Software Security General Requirements

Software security requirements are essential to protect applications from unauthorized access, data
breaches, and other security threats. These general requirements ensure that security is integrated
into the entire software development lifecycle (SDLC) and is a fundamental part of the software’s
architecture, design, and implementation.

1. Authentication and Authorization

a. Authentication:

 Definition: Ensuring that users and systems are who they claim to be before granting access.

 Requirements:

 Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security.

 Enforce strong password policies, including complexity and expiration rules.

 Securely manage session tokens and cookies to prevent hijacking.

b. Authorization:

 Definition: Determining what authenticated users and systems are allowed to do.

 Requirements:

 Implement role-based access control (RBAC) or attribute-based access control

(ABAC) to ensure users have appropriate permissions.

 Ensure that privilege escalation is tightly controlled and logged.

 Regularly review and update access controls as roles and responsibilities change.

2. Data Protection

a. Data Encryption:

 Definition: Protecting sensitive data by converting it into a secure format.

 Requirements:

 Use strong encryption algorithms (e.g., AES-256) for data at rest and data in transit.

 Securely manage and store encryption keys, ensuring they are accessible only to
authorized entities.

 Ensure end-to-end encryption for sensitive communications, including emails and

APIs.

b. Data Integrity:

 Definition: Ensuring that data is accurate, consistent, and has not been tampered with.

 Requirements:

 Implement checksums or hash functions to verify data integrity.

  Use digital signatures to ensure data authenticity and integrity.

 Implement data validation and sanitization to prevent corruption and injection

attacks.

3. Secure Coding Practices

a. Input Validation:

 Definition: Ensuring that all user inputs are validated before processing.

 Requirements:

 Validate and sanitize all inputs to prevent injection attacks (e.g., SQL injection, XSS).

 Use whitelisting (allowing only known good inputs) rather than blacklisting.

 Implement proper error handling to avoid exposing sensitive information through

error messages.

b. Secure Error Handling:

 Definition: Properly managing errors to prevent information leakage.

 Requirements:

 Provide generic error messages to users, while logging detailed information for
administrators.

 Avoid exposing stack traces or other internal details to end users.

 Implement fail-safe mechanisms to ensure that errors do not compromise security.

c. Resource Management:

 Definition: Managing system resources efficiently and securely.

 Requirements:

 Ensure proper memory management to avoid buffer overflows and memory leaks.

 Securely handle resources like file descriptors and database connections to prevent
resource exhaustion attacks.

 Implement mechanisms to prevent denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, such as rate

limiting and input throttling.

4. Security Testing and Validation

a. Static and Dynamic Analysis:

 Definition: Analyzing code and applications for security vulnerabilities.

 Requirements:

 Use static code analysis tools to identify vulnerabilities in the source code (e.g.,
SonarQube).
  Conduct dynamic application security testing (DAST) to find vulnerabilities in running
applications (e.g., OWASP ZAP).

 Perform regular code reviews with a focus on security.

b. Penetration Testing:

 Definition: Simulating attacks to identify security weaknesses.

 Requirements:

 Conduct regular penetration testing to identify and fix vulnerabilities before they can
be exploited.

 Use both internal and external penetration testers to cover different perspectives.

 Document and remediate any vulnerabilities found during testing.

c. Vulnerability Management:

 Definition: Identifying, assessing, and mitigating vulnerabilities.

 Requirements:

 Maintain an up-to-date inventory of software components and dependencies.

 Regularly scan for known vulnerabilities using automated tools (e.g., Nessus,
OpenVAS).

 Implement a patch management process to ensure vulnerabilities are addressed in a

timely manner.

5. Configuration and Hardening

a. Secure Configuration:

 Definition: Ensuring that software and systems are configured securely by default.

 Requirements:

 Disable unnecessary services, features, and ports to reduce the attack surface.

 Implement secure default settings, requiring explicit action to enable less secure
options.

 Regularly audit configurations to ensure compliance with security policies.

b. System Hardening:

 Definition: Strengthening systems to resist attacks.

 Requirements:

 Apply hardening guides (e.g., CIS Benchmarks) to secure operating systems,

databases, and applications.

