Security Standards

Security Validation Requirements

MANDATORY: ALL security checks must pass before any production readiness claims.

Security Gate Status

• 100% pass rate on all security scans and vulnerability assessments is MANDATORY
• Security validation results must be verified and documented
• No production readiness claims without explicit security confirmation

OWASP Top 10 Compliance

A01: Broken Access Control

• Authentication Testing: All login/logout flows tested with valid/invalid credentials
• Authorization Testing: Role-based access control (RBAC) verified for all endpoints
• Session Management: Session timeout, invalidation, and concurrent session handling tested
• Privilege Escalation: Tests for horizontal and vertical privilege escalation attempts
• Direct Object References: All resource access validated against user permissions

A02: Cryptographic Failures

• Data in Transit: All sensitive data encrypted using TLS 1.2+ with proper cipher suites
• Data at Rest: Sensitive data encrypted in databases and file storage
• Password Storage: Passwords hashed using bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2 (minimum 12 rounds)
• API Keys/Secrets: All secrets stored in secure vaults (Azure Key Vault, AWS Secrets Manager, etc.)
• Cryptographic Standards: Use industry-standard algorithms (AES-256, RSA-2048+, ECDSA P-256+)

A03: Injection Attacks

• SQL Injection: Parameterized queries/ORM usage verified, no dynamic SQL construction
• NoSQL Injection: Input validation for NoSQL databases (MongoDB, etc.)
• Command Injection: OS command execution with proper input sanitization
• LDAP/XPath Injection: Directory service query protection
• Input Validation: Server-side validation for all user inputs with allowlist approach

A04: Insecure Design

• Security by Design: Security requirements defined in architecture documentation
• Threat Modeling: STRIDE or similar methodology applied to critical components
• Security Controls: Defense in depth with multiple security layers
• Secure Defaults: All configurations secure by default (fail securely)
• Business Logic Security: Critical business flows protected against manipulation

A05: Security Misconfiguration

• Default Credentials: No default passwords or accounts in production
• Error Handling: Generic error messages that don't reveal system information
• HTTP Headers: Security headers implemented (HSTS, CSP, X-Frame-Options, etc.)
• Directory Listing: Web server directory browsing disabled
• Unnecessary Features: Unused services, ports, and features disabled

A06: Vulnerable and Outdated Components

• Dependency Scanning: Automated vulnerability scanning for all dependencies
• Version Management: All components updated to latest stable, secure versions
• License Compliance: Third-party component licenses verified and documented
• Supply Chain Security: Component integrity verification (checksums, signatures)
• Inventory Management: Complete inventory of all components and versions

A07: Identification and Authentication Failures

• Multi-Factor Authentication: MFA implemented for administrative and sensitive accounts
• Password Policy: Strong password requirements (length, complexity, history)
• Account Lockout: Brute force protection with progressive delays
• Session Security: Secure session tokens with proper entropy and rotation
• Credential Recovery: Secure password reset and account recovery processes

A08: Software and Data Integrity Failures

• Code Signing: Application binaries digitally signed
• CI/CD Security: Build pipeline security with signed commits and protected branches
• Dependency Integrity: Package integrity verification (npm audit, package-lock.json)
• Update Mechanisms: Secure automatic update processes
• Backup Integrity: Backup verification and tamper detection

A09: Security Logging and Monitoring Failures

• Security Events: All authentication, authorization, and security events logged
• Log Protection: Logs stored securely with integrity protection
• Monitoring: Real-time security monitoring and alerting
• Incident Response: Documented incident response procedures
• Audit Trail: Complete audit trail for all security-relevant actions

A10: Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)

• Input Validation: URL validation and allowlist for external requests
• Network Segmentation: Internal services isolated from user-controlled requests
• Response Filtering: Sensitive internal responses filtered from user output
• DNS Resolution: DNS rebinding protection implemented
• Internal Access: Internal service access properly authenticated and authorized

SOC 2 Type II Compliance Requirements

Security (Common Criteria)

• Access Controls: Logical and physical access controls documented and implemented
• System Boundaries: Clear definition of system boundaries and data flow
• Risk Assessment: Annual risk assessments with documented remediation plans
• Vendor Management: Third-party vendor security assessments and contracts
• Incident Management: Security incident response procedures and documentation

