Software security: What it is & best practices

Software is the backbone of modern business operations, powering everything from communication tools to data analytics. But as companies increasingly rely on software, they also expose themselves to greater risks. Hackers exploiting vulnerabilities, data breaches caused by human error, compliance violations—the threats are numerous and the stakes are high. This is why software security is so important.

Implementing robust software security practices is essential for any business that wants to protect sensitive data, maintain customer trust, and avoid costly downtime. But what exactly does software security entail, and how can you put it into practice within your organization? This guide will provide the knowledge you need to make informed decisions about securing your software and systems.

What is software security?

Software security is all about protecting applications and systems from vulnerabilities, unauthorized access, cyber attacks, and other digital threats. Software security not only focuses on safeguarding against attacks but also involves proactive risk identification and vulnerability management through all stages of the software lifecycle, including design, coding, and post-deployment. The goal is to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of software and the data it handles at every stage, from development to deployment to ongoing maintenance.

Software security vs. cybersecurity 

While the terms are often used interchangeably, software security and cybersecurity are distinct concepts. Cybersecurity refers to the broader practice of protecting all types of digital systems and assets from threats—hardware, networks, data, and software. It encompasses everything from securing email servers against phishing attacks to implementing organizational security policies and training employees on security best practices.

Software security, on the other hand, zeroes in on the applications themselves—ensuring they're designed, built, and maintained with security in mind from day one. While it's a critical component of overall cybersecurity, software security requires specialized expertise in secure coding practices, vulnerability testing, and continuous security monitoring throughout an application's lifecycle.

4 types of software security

Software security involves multiple layers and approaches to protecting applications and data. Some common focus areas include:

Network security

​​This foundational layer focuses on safeguarding the underlying network infrastructure and systems that applications use to communicate, ensuring that software is protected from threats such as unauthorized access and data interception. Organizations implement firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems, virtual private networks (VPNs), and network segmentation to maintain secure data transmission and prevent unauthorized access.

Endpoint security

A robust approach to endpoint security defends the devices that access software and networks, such as laptops, smartphones, and IoT devices. This strategy combines antivirus/anti-malware solutions, device encryption, secure configuration, and patch management to prevent compromised devices from becoming entry points for attackers.

Cloud security

The shift to cloud computing has introduced new security challenges that demand sophisticated protective measures. The shared responsibility model defines security obligations clearly—cloud providers handle infrastructure security while businesses manage application and data protection. Access management, continuous monitoring, data encryption, and industry compliance standards work together to safeguard cloud-hosted applications and data.

Application security

The development lifecycle of software presents multiple opportunities to integrate crucial security measures. From initial design through coding, testing, and maintenance, development teams employ threat modeling, secure coding practices, code analysis, and vulnerability management to create applications that withstand modern cyber threats.

While each type of software security has its own considerations, they work together to provide comprehensive protection. For example, a company might use endpoint security tools to prevent malware infections on employee devices, which in turn protects the software those devices interact with. Cloud security measures ensure that a SaaS application hosting customer data is properly configured and monitored, while application software security ensures the software itself is resistant to attacks.

The importance of software security: 6 benefits

Investing in software cybersecurity provides significant advantages for businesses of all types and sizes. Key benefits include:

Enhanced data protection

Software security measures like encryption, access controls, and monitoring help safeguard sensitive data from theft/loss. This is critical for protecting intellectual property, financial information, and customer data.

Increased customer trust

In this age and time, customers worry about how businesses handle their personal information. Demonstrating a commitment to software security—and being transparent about your practices—can strengthen customer trust and loyalty.

Better regulatory compliance

Many industries have strict requirements around protecting certain types of data, such as HIPAA for healthcare and GDPR for companies operating in the EU. Non-compliance can lead to hefty fines and reputational damage. Software security controls make it easier to consistently meet these standards.

Reduced financial losses

The average cost of a data breach reached $4.88 million in 2024, though this figure varies significantly based on company size and industry sector. Between paying for incident response, notifying affected customers, and losing business due to downtime and reputation hits, the price of inadequate security adds up fast. Software security helps minimize the risk and impact of expensive incidents.

Stronger incident response

No amount of software security can prevent issues 100% of the time. But having the right monitoring and response capabilities in place enables faster detection, investigation, and recovery when incidents do occur.

Improved system performance

Believe it or not, software security and performance often go hand-in-hand. Secure coding practices produce more stable software with fewer defects. Proactively identifying and fixing software vulnerabilities reduces the risk of crippling performance issues down the line.

5 challenges in software security (and how to tackle them)

While software security offers clear benefits, implementing it effectively has its challenges. Businesses must contend with an ever-evolving threat landscape and increasingly sophisticated attacks on software, such as:

Social engineering

Attackers manipulate software users into revealing sensitive information or granting inappropriate access, often by exploiting human psychology. Phishing emails that trick users into entering their login credentials on a fake website are a common example.

Prevention tips:

• Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) so stolen credentials aren't enough to gain unauthorized software access
• Train users to spot and report potential phishing attempts
• Use email filtering tools to block known phishing/malware links

Unpatched software vulnerabilities

Hackers exploit known software flaws that companies have failed to patch or update. The massive Equifax data breach, caused by a failure to update a known vulnerable version of Apache Struts, is just one high-profile example.

Prevention tips:

• Stay on top of software updates and security patches, prioritizing based on risk level
• Use vulnerability scanning tools to identify software flaws to be fixed
• Replace software that is no longer supported by the vendor

Misconfiguration

Incorrect settings in software systems, whether from misapplied security policies, improperly configured tools, or human error, can expose data and systems to attack. Common issues include open/insecure ports, default credentials, and overly permissive access controls.