 Remove or disable default accounts and passwords.

  Implement firewall rules and intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) to
protect against network-based attacks.

6. Logging and Monitoring

a. Security Logging:

 Definition: Recording security-relevant events for analysis and auditing.

 Requirements:

 Log critical security events, such as authentication attempts, access to sensitive data,
and configuration changes.

 Ensure logs are stored securely and are tamper-evident.

 Regularly review logs for signs of suspicious activity.

b. Continuous Monitoring:

 Definition: Ongoing surveillance of systems to detect and respond to security incidents.

 Requirements:

 Implement real-time monitoring tools to detect intrusions, anomalies, and policy

violations.

 Use security information and event management (SIEM) systems to correlate and
analyze log data.

 Establish an incident response plan to quickly address any detected security events.

7. Compliance and Legal Considerations

a. Regulatory Compliance:

 Definition: Adhering to relevant laws and regulations governing data protection and security.

 Requirements:

 Ensure compliance with data protection laws (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) and industry
standards (e.g., PCI-DSS).

 Regularly audit systems and processes to ensure they meet compliance

requirements.

 Document compliance efforts and maintain evidence for regulatory inspections.

b. Privacy:

 Definition: Protecting the privacy of user data.

 Requirements:

 Implement data minimization practices, collecting only the data necessary for the
intended purpose.

 Provide users with control over their data, including options to view, modify, and
delete their personal information.
  Ensure that data processing complies with privacy laws and that users are informed
about how their data is used.

8. Incident Response and Recovery

a. Incident Response Planning:

 Definition: Preparing for security incidents with a structured response process.

 Requirements:

 Develop and regularly update an incident response plan that defines roles,
responsibilities, and procedures.

 Conduct regular incident response drills and tabletop exercises to ensure readiness.

 Establish communication protocols for notifying stakeholders during an incident.

b. Backup and Recovery:

 Definition: Ensuring that data and systems can be restored after an incident.

 Requirements:

 Implement regular backups of critical data and systems, with encryption and secure
storage of backup media.

 Test backups and recovery procedures regularly to ensure they work as expected.

 Develop a disaster recovery plan that outlines how to restore services and data after
a significant incident.

These general software security requirements form the foundation of a comprehensive security
strategy. By implementing these requirements, organizations can protect their software from a wide
range of threats, ensure compliance with legal and regulatory standards, and maintain the trust of
their users and stakeholders. Security should be integrated throughout the software development
lifecycle to ensure that applications are designed, developed, and deployed with security as a
primary consideration.
Confidentiality Requirements

Confidentiality is one of the core principles of information security, focusing on ensuring that
sensitive data is accessible only to those who are authorized to access it. In the context of software
development, confidentiality requirements are crucial to protect sensitive information from
unauthorized access, disclosure, or leakage.

Below are the key confidentiality requirements for software systems:

1. Data Encryption

a. Encryption at Rest:

 Requirement: Sensitive data stored in databases, file systems, or other storage media must
be encrypted to protect it from unauthorized access.

 Implementation:

 Use strong encryption algorithms (e.g., AES-256) to encrypt data at rest.

 Ensure encryption keys are securely managed and stored separately from the
encrypted data.

b. Encryption in Transit:

 Requirement: Data transmitted over networks must be encrypted to protect it from

interception or eavesdropping.

 Implementation:

 Use Transport Layer Security (TLS) or other secure protocols to encrypt data in
transit.

 Enforce the use of secure connections (e.g., HTTPS) for all communications involving
sensitive data.

2. Access Control

a. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC):

 Requirement: Access to sensitive data should be restricted based on user roles and
responsibilities.

 Implementation:

 Define and implement roles with specific permissions, ensuring users only have
access to the data they need.

 Regularly review and update access controls to reflect changes in user roles or
organizational structure.

b. Least Privilege Principle:

  Requirement: Users and processes should have the minimum level of access necessary to
perform their functions.

 Implementation:

 Restrict access rights to the lowest level necessary and regularly audit access
permissions to ensure compliance.

