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John Rofrano

Vulnerabilities can occur at any stage of software development, making it critical for developers to write secure code and maintain a secured development environment and the platform it runs on. In this course, you will learn to identify security vulnerabilities in applications and implement secure code practices to prevent events like data breaches and leaks which can significantly impact an organization’s reputation and financial condition. This course provides a comprehensive overview of security best practices that developers should follow when developing applications. You’ll gain extensive knowledge on various practices, concepts, and processes for maintaining a secure environment, including DevSecOps practices that automate security integration across the software development lifecycle (SDLC), Static Application Security Testing (SAST) for identifying security flaws, Dynamic Analysis, and Dynamic Testing, and creating a Secure Development Environment, an ongoing process for securing a network, computing resources, and storage devices both on-premise and in the cloud. This course familiarizes you with the top Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) application security risks such as broken access controls and SQL injections and teaches you how to prevent and mitigate these threats. This course includes multiple hands-on labs to develop and demonstrate your skills and knowledge for maintaining a secure development environment.

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Demonstrate your knowledge of security testing procedures and describe how coding practices and other mitigation strategies help reduce risk.
  • Apply security concepts to various stages of the software development lifecycle (sdlc).
  • Explain security by design, and develop applications using security by design principles.
  • Perform defensive coding that follow open web application security project (owasp) principles.

Syllabus

Module 1 - Introduction to Security for Application Development
Security By Design
What is DevSecOps
Vulnerability Scanning and Threat Modeling
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Emphasizes secure coding practices and secure development environment for application security
Led by expert instructors John Rofrano
Uses the OWASP Top 10 application security risks to illustrate common threats
Covers vulnerability assessment and mitigation strategies
Provides hands-on labs for practical application of security concepts

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Reviews summary

A practical foundation in application security

According to students, this course offers a solid foundational understanding of application security for developers. Many appreciate its focus on OWASP Top 10 risks and DevSecOps principles, deeming them highly relevant for modern software development. The hands-on labs are frequently highlighted as a major strength, providing practical experience in areas like SQL injection and cross-site scripting prevention. While some learners found certain topics to be superficial or wished for greater depth on advanced subjects, more recent feedback suggests continuous updates, addressing prior concerns about outdated content. It is widely considered an excellent starting point for those new to app security.
Course content is actively maintained and updated over time.
"Some older reviews mentioned outdated content, but it seems to have been updated, as I found it current."
"The course felt current and relevant to today's development challenges, which was a relief."
"I appreciate that the content felt up-to-date and practical for my work."
"I was initially concerned about outdated information, but I found the course materials to be very current."
Covers critical and current application security concerns.
"The OWASP Top 10 module was particularly useful, providing clear explanations."
"The focus on security by design from the SDLC perspective is crucial."
"This course covers important topics like SAST and Dynamic Analysis."
"It covers a wide range of topics from DevSecOps to OWASP, which I found practical."
Offers valuable hands-on experience for skill development.
"The hands-on labs; they really helped solidify the concepts."
"The section on SQL Injections and Cross-Site Scripting with the accompanying labs was very informative and practical."
"I appreciate the numerous hands-on activities."
"The hands-on coding and projects are the strongest part of the course for me."
Provides a strong base for new application security learners.
"Overall, a very good introduction to application security for developers."
"This course provided me with the essential knowledge to start thinking securely from the ground up."
"It's a great starting point, though it won't make me an expert overnight."
"I gained a solid foundational understanding of application security."
Lacks advanced detail for experienced or intermediate learners.
"Some topics could be explored in greater depth for intermediate learners."
"I found some parts to be a bit superficial. It's a good general overview."
"I felt that some modules, particularly those on advanced mitigation strategies, were too brief."
"This course is very basic; I didn't feel it added significant value to my existing knowledge as a mid-level developer."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Application Security for Developers with these activities:
Review basic programming concepts
Strengthen your programming fundamentals for better code comprehension.
Browse courses on Programming Concepts
Show steps
  • Review basic data structures and algorithms.
  • Practice writing simple programs.
Create a security checklist
Develop a comprehensive checklist to guide your secure development process.
Browse courses on Security Best Practices
Show steps
  • Identify the key security best practices for your development environment.
  • Create a checklist that includes these best practices.
  • Use the checklist to guide your development process.
Use code review tools to identify vulnerabilities
Develop your ability to identify vulnerabilities during code review.
Browse courses on Code Review
Show steps
  • Install and configure code review tools.
  • Use the tools to review code and identify vulnerabilities.
  • Discuss the vulnerabilities with the code author.
Five other activities
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Show all eight activities
Practice vulnerability analysis
Become proficient at identifying and analyzing security vulnerabilities in code.
Browse courses on Vulnerability Analysis
Show steps
  • Identify a codebase with known vulnerabilities.
  • Use static and dynamic analysis tools to identify vulnerabilities.
  • Analyze the results of the analysis and prioritize the vulnerabilities.
  • Develop mitigation strategies for the vulnerabilities.
Follow tutorials on secure coding practices
Gain practical experience in implementing secure coding techniques.
Browse courses on Secure Coding Practices
Show steps
  • Identify reputable resources for secure coding tutorials.
  • Follow the tutorials and apply the techniques in your own code.
Write a blog post about OWASP Top 10 security risks
Enhance your understanding of common security risks and how to mitigate them.
Browse courses on OWASP Top 10
Show steps
  • Research the OWASP Top 10 security risks.
  • Identify specific examples of each risk.
  • Develop mitigation strategies for each risk.
  • Write a blog post summarizing your findings.
Design a security architecture for a simple application
Apply your knowledge of security best practices to design a secure system.
Browse courses on Security Architecture
Show steps
  • Identify the security requirements for the application.
  • Design a security architecture that meets the requirements.
  • Document the security architecture.
Attend a security conference or meetup
Connect with other security professionals and learn about the latest trends.
Show steps
  • Identify a security conference or meetup that aligns with your interests.
  • Attend the event and participate in discussions.
  • Follow up with new connections after the event.

