Creating software code is immensely challenging, but once the code is complete and the tests are passed, there is not necessarily a let up. In fact, once your software is ready to be put into action, resting on your laurels might end up entirely inhibiting its success.

Maintaining your business’s software can consist of several different components, each of which we will discuss in this article. You must come up with a solid IR plan. If there are open source components, you must find an open source analysis program. You have to measure metrics and user activity. You have to engage with employees to ensure a smooth operating system. There are so many areas which demand your attention and productivity if you want to make sure your software remains relevant and (most importantly) secure enough to survive.

In many ways, this is all about being proactive rather than reactive. If your organisation is just setting out on its journey, then this article is designed to help you understand what you need to consider in the eventuality of setbacks. We’re going to take you through each of these areas step by step so that, by the end, you will have a clear and concise picture of what your organisation must do before it steps any further.

A Solid IR Plan

An IR plan (which stands for incident recovery) is crucial when it comes to being proactive. Although, yes, it is important to attain a robust and reliable security system, you cannot always 100% guarantee that it will never be breached. In this way, an IR plan is designed to spot an attack as it is taking place and diminish the effects of it.

A cyber attack can easily bring chaos to your systems, so forming a team of people who are assigned to implement an IR response plan is a good idea to avoid your software suffering badly should an incident occur.

Analyse Your Open Source Components

For any organisation which has open source components, finding a way to analyse these components is perhaps the most important thing when it comes to protection and maintenance. Open source analysis is a way to keep your head in the clear and your eye on the ball. Not only will it give you visibility (which is essential when it comes to managing your software and ensuring you are not violating any licences) but it will also help you avoid bugs and security risks, which can be common in both open and closed source softwares.

The only way you can keep your business secure is through understanding exactly what components you are using, which licences you are in compliance with and what vulnerabilities you might face. When you understand this, you are in a far better position to deal with any eventualities which might damage those components and your organisation overall.

Monitoring Users And Metrics

When your software is in action, it is crucial that you monitor the activity. Users are the only indication of how your software is performing and you need to ensure that they are following its best practices. Think of user monitoring as your business taking the role of the policeman. You have set up the software, which acts as the street, and now you have to patrol the vicinity in order to keep everything regulated. This will help you detect suspicious activity, which includes impersonations, privilege abuse and hacking.

As well as this, you should be constantly observing key metrics. Key metrics can help you to rigorously assess your security infrastructure over a prolonged period of time. The software landscape and internet safety procedures are constantly evolving. In this way, you want to be sure you are ahead of the tide and do not relent to a previously assured security system which you have put in place. Defining these metrics can help your organisation stay relevant and safe over the coming years.

Engage With Your Employees

Any business knows that training employees is integral, not least because it could be the difference between a secure and insecure organisation. Opting into a security training curriculum can be a great way to protect your software, as it will drive awareness in your employees and ensure proper coding training for developers.

Just as metrics help you to understand your organisation in the context of the external world, training will need to be done regularly in order to keep up with new external developments. It means that every year you will have a group of people who are familiar with phishing simulations and are well in place to stop any social engineering attacks which could greatly harm your organisation.

Secure Your Future

Although this might sound like a lot to think about, taking the steps to protect your software will only help your business in the next few years. Failing to ensure the security of your software could lead to a variety of bugs and attacks which could prove to be a setback too large to overcome. If you follow the correct steps, you can avert this risk and be proactive in securing your future.