 Implement mechanisms to enforce least privilege, such as access control lists (ACLs)
and privilege management systems.

c. Segregation of Duties:

 Requirement: Sensitive tasks should be divided among different users or roles to prevent any
single individual from having excessive access.

 Implementation:

 Implement checks and balances within the system to ensure that no single user has
control over critical functions (e.g., access to both production data and the ability to
modify it).

3. Data Masking and Anonymization

a. Data Masking:

 Requirement: Displayed sensitive data should be masked to prevent unauthorized viewing,

especially in non-production environments or user interfaces.

 Implementation:

 Mask sensitive information (e.g., credit card numbers, Social Security numbers)
when displayed, showing only partial information (e.g., last four digits).

 Use dynamic data masking techniques to obscure data based on user roles or
contexts.

b. Data Anonymization:

 Requirement: Personal data should be anonymized or pseudonymized where possible to

protect individuals' identities.

 Implementation:

 Implement anonymization techniques to remove or obfuscate personal identifiers in

datasets.

 Ensure that anonymized data cannot be easily re-identified.

4. Secure Authentication Mechanisms

a. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):

 Requirement: Sensitive systems and data should be protected by multi-factor authentication

to prevent unauthorized access.

 Implementation:
  Require users to authenticate using two or more factors (e.g., password, biometric,
security token) before accessing sensitive data.

 Implement MFA for critical systems, administrative access, and remote access.

b. Strong Password Policies:

 Requirement: Passwords used to access sensitive data should meet strong complexity and
length requirements.

 Implementation:

 Enforce password policies that require complex passwords (e.g., minimum length,
use of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters).

 Implement password expiration and reuse policies to enhance security.

5. Secure Logging and Monitoring

a. Logging of Access to Sensitive Data:

 Requirement: All access to sensitive data should be logged and monitored to detect
unauthorized access attempts.

 Implementation:

 Ensure that access to sensitive data is logged with details such as the user ID, time of
access, and the type of access.

 Store logs securely and protect them from tampering.

b. Monitoring and Alerts:

 Requirement: Implement real-time monitoring and alerting for unauthorized access or

suspicious activity involving sensitive data.

 Implementation:

 Use intrusion detection systems (IDS) and security information and event
management (SIEM) tools to monitor access logs and generate alerts for suspicious
activities.

 Set up automated alerts for unusual access patterns, such as access outside normal
hours or from unfamiliar IP addresses.

6. Data Retention and Disposal

a. Data Retention Policies:

 Requirement: Define and enforce data retention policies to ensure that sensitive data is
retained only as long as necessary.

 Implementation:

 Implement data lifecycle management processes to archive or delete data according

to the defined retention schedule.

 Ensure that archived data is securely stored and protected.

b. Secure Data Disposal:

 Requirement: Sensitive data must be securely deleted when it is no longer needed to

prevent unauthorized recovery.

 Implementation:

 Use secure deletion methods, such as data wiping or shredding, to permanently

remove sensitive data from storage media.

 Ensure that backup copies of sensitive data are also securely deleted when no longer
needed.

7. Privacy and Compliance

a. Compliance with Privacy Regulations:

 Requirement: Ensure that the handling of sensitive data complies with relevant privacy laws
and regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA).

 Implementation:

 Implement processes to ensure that data collection, processing, and storage comply
with legal requirements.

 Provide users with the ability to manage their data, including access, correction, and
deletion requests, in compliance with privacy regulations.

b. User Consent and Data Handling:

 Requirement: Obtain explicit user consent for collecting, using, and sharing sensitive data,
and handle the data according to user preferences.

 Implementation:

 Implement mechanisms for obtaining and managing user consent, including easy-to-
understand consent forms and options for users to withdraw consent.

 Ensure that data handling practices are transparent and communicated to users.

8. Secure API Management

a. API Security:

 Requirement: APIs that expose sensitive data must be secured to prevent unauthorized
access and data breaches.

 Implementation:

 Use API gateways to enforce security policies, such as authentication, authorization,

and rate limiting.

 Encrypt data transmitted via APIs using TLS and implement strong authentication
mechanisms, such as OAuth.

b. Access Control for APIs:

 Requirement: Restrict API access to authorized users and applications only.

