Source Code Security Best Practices: A Complete Guide

Software supply chain attacks are on the rise, and they show no sign of slowing down. A study in late 2022 found that supply chain attacks went up 633% compared to the previous year, with more than 88,000 documented cases. That is on top of a 650% raise in 2021 and 430% in 2020. Given the trajectory, it seems extremely likely that the number of attacks will continue to grow significantly in the coming years and that source code security will become an even bigger concern.

While attacks against major companies and government agencies typically grab the biggest headlines, around 43% of cyberattacks target small businesses. Every software company needs to have a comprehensive set of security protocols and protective measures to maintain its source code security.

The Importance of Source Code Security

Your source code is the foundation of your software, and its security directly impacts your product’s success, reputation, and competitive edge. Without proper protection, the following risks can arise:

• Intellectual property theft: Unauthorized access to your source code can lead to its theft, enabling unscrupulous individuals or organizations to replicate or modify your product without permission. 
• Data breaches: Source code security breaches can expose sensitive information, proprietary algorithms, and access credentials. 
• Competitive disadvantage: A compromised source code can allow competitors to gain insights into your product’s functionalities and architecture. 
• Reputation damage: Security breaches can severely damage your company’s reputation and erode customer trust. 
• Legal ramifications: A breach of source code security can result in legal battles to protect your intellectual property rights. 
• Source Code Security Best Practices
• Protecting your source code is paramount to ensuring the integrity and security of your software. Implementing robust source code security practices can help safeguard intellectual property and prevent unauthorized access. 

Source Code Security Best Practices

Protecting your source code is paramount to ensuring the integrity and security of your software. Implementing robust source code security practices can help safeguard intellectual property and prevent unauthorized access. 

Use Automated Code Scanning

Automated code scanning is a proactive approach to identifying vulnerabilities and security weaknesses in your source code. By using specialized tools and scanners, developers can detect potential security flaws early in the development process. Some popular code-scanning tools include:

• Kiuwan: This end-to-end application security platform has a comprehensive toolset that includest SAST, SCA and QA. It’s also natively integrated in the Assembla SCM platform.
• SonarQube: This open-source code security platform continuously inspects your codebase, ensuring it meets security standards and coding guidelines.
• Checkmarx: Checkmarx offers static application security testing (SAST) solutions that identify and fix security vulnerabilities during development.

Limit User Access

Limiting user access to your source code is crucial to prevent unauthorized modifications and leaks. Implementing role-based access controls will ensure that only authorized personnel can access specific parts of the codebase. Version control systems like Perforce offer robust access control features, allowing administrators to define and manage user permissions effectively.

Use Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds additional security to your source code repositories. With 2FA, users must provide two forms of identification, such as a password and a one-time code sent to their mobile device, to access the codebase. By adding this additional layer of security, developers can guarantee the integrity of their codebase, safeguard sensitive information, and contribute to a more resilient software development ecosystem.

Create Clear Source Code Security Policies

Establishing clear and comprehensive source code security policies is essential to guiding developers on secure coding practices. These policies should cover code review processes, vulnerability handling, and guidelines for integrating third-party libraries. Having well-defined security policies helps maintain consistency across the development team and reduces the risk of security breaches.

Verify Copyright

Ensure that your source code’s copyright is verified and documented appropriately. Clearly indicate the ownership and licensing terms to protect your intellectual property rights. Using version control systems like Git or Perforce enables you to track code contributions and maintain a comprehensive history of copyright ownership.

Deploy Encryption Tools

Implementing encryption tools is vital for securing sensitive information in your source code and protecting it from unauthorized access. Use encryption techniques to safeguard sensitive configurations, passwords, or API keys stored within the codebase. Tools like HashiCorp Vault or Azure Key Vault can be employed to manage secrets securely.

What to Do When Source Code Security Is Breached

Discovering a source code security breach can be a distressing experience for any organization. Reacting promptly and effectively is crucial to minimizing potential damage and protecting your digital assets. Here are the necessary steps to take when a breach is suspected or discovered:

Contain the Breach

As soon as you suspect a breach, isolate the affected systems and restrict access to the compromised source code. This step prevents further unauthorized access and limits the potential spread of the breach.

Investigate the Scope

To determine the extent of the breach, conduct a thorough investigation. Identify the specific code repositories or files that have been compromised, as well as any potential data or intellectual property at risk.

Notify Relevant Parties

Inform all relevant stakeholders, including your development team, management, and security personnel, about the breach. Collaboration and communication are crucial during this phase.

Implement Patches and Fixes

If the breach exploited known vulnerabilities, apply patches and updates to fix the vulnerabilities promptly. Implementing security fixes ensures that the same vulnerability cannot be exploited again.

Review Access Controls

Evaluate and strengthen access controls and permissions to prevent similar incidents in the future. Limit access to critical source code repositories and enforce two-factor authentication for added security.

Improve Monitoring and Detection

Enhance your monitoring and detection capabilities to identify potential breaches early on. Automated code scanning, intrusion detection systems, and security event monitoring can aid in detecting suspicious activities.

Review Incident Response Plan

Assess the effectiveness of your incident response plan in handling the breach. Identify areas for improvement and update the plan accordingly to enhance your organization’s security posture.

Source Code Security with Assembla

As a managed cloud hosting provider for version control systems, we understand the critical importance of source code security and provide plentiful features to protect your digital assets. As a trusted platform for version control and project management, Assembla implements various security measures, including:

• Permission controls: Assembla allows you to define advanced user access controls, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access specific repositories and files.
• Data encryption: All data transmitted and stored on Assembla is encrypted, providing an added layer of protection against unauthorized access.
• Two-factor authentication: Assembla supports two-factor authentication, adding an extra level of security to prevent unauthorized account access.
• Secure hosting: Assembla’s enterprise-grade cloud hosting ensures that your source code is stored in a secure and reliable environment.
• SOC 2 Type II: Assembla is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of source code security and has obtained AICPA SOC Type 2 Certification across all areas of our source code management platform