Software engineers are under a lot of pressure to create secure applications but often don’t have the right skills. In the past year, 87% of organizational leaders have experienced a breach linked, at least in part, to a lack of cyber skills.
With DevSecOps, cloud security, and supply chain risks changing the industry, security isn’t only for specialists anymore. Engineers are expected to take on more responsibility, but how can they close the skills gap? Let’s take a look at the security skills developers need today and how SecureFlag can help.
The Expanding Role of Engineers in Security
Security always used to be someone else’s job. Development teams focused on building features, while security teams handled vulnerabilities. But that has changed. Faster release cycles and increasing security threats mean that developers need to integrate security into their workflows from the very beginning.
Waiting until the last minute to address security issues leads to rushed fixes, higher costs, and a lot of frustration. As the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) puts it, “The earlier in the SDLC that security is addressed, the less effort and cost is ultimately required to achieve the same level of security.”
The Core Security Skills Every Engineer Needs
Security skills have different levels of importance, but there are some core skills every software engineer should have. They include:
Identify Security Requirements
Security shouldn’t be an afterthought. It’s a good idea to define security requirements alongside functionality as early as possible. Before starting to code, think about how the feature could be exploited or what kind of threats could target it.
Being proactive helps software engineers design with security in mind, making it easier to build secure applications down the road.
Secure Coding Practices
Good coding habits are necessary to prevent vulnerabilities before they happen. Making sure to follow best practices, like those outlined in OWASP, is really important. This includes methods like:
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Input validation.
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Using secure authentication methods.
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Proper error handling.
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Keeping libraries and dependencies up to date.
Our secure coding training is a great way to learn and improve your skills with interactive labs.
Threat Modeling
Threat modeling helps engineers identify potential security risks by thinking like an attacker. It’s about spotting weaknesses in your application’s design and figuring out how they might be exploited.
This process should happen continuously, not just at the start of a project. As the application evolves, so do the threats. Regularly revisiting threat models is key to staying ahead of potential issues. Check out our automated threat modeling tool, ThreatCanvas, to help with this!
Secure Code Verification
Static and dynamic application security testing (SAST/DAST), software composition analysis (SCA), and code reviews are all useful tools for identifying security flaws early in development. While automated tools are helpful, engineers need the skills to analyze and prioritize the findings effectively.
It’s not just about running scans and fixing the obvious issues—engineers must understand the context of each vulnerability and work out how to address them properly, considering both severity and impact.
Vulnerability Prioritization
Not all vulnerabilities have the same risk impact. Some are more likely to be exploited or cause significant damage than others, so engineers need to know how to assess and prioritize security issues.
Understanding how to evaluate risks based on exploitability, impact, and the likelihood of an attack happening helps engineers focus their efforts where they matter most. It also involves collaborating with security teams to ensure that vulnerabilities are addressed efficiently and effectively.
Beyond the Basics: What’s Next?
Once engineers have a strong foundation in security, there are more advanced areas to explore:
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Open-source components make up the majority of modern codebases, so it’s vital to keep track of dependencies and manage risks.
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With so many regulations in place, protecting sensitive data, ensuring encryption, and managing access controls play an important role.
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Security isn’t just about tools and processes; it’s also about mindset. Engineers should help educate their teams to create a more cyber-aware organization.
Specialized and Emerging Security Skills
Beyond core and valuable skills, new security challenges are constantly emerging, and engineers need to keep up. Some key specialized and emerging security skills include:
Workload Protection
With so many applications running in cloud and containerized environments, keeping workloads secure is a must. Workload protection platforms help spot security threats and vulnerabilities in real time, making sure applications stay safe in production. Engineers should get familiar with these tools to keep everything locked down.
API Security
APIs are a favorite target for attackers, so securing them is non-negotiable. That means understanding authentication, authorization, rate limiting, and how to configure API gateways properly. A strong API security strategy helps protect sensitive data and keeps applications running smoothly.
Generative AI Security
AI-driven coding tools are on the rise, but they come with risks. Engineers need to be aware of possible security issues like data leaks, insecure code generation, and even licensing concerns. Keeping an eye on AI-generated code is key to avoiding unexpected vulnerabilities.
Runtime Application Self-Protection (RASP)
RASP adds an extra layer of defense by detecting and responding to attacks as they happen. These tools monitor runtime behavior to catch threats in real-time. Knowing how RASP works can help engineers build applications that don’t just sit there but actively defend themselves.
Why Security Matters More Than Ever
Security breaches aren’t slowing down, and attackers are targeting applications more than ever before. In 2024, cyberattacks around the world increased by 44%.
Engineers who improve their security skills are not only protecting their organizations but also advancing their careers. Businesses need developers who understand security, and those who invest in these skills will stand out.
Boost Your Secure Coding and Threat Modeling Skills With SecureFlag
SecureFlag provides hands-on, real-world training labs to help software engineers build secure applications from the start. By focusing on continuous learning, SecureFlag makes sure that security becomes an integral part of the development process.
For organizations looking to strengthen their threat modeling practices, ThreatCanvas provides a structured approach to identifying and managing security risks throughout the development lifecycle.
In a world where secure coding is no longer optional, engineers who keep their security skills up-to-date will lead the way in building safer applications for everyone.
