Software security engineering is a critical part of modern software development. Unfortunately, security threats are everywhere and get more sophisticated as they evolve.
As a result, the security systems that protect software solutions, sensitive data, and other critical assets require skilled security engineers to ensure they function properly and protect an organization’s IT infrastructure.
Cybersecurity should be a priority for every organization. However, the damage a security breach can do to your organization is difficult to quantify, especially if your company suffers reputational damage due to a security breach.
This post will explain the importance and value of software security engineering.
What Is a Security Engineer?
A security engineer is responsible for keeping an organization’s security systems running. A security engineer might be called a cybersecurity engineer or network security engineer.
The software security engineer job includes testing and implementing new security measures, planning upgrades to the network and hardware, troubleshooting issues, and security incident response.
A security engineer will also be involved in the software development process, especially when teams use the DevSecOps approach to software engineering.
What Is the Difference Between a Security Engineer and a Security Analyst?
Security engineers and analysts might have overlapping responsibilities but have different roles. The primary difference is that a security engineer builds the systems that protect software and network assets, while an analyst monitors them to detect and respond to breaches.
An engineer may work in breach detection and do some of the work associated with security analysts, but an analyst will not be responsible for designing and building the security systems in place for your organization.
While many security engineers start their careers as security analysts, if your organization is looking for a professional to build a robust security system, do not count on an analyst to complete this task as they will likely not have the skill or the experience required to build a complex security system.
The Importance of Security Engineering
Organizations understand the value of risk management in other aspects of their operations. The same principles must be applied to computer security, especially as more systems, processes, and operations are digitized.
Security engineering is critical for several reasons, including the following:
- Build resilient software
- Quickly address security incidents
- Reduce costs
- Identify and address vulnerabilities
Build Resilient Software
The final product is far more resilient when security is a focal point of software engineering. Reliable software can continue functioning even in the face of cyber-attacks and unintentional failures.
In addition, when software engineers develop a product with a security engineer, the software can identify, pre-empt, and withstand malicious attacks.
If your organization relies on software, it must be resilient. Interruption to services or operations can lead to missed business opportunities and brand image damage.
Quickly Address Security Incidents
When a security incident occurs, the faster it is addressed, the better the outcome for your organization. Organizations prioritizing security engineering can quickly address incidents and minimize the damage they produce.
Malicious computer programs can wreak havoc on software systems and cripple business operations. With so many processes and systems dependent on computer programs, security engineering should be a significant part of your organization’s IT efforts.
Reduce Costs
Every business would like to reduce costs and save financial resources. Security engineering can help your organization reduce costs in several ways.
By prioritizing security, your organization can minimize or eliminate the resources lost to cyber attacks. However, in some cases, the costs of a breach can be massive, and this doesn’t even account for the financial costs of reputational damage, which are harder to calculate.
In addition, security engineering reduces costs by minimizing the amount of redevelopment that has to occur to address security issues and other defects that could be exploited by cyber attackers.
Identify and Address Vulnerabilities
If security vulnerabilities can be found and addressed by a security engineer before they are exploited by a malicious actor, your software and network will be stronger.
Addressing vulnerabilities before they can be exploited is one of the biggest benefits of security engineering. No piece of code or software is perfectly designed. Chances are there are vulnerabilities that could be exploited.
Security engineers help find and fix vulnerabilities in software systems and networks before they can be exploited and cause harm to your organization.
Final Thoughts
The importance and value of software security engineering cannot be overstated. If your organization has digital assets, security should be prioritized. When security fails, the damage done to your organization can be immense.
Don’t wait until a breach occurs to start thinking about security measures. Your organization could face legal and financial penalties for losing sensitive information and vital data.
If you want to learn more about the value of security engineering and IT security best practices, reach out to a skilled development and IT security professional like Koombea.
