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Ensuring software security through automated code analysis
The landscape of bespoke software development has evolved rapidly over recent years. With a rising number of cyber security threats and data breaches, the demand for secure and high-quality custom written software becomes increasingly important. So, ensuring software security is a top priority for developers.
One effective method of ensuring software security is the use of automated code analysis.
The role of automated code analysis in software security
Automated code analysis is the process of using build automation tools to automatically review, analyse, and evaluate the source code of a software application to identify potential security vulnerabilities and coding issues. This automated process plays a significant role in ensuring software security through the following ways:
- Detecting and eliminating vulnerabilities
- Enforcing coding standards
- Reducing human error
- Accelerating the development process
- Continuous monitoring
Let’s take a look in more detail…
Detecting and eliminating vulnerabilities
Automated code analysis tools can quickly identify potential vulnerabilities in the source code that could be exploited by cybercriminals, from memory leaks or buffer overflows, to SQL injection. Software developers can resolve these issues before they become a threat, by identifying them early in the software development process.
Enforcing coding standards
With automation, developers can build custom written software to comply with industry coding standards and regulations. Following best coding practice ensures consistent and maintainable code. This also helps prevent security issues that might arise from poorly written or structured code.
Reducing human error
Since the process is automated, it eliminates the possibility of human error in manual code review. Human reviewers can overlook vulnerabilities, whereas automated tools are designed to catch them consistently.
Accelerating the development process
Automated code analysis saves time by quickly identifying vulnerabilities and offering suggested fixes. This allows developers to address software security concerns without slowing down the software development process.
Continuous monitoring
Developers that use software automation use Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) tools to ensure that applications are constantly being checked and reviewed during the software development process.
Automated code analysis can be integrated into the CI/CD pipeline, which means that the code is constantly being reviewed and analysed for vulnerabilities as it is updated and deployed.
The benefits of software automation in the software development process
Software automation has become an essential component of the software development process. It helps organisations streamline and optimise their development workflows, resulting in better quality software and faster time-to-market.
There are several benefits of implementing software automation into the development process:
- Improved efficiency: software automation reduces manual tasks, freeing up developers to focus on more critical aspects of the project.
- Faster time-to-market: automated processes, such as CI/CD, enable faster and more frequent deployments, reducing the time it takes to bring software to market.
- Enhanced software quality: automation helps to minimise human error and promotes adherence to coding standards, resulting in better quality software.
Increased software security: automated code analysis facilitates continuous monitoring of code and infrastructure, helping to detect and address vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
How Codeminers can help with your software project
Whether you need support with an existing software project, or if you’re looking for a developer to build your new custom written software, Codeminers can help. We have decades of experience in bespoke software development and we’re passionate about what we do. We’re friendly too! Get in touch with us for a chat.
