Gathering and defining clear security requirements at the start of a project is one of the best ways to begin your Secure by Design journey. But how does security actually fit in?

The requirements gathering stage of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is where stakeholders identify, document, and agree on the functional and non–functional requirements of the product.

It ensures everyone – clients, end–users, development teams, and others – has a shared understanding of the project’s objectives and scope.

This stage is therefore ideal for embedding security into your project’s foundation.

As you define the scope, establish goals, and document requirements, consider these security–oriented steps to set the stage for a secure product.

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01 – Understand current security threats and risks

Conducting a risk assessment early is crucial to uncover vulnerabilities and mitigate them before development begins. Analyse potential threats, generate misuse cases to anticipate malicious behaviour, and identify areas where security controls may need reinforcement. For example, if user authentication is a functional requirement, define security measures such as strong password policies, multi–factor authentication, and secure storage. Addressing risks upfront ensures that security needs are aligned with your project goals.

02 – Define security objectives aligned with business and compliance goals

Security objectives must endeavour to balance functionality, business priorities, and compliance requirements. Aligning these objectives with your organisation’s broader strategic goals ensures that risks like reputational damage, data breaches, or operational disruptions are mitigated. For example, safeguarding sensitive customer data and ensuring system availability are foundational security goals that align with broader business objectives.

03 – Develop security policies as a foundation for design

Security policies provide a structured approach to embedding security throughout the SDLC. These policies should focus on maintaining the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of your system while addressing your organisation’s specific needs. For example, they might include robust authentication and authorisation requirements, secure coding practices to mitigate vulnerabilities, and guidelines for encryption, monitoring, and incident response. Regularly reviewing and updating these policies ensures they remain relevant as threats evolve. They also need to be effectively communicated to teams so they are consistently applied.

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The key thing to consider is that security is a continuous mindset. Embedding it at the requirements stage lays the foundations, but security is an ongoing effort. Regularly revisiting and refining your security requirements ensures they remain aligned with changing risks and project goals. Starting early with security is more than just protecting your product; it is about delivering trust, reliability, and excellence to your users and stakeholders.