Secure Cloud Software Requirements and Security Policy Implementation
Building applications for the cloud requires integrating security testing into every stage of the software development life cycle.
1. What are Secure Cloud Software Requirements?
Before writing a single line of code, software engineers must identify non-functional security requirements:
- Input Validation: Every input field on a website (login form, search box) must sanitize user input to prevent SQL Injection and Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks.
- Data Encryption at Rest and in Transit:
- In Transit: Data traveling over the internet must use modern TLS 1.3 (HTTPS) encryption.
- At Rest: Data saved on hard disks or database tables must be encrypted using AES-256.
- Session Management: Web sessions must expire after 15 minutes of inactivity, and session tokens must be stored securely with HTTP-only cookies.
- Secure Key Management: Never hardcode passwords, API keys, or database credentials inside source code or GitHub repositories. Store them in secure cloud vaults (e.g., AWS Secrets Manager).
2. DevSecOps & Secure SDLC
In modern software companies, security is merged directly into development and operations:
[ Plan ] ➔ [ Code ] ➔ [ Build & Scan ] ➔ [ Test ] ➔ [ Secure Deploy ] ➔ [ Monitor ]- Static Application Security Testing (SAST): Automated tools scan source code line-by-line for known vulnerabilities before compilation.
- Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST): Automated penetration tools test the live running web application by simulating real-world hacker attacks.
3. Cloud Security Policies and Data Classification
A Security Policy is an official organizational document defining rules on how employees and software systems must handle company data.
Standard 4-Tier Data Classification Scheme:
| Data Level | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Public | Free to view by anyone; zero damage if disclosed. | Marketing brochures, university course syllabus, public blog posts. |
| 2. Internal | Meant only for employees; minor disruption if leaked. | Employee phone directory, internal intranet announcements. |
| 3. Confidential | Restricted to specific teams; significant financial or legal harm if leaked. | Student exam papers before exam date, employee salary slips, source code. |
| 4. Restricted (Secret) | Highest sensitivity; severe criminal or financial liability if breached. | Customer credit card CVV, user bank passwords, encryption master keys. |
💡 DAVV Exam Tip
Question (5 Marks): “Explain the Data Classification scheme used in Cloud Security Policies.”
- Draw the 4-tier table: Public, Internal, Confidential, Restricted.
- Give a simple practical example for each tier.
- Mention that encryption is mandatory for Confidential and Restricted data.