Computer software assurance is the umbrella term for activities and practices intended to provide stakeholders with confidence that software is free from vulnerabilities and that the software functions in an intended manner.
The goals of computer software assurance are to make sure that a software product can be trusted to behave securely and as intended. Also, it guarantees that the software has been produced by a trustworthy process. Software assurance activities can be performed at any point in the life cycle. These activities include but are not limited to-
- Reviewing code,
- Performing static analysis
- Testing
- Penetration testing
- Fuzzing
- Threat modeling
- Conducting design reviews
- Implementing security quality management practices
- Running security tools on open-source components used in a system under development and doing source code analysis.
Why is Computer Software Assurance Important?
The benefits of computer software assurance are many. For example, computer software assurance is an excellent way to provide security for your personal and business information. Also, it can help you maintain control over your finances. Here we’ve discussed all the benefits-
Cost Savings – Major software vendors have reported between 20%-80% reduction in cost for testing, verification, and validation when automated static analysis tools are used as part of a formal software assurance program.
Increased Productivity – Automated static analysis tools increase productivity by quickly and efficiently detecting coding errors at the earliest stages of development. By finding and correcting defects early, end-users experience fewer problems when deploying and maintaining the application.
Reduced Risk – A recent report indicated that software quality is the number one concern among organizations evaluating and using open-source products. The use of automated static analysis technology has reduced vulnerabilities in open-source products.
Essentially, computer software assurance minimizes vulnerabilities and risks associated with computer software. One should strive to minimize the opportunities for malicious code to be executed, either inadvertently or intentionally.
The most common form of malicious code is a virus. Viruses are typically spread through email communication, sometimes attached to an email as an attachment or embedded within the text of an Email message. They can also be spread via network drives, instant messaging, and peer-to-peer networks (especially on IRC servers). Computer worms are similar to viruses. They replicate themselves autonomously, but unlike viruses, worms do not require human intervention to replicate themselves. They often take advantage of security holes in operating systems, application programs, and network protocols. Some viruses and worms allow malicious users to take control of infected computers remotely.
Promotes tracking of daily activities-Computer software assurance is also beneficial. It can help you keep track of the various things you have to do daily. The various programs available can help you keep track of projects, correspondence, appointments, and much more. With this type of program, you will keep track of all your important information without having to write everything down on paper or enter it into a spreadsheet.
Gives you control of your finances– In addition to helping you maintain control over your finances, computer software assurance is also beneficial because it can help you maintain control over your time. With this type of program, you can schedule meetings, make appointments, manage your email accounts, and do other important things to you in a very efficient manner. This means that you will not only have more free time but also more time for yourself and other activities that are important to you.
What’s the Concept of Computer Software Assurance?
The most important concept of computer software assurance is ensuring that the information in a computer system cannot be accessed by unauthorized users. The term unauthorized user can refer to anyone who is not a trusted system user, including hackers and malicious users. There are many ways to prevent unauthorized access, such as firewalls, access control lists (ACLs), and encryption.
Computer software assurance also requires that there are proper safeguards in place to protect critical information from theft or corruption. Data protection can include encrypting data using solid algorithms like RSA, using data stores with strong authentication mechanisms like Kerberos, or using access control mechanisms like ACLs.
Finally, good software assurance requires that all system components work together in a safe manner. For example, if an application has a password field that allows passwords up to 32 characters long and another component limits passwords to 16 characters, then the two components do not work together safely. However, CSA will ensure all systems parts function simultaneously.