Career center

Learners who complete Application Security for Developers will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Application Security Analyst
An Application Security Analyst is responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating security risks in software applications. This course provides a comprehensive overview of security best practices that developers should follow when developing applications, making it an excellent choice for those seeking to enter or advance in this field. By completing this course, individuals will gain a strong foundation in the principles and techniques used to secure applications, increasing their employability and value to potential employers.
Security Engineer
A Security Engineer designs, implements, and manages security measures to protect computer systems and networks from unauthorized access, damage, or disruption. This course provides a comprehensive overview of security concepts and best practices, making it a valuable resource for Security Engineers looking to enhance their knowledge and skills. By completing this course, individuals will gain a deeper understanding of the threats facing organizations and the strategies used to mitigate them.
Software Developer
A Software Developer designs, develops, and maintains software applications. This course provides a comprehensive overview of secure coding practices and security best practices that developers should follow when developing applications, making it a valuable resource for Software Developers looking to enhance their knowledge and skills. By completing this course, individuals will gain a deeper understanding of the threats facing software applications and the strategies used to mitigate them.
DevOps Engineer
A DevOps Engineer combines software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops) to improve the speed and quality of software delivery. This course provides a comprehensive overview of DevSecOps practices that automate security integration across the software development lifecycle (SDLC), making it a valuable resource for DevOps Engineers looking to enhance their knowledge and skills. By completing this course, individuals will gain a deeper understanding of the security challenges facing DevOps teams and the strategies used to mitigate them.
Security Architect
A Security Architect designs, implements, and maintains the security architecture of an organization. This course provides a comprehensive overview of security concepts and best practices, including threat modeling and vulnerability scanning, making it a valuable resource for Security Architects looking to enhance their knowledge and skills. By completing this course, individuals will gain a deeper understanding of the threats facing organizations and the strategies used to mitigate them.
Information Security Manager
An Information Security Manager is responsible for developing and implementing security policies and procedures to protect an organization's information assets. This course provides a comprehensive overview of security concepts and best practices, including risk management and incident response, making it a valuable resource for Information Security Managers looking to enhance their knowledge and skills. By completing this course, individuals will gain a deeper understanding of the threats facing organizations and the strategies used to mitigate them.
Security Consultant
A Security Consultant provides advice and guidance to organizations on how to improve their security posture. This course provides a comprehensive overview of security concepts and best practices, including risk assessment and penetration testing, making it a valuable resource for Security Consultants looking to enhance their knowledge and skills. By completing this course, individuals will gain a deeper understanding of the threats facing organizations and the strategies used to mitigate them.
Cybersecurity Analyst
A Cybersecurity Analyst monitors and analyzes network traffic to identify and respond to security threats. This course provides a comprehensive overview of security concepts and best practices, including intrusion detection and incident response, making it a valuable resource for Cybersecurity Analysts looking to enhance their knowledge and skills. By completing this course, individuals will gain a deeper understanding of the threats facing organizations and the strategies used to mitigate them.
Penetration Tester
A Penetration Tester simulates attacks on computer systems and networks to identify vulnerabilities and improve security. This course provides a comprehensive overview of security concepts and best practices, including vulnerability assessment and penetration testing, making it a valuable resource for Penetration Testers looking to enhance their knowledge and skills. By completing this course, individuals will gain a deeper understanding of the threats facing organizations and the strategies used to mitigate them.
Risk Analyst
A Risk Analyst identifies, assesses, and mitigates risks to an organization. This course provides a comprehensive overview of risk management concepts and best practices, including threat modeling and vulnerability assessment, making it a valuable resource for Risk Analysts looking to enhance their knowledge and skills. By completing this course, individuals will gain a deeper understanding of the threats facing organizations and the strategies used to mitigate them.
Security Auditor
A Security Auditor conducts security audits to assess the security posture of an organization. This course provides a comprehensive overview of security audit concepts and best practices, including risk assessment and vulnerability management, making it a valuable resource for Security Auditors looking to enhance their knowledge and skills. By completing this course, individuals will gain a deeper understanding of the threats facing organizations and the strategies used to mitigate them.
Forensic Analyst
A Forensic Analyst investigates computer crimes and cyberattacks. This course provides a comprehensive overview of forensic analysis concepts and best practices, including incident response and evidence collection, making it a valuable resource for Forensic Analysts looking to enhance their knowledge and skills. By completing this course, individuals will gain a deeper understanding of the threats facing organizations and the strategies used to mitigate them.
Incident Responder
An Incident Responder handles security incidents and breaches. This course provides a comprehensive overview of incident response concepts and best practices, including threat detection and containment, making it a valuable resource for Incident Responders looking to enhance their knowledge and skills. By completing this course, individuals will gain a deeper understanding of the threats facing organizations and the strategies used to mitigate them.
Vulnerability Manager
A Vulnerability Manager identifies, assesses, and mitigates vulnerabilities in software and systems. This course provides a comprehensive overview of vulnerability management concepts and best practices, including vulnerability scanning and patch management, making it a valuable resource for Vulnerability Managers looking to enhance their knowledge and skills. By completing this course, individuals will gain a deeper understanding of the threats facing organizations and the strategies used to mitigate them.
Security Awareness Trainer
A Security Awareness Trainer educates users on security risks and best practices. This course provides a comprehensive overview of security awareness concepts and best practices, including phishing awareness and social engineering, making it a valuable resource for Security Awareness Trainers looking to enhance their knowledge and skills. By completing this course, individuals will gain a deeper understanding of the threats facing organizations and the strategies used to mitigate them.

