Security-Focused Code Reviews
Learn to identify security vulnerabilities during code review, implement security checklists, and build secure coding practices into your development workflow.
Why Security-Focused Reviews Matter
Security vulnerabilities cost organizations millions of dollars annually. The 2023 IBM Cost of Data Breach Report found that the average cost of a data breach reached $4.45 million globally. Many of these breaches could have been prevented with proper security code reviews.
The Cost of Security Issues
Security issues are 100x more expensive to fix in production than during development.
Security Review Checklist
Authentication & Authorization
Input Validation & Sanitization
Data Protection
Common Vulnerabilities to Watch For
SQL Injection
Malicious SQL code injected through user input
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
Malicious scripts executed in users' browsers
Insecure Direct Object References
Direct access to objects without authorization checks
Security Analysis Tools
Static Analysis (SAST)
- • SonarQube: Comprehensive code quality and security
- • Checkmarx: Enterprise-grade security scanning
- • Snyk Code: Developer-first security analysis
- • CodeQL: GitHub's semantic code analysis
Dynamic Analysis (DAST)
- • OWASP ZAP: Free web application scanner
- • Burp Suite: Professional web security testing
- • Invicti: Automated web application security
- • AppScan: IBM's application security platform
Security Review Best Practices
1. Make Security Everyone's Responsibility
Don't rely on one "security expert" to catch all issues. Train all developers on secure coding practices and make security part of every code review.
- • Provide security training for all team members
- • Include security questions in your review templates
- • Rotate security review responsibilities
2. Implement Security by Design
Consider security implications from the beginning of feature development, not as an afterthought during review.
- • Include threat modeling in design discussions
- • Define security requirements before coding
- • Use secure coding standards and frameworks
3. Automate What You Can
Use automated tools to catch common issues, freeing human reviewers to focus on complex logic and business-specific security concerns.
- • Integrate SAST tools into CI/CD pipelines
- • Use dependency scanning for known vulnerabilities
- • Implement automated security testing