Prevention tips:

• Establish and follow secure configuration standards for all software
• Implement tools that continually assess software for misconfigurations
• Restrict administrative access and implement strong authentication

Malicious insiders

Rogue employees or contractors misuse their software access to steal data or cause intentional damage. Insider attacks can be especially hard to detect since they come from presumably authorized users.

Prevention tips:

• Enforce least-privilege access so users only have permissions needed for their roles
• Monitor software logs for suspicious user behavior like large/unusual downloads
• Revoke software access immediately upon employee termination or role changes

API attacks

Attackers target application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow different software systems to communicate with each other. Improperly secured APIs can enable attackers to access underlying systems and sensitive data.

Prevention tips:

• Implement token-based API authentication and authorization
• Use encryption for API communication (over TSL/SSL)
• Use API rate limiting and throttling to mitigate denial of service (DoS) attacks

Software security best practices 

With the challenges and importance of software security in mind, here are some best practices that all businesses should follow to protect their software:

1. Build security in from the start

Integrate security in software at every phase of the software development lifecycle (SDLC), starting with requirements and design. Trying to bolt on security after the fact is always more difficult and expensive.

2. Prioritize access control and privileges

Implement role-based access control (RBAC) to ensure that software users only have the permissions required for their job functions. Regularly review and adjust privileges, especially when roles change.

3. Embrace DevSecOps

Foster collaboration between development, security, and operations teams to make security a shared responsibility. Automate security testing and checks within the CI/CD pipeline to catch issues early.

4. Use encryption for data at rest and in transit

Encrypt sensitive data stored within software systems as well as data transmitted between systems. Use up-to-date encryption algorithms and manage keys securely.

5. Test, test, test

Regularly conduct vulnerability scans and penetration tests to proactively identify software security flaws. Consider bug bounty programs to leverage the skills of ethical hackers.

6. Secure your supply chain 

Be vigilant about the security of third-party components, including open-source libraries and commercial software. Regularly evaluate and update these components to mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities.

7. Make software security everyone's job

Provide security training for developers, IT staff, and end users. Educate employees about their role in preventing issues like social engineering and accidental breaches.

How to choose software security tools

Putting software security best practices into action requires the right tools. But with so many options, how do you choose? Keep these tips in mind:

1. Assess your unique needs and threat landscape

Consider factors like the type of data your software handles, your industry's compliance requirements, and the specific threats you face (e.g. lots of phishing attempts vs. ransomware). Use this information to prioritize must-have tool capabilities.

2. Look for comprehensive, user-friendly features

Aim for tools with broad capabilities instead of point solutions. For example, Rippling IT platform includes device and endpoint security monitoring, user provisioning, multi-factor authentication, and audit reporting—eliminating the need to juggle separate tools. Also make sure that the tool is intuitive for your team to use.

3. Don't forget post-purchase support

Especially if you have a small or resource-strapped team, look for vendors known for strong customer support. You'll want responsive assistance if you run into implementation challenges or product issues down the line. Access to self-service knowledge bases, training, and user communities is also valuable.

4. Consider AI/ML capabilities

Tools that leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can help you detect threats and anomalies at scale by analyzing large amounts of security data. This is especially advantageous for lean security teams.

5. Evaluate integration options

Choose tools that play well with your existing tech stack. The ability to integrate with other security and IT management systems you use (SIEMs, ITSMs, etc.) will make processes like incident response much smoother.

Rippling: Enhance your software security to protect sensitive data

Most organizations today struggle with fragmented security tools, complex implementations, and resource-intensive management that leave their sensitive data vulnerable to breaches and cyber threats. Rippling provides software security solutions designed to address these challenges. 

The platform offers a comprehensive set of features including:

• Application security monitoring and testing
• Endpoint protection and device management
• Multi-factor authentication, single sign-on, and role-based access control
• Automated user provisioning and deprovisioning
• Real-time threat detection, powered by our integration with leading EDR provider SentinelOne
• Detailed audit logs and customizable security reports

By unifying these core security functions under a single roof and focusing heavily on automation and ease of use, Rippling enables lean IT and security teams to work more efficiently. Plus the tools seamlessly embed security into your existing processes, from onboarding new hires to managing software updates.

Software security FAQs

How do I check software security?

Performing regular vulnerability scans and penetration tests is the best way to assess your software security posture and identify weaknesses. This can be done manually or by using automated security testing tools. It's also a good idea to conduct code audits and monitor software logs for suspicious activity.

What's the difference between a vulnerability and an exploit?

A vulnerability is a flaw or weakness within software that could potentially be leveraged for malicious purposes. This might be a bug in the code, a default configuration setting, or an insecure component. An exploit, on the other hand, is an attack technique that takes advantage of a vulnerability to compromise the software. Many attackers rely on publicly disclosed vulnerabilities that companies have failed to patch.

How can businesses ensure compliance with software security regulations?

Start by understanding which specific compliance requirements apply to your business based on industry, location, and type of data handled. Common examples include HIPAA for healthcare organizations, PCI DSS for companies handling credit card payments, and GDPR for those processing EU resident data. Work to implement the required administrative, technical, and physical safeguards. Finally, be prepared to provide evidence of your compliance efforts, such as audit logs and documentation of security controls.

What role does artificial intelligence (AI) play in software security?

AI and machine learning are increasingly being used to bolster software security in several key ways. This includes analyzing huge volumes of security data to detect anomalies and potential threats, automating repetitive low-risk security tasks, and even predicting future attacks based on existing patterns. 

AI-powered tools can be especially helpful for overwhelmed or under-resourced security teams trying to keep up with the breakneck pace of modern software development and usage. That being said, AI is not a software security silver bullet—it's most effective when combined with traditional techniques and human expertise.

This blog is based on information available to Rippling as of December 23, 2024.

Disclaimer: Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.