When you create a web app, you have to decide how and when to add security. Here are four common terms people hear:
| Term | What it really means |
|---|---|
| Agile | A fast, short-sprint way to manage work. Great for speed, but it doesn’t tell you which security steps to take. |
| Application threat modeling | A brainstorming session to list possible attacks. Useful, but only one piece of the puzzle. |
| Penetration testing | Ethical hacking done late in the process to find holes that already exist. |
| Secure software development (also called Secure SDLC) | A step-by-step recipe that weaves security tasks into every stage of the project. |
Why “Secure Software Development” Wins
- Security is baked in, not glued on later
- You set security goals while writing requirements.
- You pick the right controls (encryption, strong log-ins, input checks) during design.
- You follow safe-coding rules as you write the code.
- You scan and review the code while it’s still fresh.
- You keep patching and monitoring after launch.
- Fixing problems early is cheap
Catching a flaw in planning might cost minutes; finding it after launch can cost thousands of dollars and lots of customer trust. - Clear road map
Well-known guides—like Microsoft SDL, OWASP SAMM, or NIST’s Secure Software Development Framework—show exactly what to do at each stage. - Complements other tools
Threat modeling and pen tests are still useful, but within a secure-development process they happen at the right time and feed back into better code.
A Simple Analogy
Building software without secure development is like finishing a house and then realizing you forgot locks and smoke detectors. You can add them later, but it’s harder, messier, and more expensive. Secure software development installs those protections while the walls are going up.
Bottom line:
If you want to know which security controls your web app needs—and put them in place smoothly—adopt secure software development from day one. Everything else can still play a part, but this approach gives you the full safety plan, start to finish.
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