When it comes to maturing an AppSec program, there are several best practices that can help you get started. In part two of our AppSec podcast series, Tim Jarrett, Director of Product Management at Veracode, and Kyle Pippin, Director of Product Management at ThreadFix, share the top 3 things they’ve learned from organizations that have successfully matured and scaled their AppSec programs.

To keep up with increasing time and productivity demands in software development, it’s important that organizations are staying on top of their digital shifts through rapid technology adoption and the prevention of common snags in application security (AppSec).

Before selecting Veracode, Advantasure, a leader in the healthcare technology industry, was on the hunt for an AppSec program that would not only protect them against cyberattacks, but also prove compliance with laws and regulations in several states.

The gold standard for creating an application security (AppSec) program is – and always will be – to follow best practices. By following preestablished and proven methods, you can ensure that you are maximizing the benefits of your AppSec program. Unfortunately, time, budget, culture, expertise, and executive buy-in often restrict organizations from following best practices. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t create an impactful AppSec program.

In today’s world, speed wins. Just take Amazon for example. You can place an order with the click of a button and have it delivered to your door in under twenty-four hours. Retailers that can’t compete with Amazon’s speed are falling behind. The same level of speed and efficiency is expected with technology. Companies are in a race to deliver new and innovative technology first. But aside from speed, companies are also concerned about the security of their software.

Over the past year, the retail and hospitality industries have been forced to adapt to the “new normal.” Since lockdowns and health concerns have prevented or dissuaded in-person shopping or dining, the new normal has been e-commerce. Smaller businesses not equipped for the increase in e-commerce have had to undergo rapid digital transformation in order to stay afloat. But, unfortunately, e-commerce was not the only thing to increase in 2020.

Software is becoming an increasingly pivotal part of modern business and society. In turn, consumers have come to expect instant gratification. This has driven businesses to concentrate on innovation and speed to market. Businesses that can’t keep up with the hyper-competitive market of speed-to-value are falling behind.