Reading list

We've selected 11 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Application Security for Developers.
Provides a comprehensive overview of secure coding practices for C and C++ developers. It covers foundational principles such as memory management, input validation, and error handling, and it addresses specific vulnerabilities such as buffer overflows, format string attacks, and integer overflows.
Provides a practical guide to web application security testing. It covers a wide range of topics, including vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, and exploit development. It also provides detailed information on the OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities.
Provides a comprehensive overview of software security principles and practices. It covers a wide range of topics, including threat modeling, secure coding, and security testing. It valuable resource for developers, security professionals, and students.
Provides a practical guide to threat modeling. It covers the basics of threat modeling, as well as specific techniques for modeling different types of systems. It valuable resource for developers, security professionals, and students.
Provides a comprehensive overview of security engineering principles and practices. It covers a wide range of topics, including threat modeling, secure coding, and security testing. It valuable resource for developers, security professionals, and students.
Provides a comprehensive guide to secure coding in C. It covers a wide range of topics, including memory management, input validation, and error handling. It valuable resource for developers who want to write secure code.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the Rust programming language. It covers a wide range of topics, including memory management, concurrency, and error handling. It valuable resource for developers who want to learn more about Rust.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the Go programming language. It covers a wide range of topics, including concurrency, error handling, and testing. It valuable resource for developers who want to learn more about Go.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the Java programming language. It covers a wide range of topics, including syntax, semantics, and the Java Virtual Machine. It valuable resource for developers who want to learn more about Java.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the C programming language. It covers a wide range of topics, including syntax, semantics, and the C preprocessor. It valuable resource for developers who want to learn more about C.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the C++ programming language. It covers a wide range of topics, including syntax, semantics, and the C++ Standard Library. It valuable resource for developers who want to learn more about C++.

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