WGU Updated Secure-Software-Design Exam Questions and Answers by arianna

 The three primary goals of the secure software development process, often referred to as the CIA triad, are confidentiality, integrity, and availability. These principles form the cornerstone of security considerations in the software development life cycle (SDLC).

Confidentiality ensures that sensitive information is accessed only by authorized individuals and systems. This involves implementing access controls and encryption to protect data from unauthorized access.

Integrity refers to maintaining the accuracy and consistency of data across its lifecycle. This means that the data is not altered or tampered with by unauthorized entities. Techniques like checksums and digital signatures help ensure data integrity.

Availability ensures that information and resources are accessible to authorized users when needed. This involves creating resilient systems that can withstand attacks and recover quickly from any disruptions.

By integrating these security goals into each phase of the SDLC, from planning and design to development, testing, and maintenance, organizations can create more secure software systems that are resilient to cyber threats.

References: The information provided here is verified as per the Secure Software Design documents and best practices in the field, as outlined by sources such as Snyk1, GeeksforGeeks2, and SAFECode3.

The security testing technique that involves using a testing tool to scan a running application for known exploit signatures is known as Automated Vulnerability Scanning. This method is part of dynamic analysis, which assesses the software in its running state to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers. Automated vulnerability scanning tools are designed to detect and report known vulnerabilities by comparing the behavior and outputs of the application against a database of known exploit signatures1.

References: 1: Application Security Testing: Tools, Types and Best Practices | GitHub

In the PASTA (Process for Attack Simulation and Threat Analysis) threat modeling methodology, vulnerability and exploit analysis is performed during the Attack modeling step. This step involves identifying potential threats and vulnerabilities within the system and understanding how they could be exploited.

Attack modeling is a critical phase where the focus is on simulating attacks based on identified vulnerabilities. It allows for a deep understanding of the threats in the context of the application’s architecture and system design.

During this phase, security analysts use their knowledge of the system’s technical scope and application decomposition to simulate how an attacker could exploit the system’s vulnerabilities. This helps in prioritizing the risks and planning appropriate mitigation strategies.

The goal of attack modeling is not just to identify vulnerabilities but also to understand the potential impact of exploits on the system and the business, which is essential for developing a robust security posture.

References: The information provided is aligned with the PASTA methodology as described in resources such as VerSprite1 and the OWASP Foundation2. These sources detail the seven stages of PASTA, with attack modeling being a key component of the process.

The deliverable that would aid a software security team in preparing a detailed schedule mapping security development lifecycle phases to the type of analysis they will execute is Security test plans. These plans are crucial as they outline the testing strategies and specific security tests that will be conducted during the development lifecycle to ensure the software meets the required security standards.

Security test plans are developed after the requirements and design phases and are used throughout the implementation, verification, and release phases. They include detailed instructions for security testing, criteria for success, and the types of security testing to be performed, such as static and dynamic analysis, penetration testing, and code review.

These plans are living documents that should be updated as new threats are identified and as the project evolves. They ensure that all team members understand the security goals, the risks, and the measures that need to be taken to mitigate those risks.

By having a well-defined security test plan, the team can ensure that security is not an afterthought but is integrated into every phase of the software development lifecycle, thus producing more secure software.

References: The importance of security test plans in the software development lifecycle is supported by best practices and guidelines from sources such as Microsoft’s Security Development Lifecycle1 and Snyk’s Secure Software Development Life Cycle principles2.