{"id":53395,"date":"2014-10-15T09:56:54","date_gmt":"2014-10-15T09:56:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.checkmarx.com\/?post_type=glossary&p=9452"},"modified":"2026-04-13T22:16:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T20:16:22","slug":"a-secure-sdlc-with-static-source-code-analysis-tools","status":"publish","type":"learn","link":"https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/learn\/devsecops\/a-secure-sdlc-with-static-source-code-analysis-tools\/","title":{"rendered":"Secure SDLC (SSDLC): Where Static Code Analysis (SAST) Delivers Real Value"},"content":{"rendered":"

What exactly is the SDLC?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A secure <\/strong>SDLC<\/strong> <\/a>(SSDLC) bakes security into every stage of software delivery – requirements through operations – so you prevent defects early instead of chasing them in prod. NIST\u2019s Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF, SP 800\u2011218)<\/strong> formalizes this with four practice groups used across modern DevOps<\/a>, and it\u2019s compatible with any process model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What exactly is a Secure SDLC?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A Secure<\/em> SDLC is a process which has security touch points in every stage, as well as security milestones. Secure SDLC’s go above and beyond the current SDLC structure in order to ensure that the applications being deployed are secure upon release, without creating a delay in the original SDLC. The biggest advantages of organizations adopting a secure SDLC is to create a high-quality, secure product.
<\/span><\/wp-block>
Both SDLC and Secure SDLC typically revolve around five stages, where within each stage of the SDLC (Requirements, Design, Development, Testing, and Deployment) there are security processes to be done during that time: Risk assessment, threat modeling and design review, static analysis, security testing and code review, and finally security assessment and secure configuration.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Secure<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secure SDLC within the SDLC.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Static Analysis for a Secure SDLC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Static code analysis (SCA)<\/a> is one of the driving forces behind the secure SDLC philosophy after the requirements have been clearly defined and clarified to the developers. One of the biggest advantages of using static code analysis throughout the SDLC is that testing can be fully automated, enabling developers to implement secure coding practices and sanitize the whole development process with minimal effort. Product release deadlines can then be easily met without cutting corners or releasing risky security issues. In a Secure SDLC, static code analysis tools<\/a> can quickly find and help developers protect against SQL Injections<\/a>, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS<\/a>), Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF<\/a>), and other malicious attacks. Without a Secure SDLC using static code analysis, there’s no assurance that an application is released without security vulnerabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Practices for Establishing a Secure SDLC for Application Development Security:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n