What is Secure System Development?

Secure System Developers carry out technical tasks such as thorough technical design, coding, hardware prototype, debugging, and documentation, to provide software or hardware. They adhere to the technical criteria that are laid out, including security needs established by the Security Architecture and Design team. In a smaller organisation, these professionals might also handle some or all of the secure design work while integrating it into the larger framework the Security Architect provides. Although the core of security testing will be done by a security testing practitioner or team, the Secure System Developer will most likely create and execute tests. The average workday of a Secure Systems Developer is typically organised because it is guided by development plans, written specifications, and standards that they must adhere to. However, in the event of a cyber security crisis, SS Developers may be requested on short notice to assist in the diagnosis of a recently discovered vulnerability or to suggest fixes to eliminate it. Those in this pathway might be a part of a formal team that coordinates with other specialised teams, depending on the size and nature of their organisation, or they might work in a smaller, less formal structure where they take on whatever tasks are required. Most of the time, Secure System Developers use an agile development process, which calls for quick yet controlled cycles of development, testing, and implementation.

What are the roles and responsibilities of a Secure System Developer?

Working in this speciality, you will produce information systems that organisations utilise to carry out their objectives while ensuring that such systems don't have vulnerabilities that could create cyber security issues. The tasks likely included in this role as a practitioner are as follows: Interpret requirements to produce hardware or software, then develop that hardware or software using components, tools, processes, and development methodologies that minimise the risk of producing weak spots in the result. Integrate products into more sophisticated systems, such as cloud-based platforms. Design, carry out, and document product testing. If errors are detected, then they are investigated and fixed. Carry out the development and testing using sophisticated platforms, including cloud-based systems. Create product documentation to help system operators, administrators, and, occasionally, end users. Update products frequently in some contexts to answer modification requests.

What is the salary of a Secure System Development Practitioner?

As of September 2022, the median salary for a Secure System Development Practitioner is £45,000, although salaries of £90,000 for senior practitioners have been reported. The majority of the higher salaries are based in the UK’s larger cities, so it is to be expected that roles elsewhere may offer lower wages. Data has been taken from ITJobsWatch (IT Jobs Watch | Real-Time Digital & IT Job Market Trends & Actionable Insights), which calculates the median from job vacancies published online within the last 6 months.

What are the knowledge, skills, and behaviours required in Secure System Development?

Strong knowledge of how to use security software engineering principles throughout the whole lifespan of developing a system, resulting in software that is safe by default. Strong understanding of categories of programming faults known to cause security problems, ways for preventing these errors through improved language design and coding practices, and tools, techniques, and procedures for detecting such errors in existing systems. Significant security expertise in the design, implementation, and deployment of general-purpose and specialised hardware. Good understanding of attacker models, safe-secure designs, and security of large-scale infrastructures, as well as security difficulties in cyber-physical systems such as the Internet of Things and Industrial Control Systems. An awareness of mechanisms for resource sharing and protection within operating systems, including isolation in multi-user systems, safe virtualization, and security in database systems. Knowledgeable about software development. Hardware prototyping and design skills. Version control skills. Complies with data protection laws. Knowledge about cloud development methodologies. Teamwork, problem-solving, and logical thinking skills.

What are the career paths in Secure System Development?

Secure System Developers may be found at several levels in some organisations, from young developers (including apprentices) to senior developers, team leaders, and section managers. However, there are really two levels: junior practitioners and senior practitioners, who can either operate as highly skilled developers or as managers. Secure System Development Practitioner: Tend to perform all of the duties of a developer, according to the goals and guidelines established by management and communicate with them often. May perform a wider range of responsibilities alone as the only secure developer in a small organisation, including developing product requirements, designing them, putting them into practice, and occasionally even providing training and support for users. Like regular software or hardware developers, practitioners typically work in fairly large organisations, as part of a team, on various components of the same products. In these structures, practitioners are likely to have more specifically defined responsibilities and to be primarily focused on development. Secure System Development Senior Practitioner: Will carry out the same set of activities as a practitioner while focusing on more complicated items. May have more managerial duties, in which case they will devote less time to development work.

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Secure System Development

Secure System Development Career Overview