5 essential security strategies for modern development

More than half (54%) of IT decision-makers from federal civilian agencies cited security concerns as their primary roadblock to embracing cloud-native software development, according to our recent Federal Software Reimagined report.

When implemented properly, cloud-native setups provide robust security options that offer better resilience and adapt faster to the dynamic nature of modern applications.

Watch the video below to hear from our industry experts as they explore ways to keep pace with evolving software development trends—including AI, cloud, and open source.

To maximize cloud-native benefits while minimizing its risks, agencies should:

• Shift security left in the development cycle: Consider security at the beginning of the development process, not the end. Adopting Agile and DevSecOps methodologies early aligns better with the fast-moving nature of AI and cloud technology.
• Modernize procurement processes: Use modular contracting to break down projects into small, fast-to-execute contracts to keep pace with the pace of technology evolution. And within those contracts, include a Statement of Objectives (rather than a Statement of Work) that focuses on outcomes and allows flexibility to pivot.
• Add open-source software thoughtfully: Evaluate your open-source technology using key criteria such as the existence of community and support; security, performance, and longevity; and compatibility with the agency’s existing IT ecosystem.
• Build cloud-native architectures: Use containerization, serverless architectures, and Infrastructure as Code as default practices, and design with portability in mind across multi-cloud or hybrid environments.
• Establish AI governance: Develop guidelines that ensure there’s always a human in the loop to validate the output of AI models.