What is the main objective of a Software Security Assurance program?

The main objective of a Software Security Assurance program is to establish processes for secure software development. This involves integrating security practices into every phase of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities early in the development process. By doing so, organizations can ensure that security is a fundamental aspect of software design, coding, testing, and deployment.

Incorporating security processes means creating guidelines, standards, and best practices that development teams need to follow to produce secure code. This proactive approach helps in identifying security risks before they manifest into actual threats, thus reducing vulnerabilities within the software once it's released.

While improving project timelines and reducing costs may be beneficial outcomes of implementing secure practices, they are not the primary objective of a Software Security Assurance program. Similarly, eliminating the need for testing and evaluation, or developing software without any documentation, would contradict the fundamental principles of secure development and risk management. Documentation and testing are essential components that contribute to a comprehensive security assurance strategy.