Early Detection of Software Flaws: The Key to Return on Investment in Development — Probely
Enterprises invest significant resources in addressing software vulnerabilities that make their way into their public-facing applications. The Consortium for Information and Software Quality estimates that the cost of poor software quality in the United States reached $2.41 trillion in 2022, which is nearly 10% of the current GDP in the US. This high cost of poor software quality is completely avoidable, especially considering the world’s increasing reliance on software.
In 2010, the global software market was valued at $232 billion. By 2030, it is expected to reach $1.4 trillion. Software is now integral to various sectors such as finance, business transactions, healthcare, manufacturing, energy distribution, and even automobiles. The importance of prioritizing software quality for public safety and cost considerations cannot be overstated. Apart from public safety and privacy concerns, the cost of insecure software to individual companies is significant, with clear returns on investment in identifying and addressing flaws early.
Every organization has a vested interest in enhancing the quality of the software they develop and doing so as early as possible in the development lifecycle.
Unfortunately, many enterprise development teams do not identify security-related software flaws while creating their software. Consequently, these flaws end up in applications used by customers, partners, suppliers, and employees, posing serious security threats as malicious actors may exploit them to breach enterprise systems.
Once a security-related flaw becomes known in production software, there is a race to address it promptly. If a company is fortunate, the flaw will be discovered during a security assessment by its internal team or a third-party provider. However, if the flaw remains undetected, attackers may find it and exploit it for data theft or ransomware attacks.
The benefits of quality software in terms of security and trust are evident. However, the business advantages and return on investment from high-quality and secure software may not always be fully understood. These benefits include:
Cost Efficiency and ROI: Developers can spend a significant portion of their time fixing vulnerabilities, and finding these flaws early in the development process can result in substantial cost savings. Automated testing in development also enhances efficiency and reduces the risk of breaches or regulatory fines.
Improved Efficiency and Productivity: Automated security testing offers rapid feedback to developers, enabling quick remediation and reinforcing good coding practices.
Risk and Liability Reduction: Detecting and addressing vulnerabilities early can mitigate risks in sectors like healthcare and manufacturing, leading to potential savings in legal and financial penalties.
Protect Business Brand and Reputation: Data breaches and security incidents can harm reputation, leading to lost business and customer trust. Identifying flaws early in the development process helps prevent such scenarios.
Lower Insurance Premiums: Quality software may lead to reduced cybersecurity insurance premiums, as organizations demonstrate effective development processes.
While the impact of quality and testing on security and software quality is evident, the business benefits and cost savings are also significant. Identifying vulnerabilities early in development leads to cost savings, efficiency gains, and risk reduction. These advantages make a strong case for integrating security testing throughout the software development process.
