In today’s digital landscape, software powers everything from cloud workloads to mobile applications and IoT devices. However, traditional security measures that are added as an afterthought in the development process no longer provide adequate protection against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. As the frequency and complexity of cyberattacks rise, the demand for application security throughout the development lifecycle has become paramount.

This course is designed for cybersecurity professionals, software developers, and DevSecOps teams who want to integrate robust security measures throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC). You will gain hands-on experience with the latest application security tools, frameworks, and industry best practices to ensure your applications are secure, scalable, and compliant with modern security standards.

Master Industry-Leading Security Frameworks

What if the application security frameworks you learned last year are already outdated? In 2025, the application security landscape has fundamentally shifted. Over 100 major software manufacturers have joined CISA's Secure by Design pledge, and federal agencies now require secure software development attestations with real deadlines already in effect. Recent analysis of cloud security breaches reveals that many organisations continue to fall victim to recurring vulnerabilities that could have been avoided with up-to-date best practices.

This course is built around the most current guidance from industry-leading organisations such as NIST, CISA, OWASP, and CSA. You’ll work with NIST’s Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF), which is the standard for secure software development practices used by U.S. federal agencies and beyond.

The course also integrates CISA’s Secure by Design principles, which prioritise security as a core business requirement, ensuring products are secure from the outset—without relying on afterthought security measures like multi-factor authentication (MFA), logging, and single sign-on. As more organisations adopt this mindset, the way application security is approached is shifting.

Additionally, you'll gain expertise in how OWASP frameworks help define the necessary security controls for developing and testing modern web applications, and how CSA’s Cloud Controls Matrix serves as the standard for cloud security assurance and compliance. These frameworks lay the foundation for world-class application security practices.

High-Impact Security Practices

This course focuses on practical, high-impact practices to protect software today. You’ll learn the core principles of secure development and how to apply them across the entire application lifecycle. CISA’s Secure by Design goals will guide you in implementing proven security practices, ensuring security is embedded from the start.

• Secure Development and Code Security: Master the fundamental practices for building secure applications from the ground up. Learn secure coding techniques, including proper input validation, authentication mechanisms, and cryptographic implementation. Focus on preventing the most critical vulnerabilities outlined in the OWASP Top 10 and industry standards. You’ll gain hands-on experience using static analysis tools, security-focused code reviews, and test-driven security development, enabling you to identify and resolve vulnerabilities before they reach production. This module also covers secure design principles, runtime protection mechanisms, and the integration of automated security testing into the development process.

• Incorporating Threat Modelling: Learn to identify potential security threats early in the design phase. Using structured methodologies aligned with NIST SSDF, you’ll create comprehensive threat models to identify attack vectors before they can be exploited. This module covers STRIDE methodology, attack trees, and data flow diagrams to help you prioritise security risks and protect complex application architectures.

• Supply Chain and Open-Source Software Security: With increasing reliance on open-source software and third-party dependencies, securing the software supply chain has become crucial. This course emphasises monitoring leaked secrets, ensuring code integrity, and evaluating software supply chains. You’ll learn to use Software Bill of Materials (SBOM), dependency scanning, and vendor risk assessment tools to detect vulnerabilities in open-source components and establish secure procurement practices.

• Cloud and Container Security: Cloud security is a growing concern for modern enterprises. This section teaches you how to implement robust security controls for cloud-native applications and containerised environments using CSA best practices. You’ll explore container image scanning, runtime protection, secrets management, and cloud-specific security architectures that safeguard applications across multi-cloud and hybrid environments.

Learn Through a Comprehensive Fictional Case Study

Throughout the course, you’ll apply these techniques to a fictional case study that mirrors the challenges faced by real-world enterprises. This immersive approach helps you understand how security principles can be implemented across various business contexts, compliance requirements, and technological architectures. The case study includes a multi-tier web application with cloud infrastructure, mobile components, third-party integrations, and regulatory compliance needs, providing a comprehensive view of modern application security challenges.

The scenarios reflect industry realities such as budget constraints, technical debt, legacy system integration, and competing business priorities, ensuring you gain practical experience with the kinds of issues your organisation may face.

What You Will Learn in This Course

• Practical Threat Modelling: Use structured techniques to create actionable security requirements for applications.

• Security Control Implementation: Develop security controls for different environments, including cloud-native applications and legacy systems.

• Pipeline Security: Learn how to create secure CI/CD pipelines with integrated security testing and automated compliance validation.

• Comprehensive Security Assessment: Practice security assessments through scenario-based questions and practical exercises.

Learning Outcomes

By completing this course, you will demonstrate competency in:

• Strategic Threat Analysis: Implementing comprehensive threat models that identify critical security risks before they become vulnerabilities.

• Supply Chain Risk Management: Securing complex software supply chains, including open-source components, third-party dependencies, and vendor relationships.

• Cloud-Native Security Architecture: Understanding security controls that protect applications in scalable cloud environments, including container security and serverless protection.

• Continuous Security Monitoring: Utilising automated security monitoring systems for real-time visibility into application security posture and response capabilities.

• DevSecOps Integration: Integrating security throughout CI/CD pipelines without disrupting development velocity, including automated testing, compliance validation, and security gate implementation.

Why This Course Matters Now More Than Ever

As cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, the need for secure development practices becomes even more urgent. Federal agencies now require software developers to submit attestations demonstrating compliance with NIST SSDF standards, with deadlines already in effect. This regulatory pressure is driving the widespread adoption of secure software development practices across the industry.

Organisations that fail to adapt risk compliance penalties, security breaches, and damage to their reputation. This course places you at the forefront of application security, equipping you with the knowledge and practical skills needed to build secure, resilient applications that protect your organisation and customers.

Start your journey towards mastering application security today!