Mike Dover | 09 March 2024
Calling all cybersecurity enthusiasts! We are reaching out to you on behalf of Linux Foundation Research and the Open Source Security Foundation to invite you to participate in a significant survey aimed at enhancing secure software development education. Your insights will provide valuable guidance in shaping the future of security education for software stakeholders.
This research effort seeks to understand the current landscape of secure software development education, identify existing gaps, and pinpoint the specific needs of various stakeholders involved in software development. Whether you are a security leader, an engineer, a maintainer, or a developer, your perspective is crucial in helping us tailor educational resources to better serve the community.
Secure software development and deployment encompass a comprehensive set of principles and techniques aimed at mitigating security risks throughout the software development lifecycle and deployment phases. This approach involves integrating security considerations seamlessly into every stage of the process, from initial design to final deployment. By prioritizing security from the outset, developers aim to safeguard software against a range of potential threats, including unauthorized access, data breaches, system disruptions, and malicious tampering. Our goal is to ensure that software remains resilient and reliable in the face of evolving cybersecurity challenges, thereby enhancing trust and confidence among users and stakeholders.
The survey aims to explore a wide range of topics, including but not limited to:
- Desired areas of focus for security education beyond fundamentals, such as JavaScript, Node.js, Java, and Python;
- Integration of security principles into different stages of software development, including DevSecOps practices;
- Identification of gaps in current educational resources and programming; and
- The impact of different roles, industries, and company sizes on security education needs.
Participants will have the opportunity to express their interest in courses addressing strategy and metrics to achieve software security objectives while measuring and improving outcomes. Additionally, respondents can provide feedback on courses focusing on policy and compliance, aimed at developing internal security standards aligned with business goals and regulatory requirements.
The survey will also delve into the challenges organizations face in implementing secure software development and deployment capabilities effectively, including:
- The lack of security awareness and training within teams, leaving systems vulnerable;
- Cultural and organizational attitudes and structures resisting change or prioritizing other objectives over security;
- How the retrofitting of security measures into established workflows can be disruptive and require significant effort;
- Time and budgetary constraints;
- Staying abreast of emerging threats;
- Regulatory compliance and data privacy considerations; and
- Ensuring secure deployment and operations while maintaining the pace of continuous integration and continuous deployment processes.
By exploring these challenges comprehensively, the survey aims to identify key pain points and inform strategies for overcoming them to foster a more secure software ecosystem.
Your participation in this survey will not only help us shape future educational initiatives but also enable decision-makers across government, academia, enterprise, and civil society to champion a "security by design" approach in software development. Together, we can foster a culture of security-conscious software engineering and fortify our digital landscape against emerging threats.
The survey is anticipated to take approximately five minutes to complete. Your responses will remain anonymous and will only be used for research purposes.
We deeply appreciate your time and insights in advance. Should you have any questions or require further information, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at research@linuxfoundation.org.
Thank you for your commitment to advancing secure software development education!
And as a token of our appreciation for your valuable input, qualified survey participants will be eligible for an exclusive 40% discount on most Linux Foundation training courses and certification exams in our catalog*. Looking to level up your career in 2024? Whether you're focused on hardening your security skills, pivoting toward a new IT career direction, or adding new certifications to your resume, we've got you covered! If enhancing your security skills is your goal, consider earning your Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS) certification. Bundle the certification exam with its companion course, available as both a live, instructor-led course and a self-paced e-learning course, and take advantage of our free exam simulator included with all CKS exam enrollments. If you are eyeing a new IT career direction, explore our IT Professional Programs, which are designed to help you pivot in as little as six months. And for those looking to showcase their expertise with certifications, we offer a range of respected and verifiable certifications, from Linux and Kubernetes to specialized skills such as FDC3, Hyperledger, and Prometheus. Whatever your career resolutions for 2024, we're here to support your journey to success!
Ready to make a difference and unlock exclusive benefits? Click the link below to take the survey now:
Thank you for being a crucial part of our research efforts.
*Terms and conditions apply. Offer valid for qualified survey participants only. Discount applies to most Linux Foundation training courses and certification exams in our catalog. See website for full details. This discount code is not valid for any FINOPS or instructor-led training courses or certifications. More instructions and your discount code will follow in an email when survey data collection closes.