Develop secure software by integrating security practices throughout the development lifecycle—not by relying on a final security test. NIST’s Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF) offers adaptable practices for setting requirements, shaping design, reviewing and testing changes, protecting development and delivery, and learning from vulnerabilities.
What is a secure software development lifecycle?
A secure software development lifecycle (SDLC) incorporates security into the processes an organization already uses to plan, build, release, and maintain software. Security is not a separate phase that can be completed once at the end: requirements and risk influence design, reviews and tests identify weaknesses during development, and maintenance addresses vulnerabilities that emerge later.
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NIST’s SP 800-218, Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF) Version 1.1, published February 3, 2022, is a high-level framework designed to fit different SDLC implementations. NIST presents it as a way to reduce vulnerabilities in released software, mitigate the impact of vulnerabilities that go undetected or unaddressed, and address underlying causes so they do not recur. It is a set of practices to adapt—not a requirement to replace an organization’s existing lifecycle or a guarantee that software will be secure.
That distinction matters because many development models do not describe software security practices in detail. SSDF supplies a common vocabulary and a structure for adding those practices to the model a team actually uses. NIST’s SSDF project page provides further framework information.
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How do you develop secure software?
Start with the software’s security requirements and risk context, then carry those decisions through design, implementation, review, testing, delivery, and maintenance. The activities below are connected practices, not a mandatory sequence; teams can place them within their existing workflow.
1. Plan around security requirements and risk
Identify the security requirements for the product and the risks it must address. Use that context to shape architecture and design, and allocate effort to threats, vulnerabilities, and defects. Requirements give the team a basis for evaluating design choices and deciding what to review and test.
2. Design and build with security in view
Review the software design against its security requirements and risk information. Security also depends on the conditions in which software is created: protect development environments and consider the tools and processes used to build the product, not just the application code.
3. Review changes before they are merged
Analyze software artifacts and review code before merging changes. These checks can identify problems while they are still part of development. Document findings and remediation as part of the delivery process so teams can track what was found and how it was addressed.
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4. Test to find what earlier checks missed
Test staged builds for weaknesses that design review, code review, or other earlier analysis did not catch. Testing complements earlier checks; it does not make them unnecessary. Use results to guide remediation and inform release decisions.
5. Manage components and delivery integrity
Third-party components, development tooling, and the integrity of software as it moves through the supply chain are part of secure development. NIST’s Software Supply Chain Security Guidance describes the purpose and scope of federal guidance in this area, including supplier communications and conformity attestations. Those procurement-related measures belong to their specific federal context; they should not be mistaken for universal requirements for every software team.
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6. Maintain the software and address root causes
Use vulnerability information and development findings to fix issues after release as well as during development. When a problem is found, consider its underlying cause so that corrective work can reduce the chance of similar issues recurring.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How does secure development fit into continuous delivery?
Security practices can be placed at relevant points in an organization’s existing delivery workflow. NIST’s NCCoE mapping of SSDF to the DevSecOps Notional Reference Model illustrates how planning, code review, and testing can fit into a continuous delivery model. It is an illustration of how practices can map to a workflow, not a prescription that every team must adopt DevSecOps or use a particular tool.
For a team, the practical question is whether each important security activity has a place in its process: requirements and risk inform design; code and artifacts are reviewed before changes are merged; testing checks for weaknesses earlier work missed; and findings lead to remediation. Component, environment, and delivery-integrity concerns should be considered alongside application code.
How should an organization adapt SSDF?
Use the framework to identify security practices that fit the organization’s software, risks, and delivery process. The right implementation depends on that context; SSDF is not a one-size-fits-all lifecycle. Map practices to existing roles and workflow points, then make sure findings can be acted on and underlying causes addressed. No single scanner, test, or framework can guarantee that a product is secure.
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