SCIENCEOWASP Software Assurance Maturity Model (SAMM) release is the open source software security maturity model used to develop secure software for IT, application and software security technologists. Its mission is to provide an effective and measurable way for organization to analyze and improve secure development lifecycle. SAMM supports the complete software lifecycle and is technology and process agnostic. SAMM is built to be evolutive and risk-driven in nature, as there is no single recipe that works for all organizations.
The Software Assurance Maturity Model (SAMM) is an open framework to help organizations formulate and implement a strategy for software security that is tailored to the specific risks facing the organization. SAMM helps organizations to:
- Evaluate an organization’s existing software security practices
- Build a balanced software security assurance program in well-defined iterations
- Demonstrate concrete improvements to a security assurance program
- Define and measure security-related activities throughout an organization
AppSec programs often face failure when they attempt to sprint before learning to crawl or walk. To avoid such setbacks, it is highly recommended that CISOs and AppSec leadership utilize the OWASP Software Assurance Maturity Model (SAMM). This model enables organizations to identify weaknesses and areas for improvement over a realistic 1-3 year timeframe.
The initial step involves evaluating the organization's current security posture. This evaluation helps identify governance, design, implementation, verification, and operational gaps that need immediate attention, as well as those that can be addressed later. Prioritizing the implementation or enhancement of the fifteen OWASP SAMM security practices is crucial.
By leveraging OWASP SAMM, organizations can effectively measure and build upon their software assurance efforts. This model assists in establishing a roadmap for improvements, ensuring that the organization progresses steadily and measurably towards a stronger security posture.
The OWASP Software Assurance Maturity Model (SAMM) offers several benefits for organizations
- Comprehensive Security Assessment: SAMM provides a comprehensive framework for assessing an organization's software security practices. It covers various dimensions of software assurance, including governance, design, implementation, verification, and operations. This enables organizations to evaluate their current security posture holistically.
- Prioritized Improvement Roadmap: SAMM helps organizations identify weaknesses and areas for improvement through a maturity model approach. It offers a roadmap that prioritizes security practices based on their impact and the organization's current maturity level. This allows organizations to focus their efforts on areas that will yield the most significant security improvements.
- Customizable and Flexible: SAMM is designed to be customizable and adaptable to different organizational contexts, software development methodologies, and compliance requirements. It can be tailored to align with specific industry standards, regulations, or internal security policies, enabling organizations to address their unique security needs effectively.
- Measurable Progress: SAMM enables organizations to measure their progress in improving software assurance over time. By following the maturity model, organizations can track their advancement from one maturity level to the next, providing a clear view of their security journey and enabling the demonstration of continuous improvement to stakeholders.
- Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: OWASP SAMM promotes collaboration and knowledge sharing within organizations. It provides a common language and framework for discussions among stakeholders, including developers, security teams, executives, and auditors. This facilitates better communication and understanding of software security goals and priorities.
- Risk Reduction: By implementing the security practices outlined in SAMM, organizations can effectively reduce the risk of software vulnerabilities and security breaches. The model covers various areas of software assurance, including secure coding practices, threat modeling, security testing, and secure deployment, helping organizations build a robust security foundation.
- Compliance Alignment: SAMM aligns with industry standards and regulations, such as ISO 27001, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, and PCI DSS. Implementing SAMM can assist organizations in meeting compliance requirements by providing a structured approach to software security practices.
- Continuous Improvement Culture: SAMM promotes a culture of continuous improvement in software security. By following the maturity model and regularly assessing and enhancing security practices, organizations can embed security into their software development lifecycle and foster a proactive approach to software assurance.
Overall, implementing OWASP SAMM provides organizations with a structured framework to assess, improve, and measure their software assurance practices. It supports the development of a mature and effective software security program, ultimately leading to reduced security risks and enhanced overall security posture.
[ Download OWASP SAMM ]
References:
https://owaspsamm.org
https://github.com/owaspsamm
https://owasp.org/www-project-samm
https://github.com/owaspsamm/core/releases
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8_Woa9TQ-k