SF² and NIST SSDF Integration¶
Framework Overview¶
NIST SSDF (Secure Software Development Framework) - Focus: Secure development lifecycle practices - Website: https://csrc.nist.gov/Projects/ssdf - Purpose: High-level guidance for integrating security into software development
Relationship to SF²¶
NIST SSDF tells you WHAT security practices to implement in your software development lifecycle.
SF² tells you HOW to sustainably resource and scale those practices based on your organizational position.
Integration Approach¶
SSDF Provides the Practices¶
NIST SSDF defines four practice groups: 1. Prepare the Organization (PO) - Organizational security culture and training 2. Protect the Software (PS) - Development and build security 3. Produce Well-Secured Software (PW) - Secure design and coding 4. Respond to Vulnerabilities (RV) - Vulnerability management and response
SF² Provides the Implementation Strategy¶
SF² helps you: - Determine which SSDF practices to implement first based on your quadrant position - Choose between manual and automated implementation based on operational readiness - Sequence SSDF practice adoption to avoid overwhelming your organization - Scale SSDF practices sustainably without linear growth in security headcount
Implementation by Quadrant¶
Visionaries (Simple + High Readiness)¶
SSDF Implementation Approach: Automated from the start
Priority SSDF Practices: 1. PS (Protect the Software) - Automated build security, supply chain verification 2. PW (Produce Well-Secured Software) - Automated security testing, secure templates 3. RV (Respond to Vulnerabilities) - Automated dependency scanning and patching 4. PO (Prepare the Organization) - Self-service security documentation
Implementation Strategy: - Automate SSDF practices in CI/CD pipeline from inception - Policy-as-code for SSDF requirements - Self-service SSDF capabilities (developers implement without security review) - Metrics on SSDF practice adoption and effectiveness
Timeline: 6-12 months for comprehensive automated SSDF implementation
Leaders (Complex + High Readiness)¶
SSDF Implementation Approach: Platform-scale automation
Priority SSDF Practices: 1. All SSDF practices at organizational scale with platform effects 2. Advanced automation for complex SSDF requirements 3. Federated SSDF ownership (security champions, guild structure) 4. Continuous SSDF improvement based on metrics
Implementation Strategy: - SSDF practices embedded in internal platforms - Automated evidence collection for SSDF compliance - Organization-wide SSDF metrics and optimization - Industry leadership in SSDF practice innovation
Timeline: Ongoing optimization of established SSDF capabilities
Niche Players (Simple + Low Readiness)¶
SSDF Implementation Approach: Essential practices, pragmatic implementation
Priority SSDF Practices: 1. RV (Respond to Vulnerabilities) - Basic vulnerability management (highest risk) 2. PS (Protect the Software) - Essential build security (supply chain #1 priority) 3. PW (Produce Well-Secured Software) - Secure coding guidelines 4. PO (Prepare the Organization) - Basic security awareness
Implementation Strategy: - Focus on highest-risk SSDF practices first - Use managed services for SSDF capabilities where possible - Manual implementation acceptable at current scale - Avoid over-implementing SSDF practices beyond actual risk
Timeline: 6-12 months for essential SSDF practices
Challengers (Complex + Low Readiness)¶
SSDF Implementation Approach: Hybrid (automated for new, pragmatic for legacy)
Priority SSDF Practices: 1. RV (Respond to Vulnerabilities) - Vulnerability management across complex systems 2. PS (Protect the Software) - Build security for active development 3. Automated SSDF for new systems - Break legacy patterns 4. Pragmatic SSDF for legacy - Risk-based implementation
Implementation Strategy: - Implement automated SSDF for new/modernizing systems - Risk-based SSDF for legacy systems (not full implementation) - Gradual SSDF improvement as systems modernize - Avoid attempting comprehensive SSDF across all systems simultaneously
Timeline: 3-5 years for comprehensive SSDF as systems modernize
Contextual Modifiers and SSDF¶
High Attack Landscape Maturity¶
Impact: Accelerates SSDF RV (Respond to Vulnerabilities) priority - Automated vulnerability scanning becomes critical - Supply chain security (PS) moves to top priority - Manual response processes become existential vulnerability
High Regulatory Constraints¶
Impact: Requires SSDF practice documentation and evidence - Automated evidence collection essential - SSDF compliance reporting becomes significant BAU burden - May require comprehensive SSDF implementation regardless of risk
Crisis Events¶
Impact: Creates window for rapid SSDF adoption - Use incident as catalyst for automated SSDF implementation - "Never waste a good crisis" for securing SSDF resources - Demonstrates clear ROI for SSDF investment
Practical Integration Example¶
Scenario: Series B Startup (Visionary Position)¶
Current State: - Manual security reviews blocking releases - Basic SSDF practices implemented manually - Growing too fast for manual SSDF
SF² Guidance: 1. Assess Position: Visionaries (Simple + High Readiness) 2. Identify Scaling Crisis: Manual SSDF practices not sustainable 3. Constrain BAU: Manual security reviews for novel architectures only 4. Scaling Investment: Automate SSDF practices in CI/CD
SSDF Implementation: - PS (Protect Software): Automated build security, supply chain scanning - PW (Produce Secured Software): Automated SAST/DAST, secure templates - RV (Respond to Vulnerabilities): Automated dependency scanning, patch automation - PO (Prepare Organization): Self-service security documentation
Outcome: SSDF practices fully automated, security reviews reduced 70%
Key Takeaways¶
Use NIST SSDF for: - Comprehensive security practice catalog - Practice descriptions and outcomes - Regulatory compliance requirements - Industry standard terminology
Use SF² for: - Determining which SSDF practices to implement first - Choosing implementation approach (manual vs automated) - Sequencing SSDF adoption based on your position - Scaling SSDF sustainably without linear headcount growth
Together: - SSDF provides the practices - SF² provides the sustainable implementation strategy - Result: Effective security practices at appropriate scale
Next Steps¶
Continue to OWASP SAMM Relationship Back to Implementation Guides