  Implementation:

 Implement access controls at the API level, ensuring that only authorized users and
systems can access sensitive data.

 Monitor API usage and generate alerts for unauthorized access attempts.

Confidentiality requirements are fundamental to protecting sensitive information in software

systems. By implementing strong encryption, access control, data masking, secure authentication,
and compliance practices, organizations can ensure that sensitive data remains confidential and
protected from unauthorized access or disclosure. These requirements should be integrated
throughout the software development lifecycle to ensure that confidentiality is a primary
consideration from the outset.
Integrity Requirements

Software integrity is crucial to ensure that data and code remain accurate, consistent, and unaltered,
both during processing and storage. Integrity requirements focus on protecting the software and its
data from unauthorized modification or corruption, ensuring that the system behaves as intended
and that the data it processes and stores remains trustworthy.

1. Data Integrity

a. Hashing:

 Requirement: Use cryptographic hash functions to ensure data integrity during storage and
transmission.

 Implementation:

 Implement hashing algorithms (e.g., SHA-256) to generate unique hash values for
data.

 Verify the integrity of data by comparing its current hash value with the original hash
value.

b. Checksums:

 Requirement: Use checksums to detect accidental changes to data.

 Implementation:

 Apply checksums to files or data blocks, and validate them periodically to ensure no
corruption has occurred during storage or transmission.

 Use checksums for file integrity verification during software updates or downloads.

c. Digital Signatures:

 Requirement: Use digital signatures to ensure data integrity and authenticity.

 Implementation:

 Sign data or documents with a digital signature to ensure they haven’t been
tampered with.

 Validate digital signatures to verify the integrity and authenticity of the data.

d. Database Integrity:

 Requirement: Ensure the integrity of data stored in databases.

 Implementation:

 Implement database constraints (e.g., foreign keys, unique constraints) to maintain

data integrity.

 Use transaction controls (e.g., ACID properties: Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation,

Durability) to ensure that database transactions are processed reliably.
2. Code Integrity

a. Source Code Integrity:

 Requirement: Ensure that the source code remains unchanged and untampered throughout
the development lifecycle.

 Implementation:

 Use version control systems (e.g., Git) to track changes to the source code and
maintain an audit trail of modifications.

 Implement code signing to verify the integrity of the source code before it is
deployed or executed.

b. Software Integrity Verification:

 Requirement: Verify the integrity of software binaries before execution.

 Implementation:

 Use integrity verification tools to check the integrity of software binaries against
known-good versions or cryptographic hashes.

 Implement secure boot mechanisms to verify the integrity of the operating system
and application software during startup.

c. Code Reviews:

 Requirement: Regularly review code to identify and rectify potential integrity issues.

 Implementation:

 Conduct peer code reviews with a focus on ensuring that the code is free from
vulnerabilities or unauthorized changes.

 Use automated tools to perform static code analysis to detect integrity issues in the
codebase.

3. Configuration Integrity

a. Secure Configuration Management:

 Requirement: Ensure that software configurations remain consistent and untampered.

 Implementation:

 Use configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet) to enforce secure

configurations and track changes.

 Implement configuration baselining to ensure that the system configuration matches

the approved baseline.

b. Integrity Monitoring:
  Requirement: Continuously monitor configuration files and system settings for unauthorized
changes.

 Implementation:

 Use integrity monitoring tools (e.g., Tripwire) to detect unauthorized changes to

configuration files or system settings.

 Set up alerts to notify administrators of any unauthorized modifications to critical

configurations.

4. Transaction Integrity

a. Secure Transactions:

 Requirement: Ensure that all transactions are processed securely and without corruption.

 Implementation:

 Implement transaction logging to capture details of each transaction, providing a

traceable history of actions taken by the system.

 Use strong input validation to ensure that only valid data is processed in
transactions.

b. Data Validation:

 Requirement: Validate all inputs and outputs to ensure the integrity of data in transactions.

 Implementation:

 Implement strict data validation rules to prevent the processing of corrupted or

malicious data.

 Ensure that data is validated both at the client-side (if applicable) and server-side to
prevent tampering.

