Blog Jay Syzdek, Director of Development

Zero Trust Software Development: A Security-First Approach

Photo by Dan Nelson on Unsplash

In today’s digital world, security is more important than ever. At The Tactile Group, we adopt a Zero Trust approach to software development, ensuring that security is a fundamental part of every stage of our projects. This approach protects our clients’ data and systems by verifying every interaction, assuming nothing is trusted by default, and implementing strict access controls across the board.

Why Zero Trust is Essential

With the ever-growing sophistication of cyber threats, traditional perimeter-based security models are no longer enough. In Zero Trust, every user, device, and connection must be authenticated and authorized before accessing any part of our system. This shift to 'never trust, always verify' ensures that vulnerabilities are minimized, and sensitive data is kept secure, regardless of whether the interaction occurs within or outside of our network.

Data Sensitivity and Secured API Communication

At Tactile, we place a heavy emphasis on secure data handling. All communication between our services, especially through APIs, is encrypted and authenticated to prevent unauthorized access. This helps to ensure that even if one part of the system is compromised, the rest of the infrastructure remains secure. We maintain the highest standards in data privacy, keeping our clients' information protected at all times.

Zero Trust in the Development Lifecycle

Security starts at the very beginning of our development process. We integrate Zero Trust principles throughout the entire software lifecycle, from the initial planning stages to the final deployment. By incorporating secure coding practices, continuous code reviews, and automated security testing into our CI/CD pipelines, we ensure that vulnerabilities are detected early, minimizing risks as projects move forward.

The Federal Government's Commitment to Zero Trust

The federal government is taking significant steps to enhance the nation’s cybersecurity through the adoption of Zero Trust principles. This push is emphasized by the Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity (EO 14028), which mandates a shift away from traditional perimeter-based security models towards Zero Trust architectures. As outlined by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Zero Trust is essential for securing modern infrastructures, ensuring that no implicit trust is granted to any user or system. Instead, continuous verification is applied at every access point. In alignment with CISA’s Zero Trust Maturity Model, The Tactile Group adheres to the following key principles:

  • Identity: Our robust identity management processes ensure that users are authenticated at every level, following a least-privilege principle to minimize potential risks. We implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) and continuous monitoring to ensure secure access.
  • Devices: All devices are verified and managed through stringent controls to prevent unauthorized access, ensuring compliance with the device security requirements outlined in the Maturity Model.
  • Network: We employ network segmentation and strict access controls to ensure that every part of the infrastructure is secured, eliminating trust between internal systems and external devices.
  • Applications: The Tactile Group integrates continuous security testing and monitoring in our development pipeline to catch vulnerabilities early and enhance application security.
  • Data: Encryption and comprehensive access controls ensure that data is protected at all stages, in compliance with CISA’s focus on secure data handling.

By aligning our processes with CISA’s Zero Trust Maturity Model and following the mandates set forth in the federal government’s cybersecurity strategy, The Tactile Group is committed to delivering secure, reliable solutions that meet the highest standards of cybersecurity.

Deep Dive into Our Zero Trust Software Development Framework

To offer you a better understanding of how The Tactile Group approaches security, here are key areas where Zero Trust is applied:

  • Separation of Frontend and Backend: We isolate the frontend and backend systems, ensuring that no implicit trust exists between components, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
  • Production and Staging Data Handling: Developers at Tactile don’t work with live production data. Instead, we use seeders and dummy data, ensuring that real customer data is never exposed during the development process.
  • The Least Privilege Principle in Access Control: Access to sensitive data and systems is strictly controlled on a least-privilege basis. Team members are given only the access necessary to perform their roles, minimizing potential attack surfaces.
  • Robust Authentication and Access Protocols: We use multi-factor authentication (MFA) and role-based access control (RBAC) to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to critical systems, providing additional layers of security.
  • Automated Deployment, Testing, and Continuous Integration: With CI/CD pipelines in place, our code undergoes rigorous automated testing to catch vulnerabilities early, ensuring a consistent and secure deployment process.

Conclusion: Zero Trust as the Foundation of Secure Software Development

At The Tactile Group, we recognize that security must be at the forefront of every development decision. By incorporating Zero Trust principles into our entire process—securing APIs, isolating frontend and backend systems, and enforcing strict access controls—we deliver solutions that our clients can trust. Our development lifecycle is grounded in the belief that every connection, system, and user must be verified, ensuring that security remains a top priority.

As Stephen Vinson, Director of Security at The Tactile Group, puts it:

Our mission is to provide our clients with not just great solutions, but solutions that they can trust. Security, transparency, and integrity are at the core of what we do. By adopting a Zero Trust framework, we ensure that we’re delivering top-tier products while maintaining the highest level of protection for our clients' most valuable assets.

By building Zero Trust into everything we do, The Tactile Group remains committed to helping our clients thrive in an increasingly complex digital landscape.