or record images, audio or video files, used for video editing, animation, graphics and image editing: Adobe Photoshop and Picasa;
• sets of programs sold as a package: Microsoft Office is the most widely used application package.
• Internet browsers used to access and browse websites: Google Chrome and Internet Explorer;
• email programs for sending email: Outlook and Gmail.

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Tasks in this latter process include gathering customer information and thoroughly reviewing/testing the code for any undiscovered flaws, preparing a team, plan, and processes to quickly respond to vulnerabilities and mitigate them, creating and implementing a remediation plan for each identified vulnerability, and determining root cause to build a knowledge base for future prevention.

In addition, root causes should be analyzed over time to identify patterns. These patterns can then be noticed and corrected in other software. Finally, the entire SDLC can be updated periodically to eliminate similar problems in future releases.

Example:

• Create a vulnerability reporting and response program;
• Leverage automation to effectively monitor vulnerability data and perform automated code analysis;
• Measuring the impact and resources required to address each vulnerability while prioritizing remediation;
• Identifying and documenting the root causes of vulnerabilities, while improving the tools for automatic future detection and implementing appropriate adjustments to the SSDF.

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The primary objective is to maintain code on a least privilege basis to ensure that only authorized access is granted. In addition, a copy of each release with the components listed and integrity check information is provided to each client.

Examples:

• Storing code in secure repositories with limited access;
• Using version control to track all code changes;
• Publishing cryptographic hashes for released software and using only trusted certificate authorities to sign code.

As you can imagine, this process consists of many steps and involves many participants and practices. First, the software is designed and tested to meet defined security requirements. Next, third parties are thoroughly vetted for compliance with these requirements. Developers then use security best practices to write the code, customizing the build process to enhance the security of the product. All code is then reviewed, analyzed, and tested using manual and automated tools to identify vulnerabilities and ensure compliance. Finally, the software is configured with secure defaults for out-of-the-box protection, and secure components are often reused in production.

Specific tasks include creating a list of trusted components, using threat modeling to assess risk, studying external security requirements, communicating standards to third parties during compliance testing, using secure coding best practices using industry best practices tools, and validating code from all perspectives through review or analysis. The final tasks include designing and executing vulnerability tests, documenting the results, and resolving any issues found.

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Traditionally, developers have viewed security as an obstacle to innovation and creativity, which creates delays in getting a product to market. This mindset hurts business profits, as it is 15 times more expensive to fix a bug during implementation and 15 times more expensive to fix the same bug during development.

Most importantly, how satisfied will customers be with the new features of the program if the product contains vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers? Today, security deserves to be at the forefront of the software development process, and organizations that don’t will have difficulty competing.

So, how can security be part of the SDLC from the start? First, testing early and often. The secure software development philosophy emphasizes the use of static and dynamic security testing throughout the development process. Second, development teams should also document the security requirements of the software alongside the functional requirements. Finally, conducting a risk analysis during design can be helpful in identifying potential environmental threats.

Organizations that want to offer secure software must lay the foundation for success by effectively preparing their people, processes, and technology for this challenge. Proper preparation takes the form of a well-articulated secure software development policy, which every organization needs to create secure software.

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Software security is an ongoing process. You should always be working to improve security by investing in training, making security part of the software development process, and thoroughly testing for potential vulnerabilities.

Follow our 6 strategies to improve and maintain software security.

1. Make security decisions at the design level
   The best way to prevent security threats is to build security into the earliest stages of development. Keep software security in mind when making any design decisions to avoid disrupting the product with attacks.

Taking the time early in the design process will save time later on, and it’s much more cost-effective than the break/fix method of dealing with problems as they arise. You can protect software security and prevent security breaches as well as dangerous software defects if everyone on your team is engaged in security throughout the development process, especially when making important product decisions.

2. Invest in team training and education
   Security is only as strong as your weakest link, which is why it’s so important to invest heavily in employee training. Regularly training your team on software security best practices ensures that everyone is on the same page about what is expected, where in the software development lifecycle (SDLC) security is addressed, and how to keep up with the changing security landscape.
3. Establish policies and procedures
   Your security policy should be clear and accessible to all team members. Make sure you have thorough protocols in place to ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
4. Build software security into your SDLC
   Make software security part of your software development life cycle (SDLC). Intentionally including it in your SDLC ensures that building secure software becomes part of your standard business practice.
5. Complete risk analysis and thorough testing
   Test, test, test. The sooner you notice a vulnerability, the sooner you can start fixing it. The more you test, the more likely you are to find problems, vulnerabilities, or software defects that cybercriminals are going to exploit.
6. Implement least privilege access
   The principle of least privilege (PoLP), also known as the principle of minimum privilege or the principle of least authority, is an information security concept and practice that grants modules (such as users, applications, or processes) the minimum level of access or permissions required to perform their standard job functions.

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