5. Backup and Recovery

a. Data Backups:

 Requirement: Regularly back up data to ensure it can be restored to a known-good state in

case of corruption or loss.

 Implementation:

 Implement automated backup processes that regularly back up critical data,

ensuring that backups are complete and stored securely.

 Use integrity checks on backup data to ensure that it remains uncorrupted and can
be reliably restored.

b. Disaster Recovery:
  Requirement: Implement disaster recovery plans to restore systems and data to a consistent
and unaltered state.

 Implementation:

 Develop and regularly test disaster recovery plans that outline steps to restore
systems and data after a security incident or failure.

 Ensure that recovery processes include integrity checks to verify the integrity of
restored data and systems.

6. Integrity Monitoring and Alerts

a. File Integrity Monitoring (FIM):

 Requirement: Monitor critical files and system components for unauthorized changes.

 Implementation:

 Deploy file integrity monitoring tools that continuously check critical files for
unauthorized modifications, alerting administrators to any changes.

 Implement regular integrity scans to ensure that system files and configurations
remain consistent with approved baselines.

b. Anomaly Detection:

 Requirement: Detect and respond to anomalies that could indicate integrity breaches.

 Implementation:

 Use security information and event management (SIEM) systems to correlate data
from multiple sources and detect anomalies that might indicate integrity issues.

 Set up automated alerts to notify security teams of suspicious activity that could
compromise system or data integrity.

7. Compliance and Auditability

a. Audit Trails:

 Requirement: Maintain detailed logs of all activities that could affect the integrity of the
system or data.

 Implementation:

 Implement logging mechanisms that capture all relevant events, including changes
to data, configurations, and code.

 Ensure that logs are protected from tampering and are retained according to
compliance requirements.

b. Compliance with Standards:

  Requirement: Ensure that software integrity measures comply with industry standards and
regulations.

 Implementation:

 Adhere to integrity requirements specified by standards such as ISO 27001, PCI-DSS,

or NIST.

 Regularly audit systems and processes to ensure they meet required integrity
standards.

Ensuring software integrity is essential for maintaining trust in the system and its data. By
implementing these integrity requirements, organizations can protect against unauthorized changes,
ensure that data remains accurate and unaltered, and build systems that are reliable and secure.
Integrity requirements should be integrated into every stage of the software development lifecycle to
ensure that both the code and the data it processes are protected from tampering and corruption.
Availability Requirements

Software availability refers to ensuring that a system is operational and accessible when needed.
Availability requirements focus on minimizing downtime, ensuring quick recovery from failures, and
maintaining continuous access to the software and its services.

1. System Redundancy

a. Hardware Redundancy:

 Requirement: Implement redundant hardware components to eliminate single points of

failure.

 Implementation:

 Use redundant power supplies, network interfaces, and storage systems to ensure
that a hardware failure does not lead to system downtime.

 Deploy failover clusters that automatically switch to backup hardware in case of a

failure.

b. Software Redundancy:

 Requirement: Ensure that critical software components have redundant instances to avoid
downtime in case of failure.

 Implementation:

 Use load balancing to distribute traffic across multiple servers or application

instances.

 Implement active-passive or active-active configurations for critical software

components to ensure that a backup instance can take over if the primary fails.

2. Fault Tolerance

a. Fault-Tolerant Architecture:

 Requirement: Design the system to continue operating correctly even if some components
fail.

 Implementation:

 Use fault-tolerant hardware and software that can detect and compensate for
failures without disrupting the overall system.

 Implement error detection and correction mechanisms to handle faults at both the
hardware and software levels.

b. Graceful Degradation:

 Requirement: Ensure the system can maintain partial functionality in the event of a
component failure.
  Implementation:

 Design the system to degrade gracefully, maintaining critical functions even if non-
essential components fail.

 Implement fallback mechanisms that allow the system to continue operating with
reduced functionality until full service can be restored.

3. High Availability (HA) Configuration

a. Clustering:

 Requirement: Use clustering techniques to increase the availability of critical services.

 Implementation:

 Implement clustered systems where multiple servers work together to provide a

continuous service, with automatic failover to a backup server in case the primary
server fails.

