Experience the 4 Outstanding Benefits of Developer Inclusion in Database Security
The reason most organizations experience breaches in database security is due to an over-reliance on traditional IT roles. Too often, security is seen as the sole responsibility of specialized security roles, while developers are segregated to their corner of code creation. This happens because most organizations perceive the roles of developers and cybersecurity personnel as two distinct domains, overlooking the fact that a collaborative approach could greatly improve database security and resilience against threats.
This is why we are advocating for the inclusion of developers in database security. We believe, and will demonstrate, that developer inclusion can dramatically alter your organization's cybersecurity landscape.
We’re going to walk you through:
- Understanding Developer Inclusion in Database Security
- Improved Insulation against Exploits
- Prompt Mitigation of Security Issues
- Foster Growth and Innovation in Security Approaches
This will help your organization fortify its database security, mitigate threats quicker, minimize system vulnerabilities, and innovate security measures. Ultimately, this will save your organization from costly breaches and customer trust erosion.
Now, let us delve into our first main point.
I. Understanding Developer Inclusion in Database Security
Database security gains immensely from the inclusion of developers, dramatically shifting the paradigm of data protection. Though rarely considered, developers understand your system’s architecture better than anyone, equipping them to contribute significantly to your security team's competence. According to Sophos State of Cloud Security 2020, approximately 70% of organizations have experienced a public cloud security incident within the last year. This statistic further illustrates the dire necessity for securing your databases using all available resource and knowledge pools.
The inclusion of developers in your database security team provides a robust security framework, mainly because it enhances skill complementation. However, siloing database security to specific IT roles is a grave mistake that many organizations make. It is essential to promote a collaborative environment where developers are included in discussions about database security. For instance, an e-commerce company reduced the frequency of security breaches by including their developers in discussions about security, enabling them to preemptively tackle potential weaknesses.
In essence, developers play a critical role in ensuring an effective and robust database security framework which takes us to our next point, improved insulation against security exploits.
II. Improved Insulation against Exploits
The technical acumen of developers can help organizations preemptively address potential security exploits. The behind-the-scenes knowledge that developers possess regarding the system’s structure and code intricacies enables them to identify potential vulnerabilities. The 2020 Data Breach Investigations Report from Verizon reveals that 42% of confirmed data breaches are traced back to vulnerabilities that are three or more years old. Early detection of these system vulnerabilities through regular code reviews by developers can drastically reduce this statistic.
Ignoring latent system vulnerabilities is the Achilles heel of many IT departments, making regular code reviews by your developers absolutely paramount. Regular code review by developers from a cybersecurity standpoint will enhance early detection of potential vulnerabilities and their rectification.
Take the example of a tech firm that was able to identify loopholes in its system architecture and address them before hackers could exploit them, all thanks to the developers. This aided in preventing any potential data breach, thereby protecting the firm and its clients.
Proactive examination of potential vulnerabilities can fortify security measures, leveraging developer expertise. This expertise and quick response form a crucial element in our following point - prompt mitigation of security issues.
III. Prompt Mitigation of Security Issues
Developers not only contribute to identifying potential weaknesses but also play a key role in mitigating confirmed security issues. FireEye's M-Trends 2020 report reveals that the average dwell time for threat actors inside networks is about 56 days. This is indeed worrying for any organization. However, with developers included in your cybersecurity team, this dwell time could be significantly reduced, thereby minimizing any potential damage.
An action that cannot be overlooked is reducing the dwell time within the network after an attack, a task that developers are extremely efficient at since they understand the system better. Quick resolution of security issues is made possible as the developers’ tech acumen and familiarity with the system provides much-needed momentum.
A healthcare provider, with developers engaged in its security process, could quickly mitigate a security issue that threatened to expose sensitive health records.
This brings us to our final point, developers not only help in strengthening and defending database security but can also foster growth and innovation in security approaches.
IV. Foster Growth and Innovation in Security Approaches
Developers' inclusion in database security can bring innovative solutions for complex data protection challenges. Encouraging developers to contribute to your organization's security strategies means harnessing their creativity and technical know-how towards adapting to evolving threats. With investments in data security solutions set to cross $170 billion by 2022, according to Statista, innovative, developer-led solutions could give your organization a competitive edge.
Most organizations make the mistake of sticking to traditional, stagnating security methods, allowing hackers to outpace their protection systems. An open communication channel between developers and security personnel could trigger innovation by exchanging ideas from different perspectives.
Consider the case of a company that encouraged idea exchanges with developers, leading to the creation of a new, innovative security tool. This tool significantly improved their data protection, demonstrating that fostering innovation among developers can drastically enhance your organization's database security.
In conclusion, the inclusion of developers in database security frameworks is indispensable for dynamic, robust, and adaptable protection. Give your developers a seat at the cybersecurity table, and you might be surprised at the difference it can make.