Secure Coding Standards for Teams
Secure Coding Standards for Teams A team-wide standard helps reduce security bugs and speeds up delivery. Clear rules make code safer, even when developers are tired. Written standards guide reviews, tests, and deployments, so security becomes daily work. Start with a small, focused set of rules that apply across languages and platforms: validate input, enforce least privilege, use secure defaults, and catch threats early in design. Core practices Input validation and sanitization: Treat all input as untrusted. Use strict length checks, allow-listed patterns, and parameterized queries to prevent injections. Authentication and authorization: Enforce strong passwords, MFA, and short sessions. Apply least privilege and protect endpoints with role checks. Error handling and logging: Do not reveal internal details. Return generic errors to users and log helpful data securely for developers. Data protection: Encrypt data in transit with TLS and at rest where needed. Manage keys separately and rotate them regularly. Secure design and threat modeling: Start with threat modeling in design reviews. Identify high-risk areas and plan mitigations early. Code reviews and static analysis: Review changes for security issues. Use static analysis tools and fix findings before merging. Testing and secure deployment: Include security tests in CI, such as fuzzing and dependency checks. Use feature flags and secure defaults in production. Documentation and training: Keep a living security guide. Offer short trainings for developers and operators. Examples and tips ...