 Use database clustering for high availability of data storage, ensuring that the
database remains accessible even if one node fails.

b. Load Balancing:

 Requirement: Distribute workloads evenly across multiple servers to avoid overloading any
single server and ensure continuous service.

 Implementation:

 Deploy load balancers that can dynamically route traffic to the least loaded servers,
ensuring optimal performance and availability.

 Use load balancers to automatically reroute traffic to healthy servers in case of a

server failure.

4. Backup and Recovery

a. Regular Data Backups:

 Requirement: Ensure that all critical data is regularly backed up and can be quickly restored
in the event of a failure.

 Implementation:

 Implement automated backup processes with a schedule that matches the criticality
of the data, such as daily backups for critical systems.

 Store backups in multiple locations, including off-site or cloud storage, to protect

against localized failures.

b. Disaster Recovery Plan:

  Requirement: Develop and maintain a disaster recovery plan to restore system functionality
after a major failure or disaster.

 Implementation:

 Regularly test the disaster recovery plan to ensure that systems can be quickly
restored to operational status following a disruption.

 Include recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO) in the
disaster recovery plan to guide the recovery process.

5. Continuous Monitoring and Alerts

a. Real-Time Monitoring:

 Requirement: Continuously monitor the system’s health and performance to detect and
address issues before they lead to downtime.

 Implementation:

 Use monitoring tools to track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as CPU usage,
memory usage, disk space, and network traffic.

 Implement synthetic monitoring to simulate user transactions and ensure that

services are accessible.

b. Automated Alerts:

 Requirement: Set up automated alerts to notify administrators of any issues that could affect
availability.

 Implementation:

 Configure alerts for critical metrics, such as server downtime, application errors, or
failed backups.

 Use escalation policies to ensure that alerts are addressed promptly, with
notifications sent to higher-level support if initial responses are not timely.

6. Performance Optimization

a. Scalability:

 Requirement: Ensure the system can scale to handle increased load without affecting
availability.

 Implementation:

 Implement horizontal scaling to add more servers or instances as demand increases.

 Use auto-scaling features in cloud environments to automatically adjust resources

based on real-time demand.

b. Performance Tuning:
  Requirement: Optimize system performance to ensure that it meets availability targets
under peak load conditions.

 Implementation:

 Regularly review and optimize application code, database queries, and system
configurations to improve performance.

 Use caching mechanisms, such as in-memory caching, to reduce the load on critical
systems and improve response times.

7. Service Level Agreements (SLAs)

a. SLA Definition:

 Requirement: Define clear SLAs that specify availability targets and the consequences of
failing to meet those targets.

 Implementation:

 Establish SLAs with clear metrics, such as uptime percentage, response time, and
maximum allowable downtime.

 Ensure that SLAs are communicated to all stakeholders, and regularly review and
update them as needed.

b. SLA Monitoring:

 Requirement: Continuously monitor the system to ensure compliance with SLAs.

 Implementation:

 Use monitoring tools to track availability metrics and generate reports that compare
actual performance against SLA targets.

 Implement corrective actions when SLA thresholds are breached to prevent future
violations.

8. Maintenance and Patch Management

a. Scheduled Maintenance:

 Requirement: Plan and execute maintenance activities without affecting system availability.

 Implementation:

 Schedule maintenance during off-peak hours or periods of low usage to minimize

disruption.

 Use rolling updates or blue-green deployment strategies to update systems without

downtime.

b. Patch Management:
  Requirement: Regularly apply security patches and updates to maintain system availability
and security.

 Implementation:

 Implement an automated patch management system that tests and applies patches
in a controlled manner.

 Ensure that patches are applied promptly to protect against vulnerabilities that could
lead to downtime.

9. Security and Availability

a. DDoS Protection:

 Requirement: Protect the system from Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks that can
overwhelm resources and cause downtime.

 Implementation:

 Use DDoS mitigation services that detect and block malicious traffic before it reaches
the application.

 Implement rate limiting and traffic filtering to protect against smaller-scale denial of
service attacks.

b. Access Control:

 Requirement: Ensure that unauthorized access does not compromise system availability.

 Implementation:

 Implement strong authentication and authorization controls to prevent unauthorized

users from disrupting services.