Availability

• System Monitoring: 24/7 system monitoring with automated alerts
• Backup Procedures: Regular automated backups with tested restoration procedures
• Disaster Recovery: Documented disaster recovery plan with RTO/RPO targets
• Capacity Planning: Performance monitoring and capacity management
• Change Management: Formal change management process for system modifications

Processing Integrity

• Data Validation: Input validation and data integrity checks
• Error Handling: Comprehensive error handling and logging
• System Processing: Accurate and complete transaction processing
• Data Quality: Data quality controls and validation procedures
• Batch Processing: Controls for batch job processing and reconciliation

Confidentiality (if applicable)

• Data Classification: Sensitive data identified and classified
• Access Controls: Confidential data access restricted to authorized personnel
• Data Handling: Secure data handling procedures throughout data lifecycle
• Data Transmission: Encrypted transmission of confidential data
• Data Disposal: Secure data destruction procedures

Privacy (if applicable)

• Privacy Notice: Clear privacy policies and data collection notices
• Consent Management: User consent collection and management procedures
• Data Minimization: Collection limited to necessary data only
• Data Retention: Defined data retention periods with automated deletion
• Data Subject Rights: Procedures for handling data subject requests

Dependency Security Requirements

NPM Package Security

• Vulnerability Scanning: npm audit must pass with zero high/critical vulnerabilities
• Package Verification: Verify package integrity using package-lock.json
• Dependency Updates: Regular dependency updates with security patch priority
• License Compliance: All NPM packages must have compatible licenses
• Supply Chain Security: Use npm ci for production deployments

NuGet Package Security

• Vulnerability Scanning: NuGet vulnerability scanning with zero high/critical issues
• Package Sources: Only trusted NuGet sources (nuget.org, private feeds)
• Package Verification: Package signature verification enabled
• License Compliance: All NuGet packages must have compatible licenses
• Version Pinning: Exact version pinning for production dependencies

General Dependency Management

• SBOM Generation: Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) generated for all releases
• Dependency Review: Manual review required for new dependencies
• Security Advisories: Subscribe to security advisories for all used technologies
• Automated Updates: Dependabot or similar for automated security updates
• Dependency Isolation: Use containers or virtual environments for dependency isolation

Additional Security Best Practices

Secure Development Lifecycle (SDL)

• Security Training: Regular security training for all developers
• Code Review: Security-focused code reviews for all changes
• Static Analysis: SAST tools integrated into CI/CD pipeline
• Dynamic Analysis: DAST tools for runtime security testing
• Penetration Testing: Regular external penetration testing

Infrastructure Security

• Container Security: Container image scanning and runtime security
• Network Security: Network segmentation and firewall rules
• Cloud Security: Cloud security posture management (CSPM)
• Secrets Management: No hardcoded secrets, use secret management systems
• Certificate Management: Automated certificate lifecycle management

Data Protection

• Data Encryption: AES-256 encryption for data at rest and in transit
• Key Management: Hardware Security Modules (HSM) or cloud key management
• Data Loss Prevention: DLP tools and policies implemented
• Data Masking: Sensitive data masked in non-production environments
• Data Retention: Automated data retention and deletion policies

Security Metrics and Thresholds

Vulnerability Management

Severity	Resolution Time	Tolerance	Red Flag
Critical	24 hours	48 hours	> 72 hours 🚨
High	7 days	14 days	> 30 days ⚠️
Medium	30 days	60 days	> 90 days 📋
Low	90 days	180 days	> 1 year 📝

Security Testing Coverage

Test Type	Target	Tolerance	Red Flag
SAST Coverage	100% of code	95%+	< 90% 🚨
Dependency Scan	100% of packages	100%	< 100% 🔥
OWASP Top 10	100% tested	100%	< 100% ⚠️
Security Unit Tests	90%+ coverage	80%+	< 70% 📋

Compliance Metrics

Requirement	Target	Tolerance	Red Flag
SOC 2 Controls	100% implemented	95%+	< 90% 🚨
Security Incidents	0 unresolved	1-2 open	> 3 open 🔥
Audit Findings	0 high/critical	1-2 medium	> 2 high ⚠️
Compliance Score	95%+	90%+	< 85% 📋

Communication Guidelines

NEVER claim production readiness without:

