SEC11-BP08: Build a program that embeds security ownership in workload teams
Build a program that embeds security ownership and accountability within workload teams. This includes providing security training, establishing clear security responsibilities, implementing security champions programs, and creating feedback mechanisms to continuously improve security practices.
Implementation guidance
Embedding security ownership in workload teams is essential for creating a security-conscious culture where every team member takes responsibility for security outcomes. By distributing security knowledge and accountability throughout the organization, you create multiple layers of defense and ensure security is considered at every stage of development and operations.
Key steps for implementing this best practice:
- Establish security ownership framework:
- Define clear security roles and responsibilities for each team member
- Create security accountability metrics and KPIs
- Implement security ownership documentation and processes
- Establish security decision-making authority within teams
- Create escalation paths for security issues and incidents
- Implement security champions program:
- Identify and train security champions within each workload team
- Provide advanced security training and certification opportunities
- Create security champion networks and communities of practice
- Establish regular security champion meetings and knowledge sharing
- Recognize and reward security champion contributions
- Provide comprehensive security training:
- Develop role-based security training programs
- Implement hands-on security workshops and labs
- Create security awareness campaigns and communications
- Establish continuous learning paths and certification programs
- Measure training effectiveness and knowledge retention
- Create security feedback and improvement mechanisms:
- Implement security metrics and dashboards for teams
- Establish regular security reviews and retrospectives
- Create security incident post-mortem processes
- Implement security suggestion and improvement programs
- Establish security maturity assessment frameworks
- Integrate security into team processes:
- Embed security requirements in development workflows
- Implement security checkpoints in deployment pipelines
- Create security-focused code review processes
- Establish security testing and validation procedures
- Integrate security considerations into planning and design
- Foster security culture and collaboration:
- Promote security-first mindset across all team activities
- Encourage proactive security thinking and innovation
- Create cross-team security collaboration opportunities
- Establish security knowledge sharing platforms
- Celebrate security achievements and learnings
Implementation examples
Example 1: Security champions program management system
Example 2: Security training and competency management system
Example 3: Security ownership integration with development workflows
Example 4: Security culture measurement and improvement framework
AWS services to consider
Benefits of building a program that embeds security ownership in workload teams
- Distributed security responsibility: Creates multiple layers of security ownership throughout the organization
- Improved security awareness: Increases security knowledge and consciousness across all team members
- Faster security response: Enables quicker identification and resolution of security issues
- Enhanced security culture: Fosters a culture where security is everyone’s responsibility
- Reduced security debt: Prevents security issues through proactive ownership and accountability
- Better security outcomes: Improves overall security posture through embedded expertise
- Increased team autonomy: Empowers teams to make security decisions independently
- Sustainable security practices: Creates long-term security capabilities within teams