 Monitor access logs for signs of unauthorized access attempts that could impact
availability.

10. Documentation and Training

a. Documentation:

 Requirement: Maintain detailed documentation of all processes related to system

availability.

 Implementation:

 Document procedures for handling failures, performing backups, and executing the
disaster recovery plan.

 Ensure that all documentation is kept up to date and accessible to relevant

personnel.

b. Training:
  Requirement: Provide regular training to personnel on maintaining and improving system
availability.

 Implementation:

 Train staff on the use of monitoring tools, troubleshooting techniques, and recovery
procedures.

 Conduct regular drills and simulations to ensure readiness in case of an availability-

related incident.

Availability requirements are essential to ensure that software systems remain operational and
accessible when needed. By implementing redundancy, fault tolerance, high availability
configurations, continuous monitoring, and effective maintenance practices, organizations can
minimize downtime and ensure that their systems meet availability targets. These requirements
should be integrated into the software design and development process to ensure that availability is
a core consideration throughout the system's lifecycle.
Security Requirements Traceability Matrix

A Security Requirements Traceability Matrix (SRTM) is a tool used to ensure that all security
requirements are addressed throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC). It helps map
security requirements to design, implementation, testing, and validation, ensuring that every
requirement is accounted for, tracked, and verified. This matrix is essential for ensuring that security
considerations are integrated into the project and that there is a clear path from requirements to
implementation and testing.

Components of a Security Requirements Traceability Matrix (SRTM)

1. Requirement ID: A unique identifier for each security requirement.

2. Security Requirement Description: A detailed description of the security requirement.

3. Source: The origin of the requirement, such as a regulatory standard (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA),
internal policy, or stakeholder need.

4. Priority: The importance of the requirement, often categorized as High, Medium, or Low.

5. Implementation Reference: A reference to the specific design or implementation elements

(e.g., code modules, configurations) that address the requirement.

6. Verification Method: How the requirement will be verified, such as through testing, code
review, or audit.

7. Test Case/Procedure: A reference to the specific test cases or procedures used to validate
that the requirement has been met.

8. Status: The current status of the requirement, such as "Not Started," "In Progress,"
"Completed," or "Verified."

9. Comments/Notes: Any additional information or context relevant to the requirement.

Example of a Security Requirements Traceability Matrix

<<Check Attached>>

Steps to Create a Security Requirements Traceability Matrix (SRTM)

1. Identify Security Requirements:

 Gather all security requirements from various sources such as regulatory standards,
internal policies, stakeholder inputs, and threat modeling exercises.

 Assign a unique ID to each requirement for easy tracking.

2. Document Implementation References:

  For each requirement, document where and how it will be implemented in the
system design, architecture, or codebase. This ensures that there is a clear plan for
addressing each requirement.

3. Define Verification Methods:

 Determine how each requirement will be verified. This could include code reviews,
automated testing, manual testing, security audits, or penetration testing.

 Specify the test cases or procedures that will be used to validate the requirement.

4. Track Progress:

 Update the status of each requirement as the project progresses. This helps in
monitoring which requirements have been completed, are in progress, or are yet to
be started.

 Regularly review the matrix to ensure all security requirements are being addressed.

5. Communicate and Review:

 Share the SRTM with all relevant stakeholders, including developers, testers, project
managers, and security teams.

 Conduct periodic reviews to ensure that the matrix is up-to-date and that all
requirements are being tracked and verified properly.

Benefits of Using an SRTM

 Accountability: Ensures that all security requirements are explicitly addressed and not
overlooked during development.

 Traceability: Provides a clear link between requirements, implementation, and verification,

making it easier to track the fulfillment of security objectives.

 Transparency: Enhances visibility into the security aspects of a project, allowing stakeholders
to see how security requirements are being implemented and tested.

 Compliance: Helps in demonstrating compliance with security standards and regulations by

showing that all necessary requirements have been met.

A Security Requirements Traceability Matrix is a powerful tool for managing and tracking the
implementation of security requirements throughout the software development lifecycle. It ensures
that security is not just an afterthought but an integral part of the development process, leading to
more secure and compliant software systems.