• Explicit confirmation that ALL security scans are passing
• Evidence of vulnerability assessment results
• Verification of OWASP Top 10 compliance
• Confirmation of SOC 2 control implementation
• Documentation of security testing coverage

Instead of saying "secure" or "production ready," use specific language:

• "Security scans passing but requires [specific security review] before production"
• "OWASP compliant but needs [penetration testing/security audit] validation"
• "Dependency vulnerabilities resolved but requires [manual security review]"
• "Security controls implemented but needs [compliance verification] before production"
• "Meets security baseline but requires [SOC 2 audit/security assessment] for production"

Implementation Checklist

Pre-Production Security Requirements

• All security scans passing with zero high/critical vulnerabilities
• Security validation results documented and verified
• No security findings blocking production deployment
• Security testing coverage confirmed

OWASP Top 10 Validation

• A01 - Broken Access Control: Authentication/authorization testing completed
• A02 - Cryptographic Failures: Encryption standards implemented and verified
• A03 - Injection: Input validation and parameterized queries verified
• A04 - Insecure Design: Security by design principles implemented
• A05 - Security Misconfiguration: Secure defaults and configurations verified
• A06 - Vulnerable Components: Dependency scanning completed with zero high/critical issues
• A07 - Authentication Failures: MFA and secure authentication implemented
• A08 - Software Integrity: Code signing and CI/CD security verified
• A09 - Logging/Monitoring: Security logging and monitoring implemented
• A10 - SSRF: Server-side request forgery protections implemented

SOC 2 Control Implementation

• Security Controls: Access controls and system boundaries documented
• Availability Controls: Monitoring, backup, and disaster recovery implemented
• Processing Integrity: Data validation and error handling verified
• Confidentiality Controls: Data classification and access restrictions implemented (if applicable)
• Privacy Controls: Privacy policies and consent management implemented (if applicable)
• Annual risk assessment completed with documented remediation
• Vendor security assessments completed
• Incident response procedures documented and tested

Dependency Security Verification

• NPM Packages: npm audit passing with zero high/critical vulnerabilities
• NuGet Packages: NuGet vulnerability scanning completed with zero high/critical issues
• Package integrity verification (checksums, signatures) completed
• All dependencies updated to latest stable, secure versions
• License compliance verified for all packages
• SBOM (Software Bill of Materials) generated
• Dependency review completed for new packages
• Automated security updates configured (Dependabot/similar)

Infrastructure Security

• Container security scanning completed (if applicable)
• Network security and firewall rules configured
• Cloud security posture management implemented (if applicable)
• Certificate management automated
• Secrets management system implemented (no hardcoded secrets)
• Environment isolation verified

Security Testing Completion

• SAST (Static Analysis): 100% code coverage with zero high/critical findings
• DAST (Dynamic Analysis): Runtime security testing completed
• Penetration Testing: External penetration testing completed (if required)
• Security Code Review: Manual security-focused code review completed
• Security unit tests implemented with 90%+ coverage

Data Protection Verification

• Data encryption implemented (AES-256 for data at rest and in transit)
• Key management system implemented (HSM/cloud key management)
• Data loss prevention tools configured
• Data masking implemented in non-production environments
• Automated data retention and deletion policies implemented

Compliance and Documentation

• Security documentation complete and current
• Compliance requirements mapped and verified
• Security training completed for all team members
• Incident response plan documented and tested
• Security metrics meet defined thresholds
• No red flag security indicators present

Vulnerability Management

• Critical vulnerabilities: Resolved within 24-48 hours
• High vulnerabilities: Resolved within 7-14 days
• Medium vulnerabilities: Resolved within 30-60 days
• Low vulnerabilities: Resolved within 90-180 days
• Vulnerability resolution timeline documented

Communication and Sign-off

• Security results documented with evidence
• Security limitations or caveats clearly stated
• Specific language used (no premature "secure" claims)
• Security gaps identified and remediation plan documented
• Security review sign-off obtained from security team/officer

Key Security Principles

• Security is integrated throughout the development lifecycle, not added at the end
• All security controls must be tested and verified, not just implemented
• Security findings must be resolved before production deployment
• Compliance requirements are minimum standards, not maximum security
• Security monitoring and incident response are ongoing operational requirements
• Regular security assessments and updates are mandatory, not optional
• Defense in depth requires multiple layers of security controls
• Security by design ensures secure defaults and fail-safe mechanisms