Instead of chasing threats, it pays to be proactive. OWASP noticed the increase in technology's complexity and interconnectivity and recognized that it would become more difficult to secure our applications. That is what the OWASP Top 10 Proactive Controls are all about. It has become vital that we address all security problems, even the simple ones that we may have tolerated in the past.
OWASP’s Top 10 Proactive Controls is a curated list designed to address key appsec challenges. It aims to raise awareness about application security by describing the most important areas of concern for a developer. This list is a starting point for application security. These are the basic rules to follow; they are not, in any way, the entirety of a secure development process. Rather, these controls provide a solid foundation that can be used consistently throughout an application. A complete secure development process will include many other activities, such as tool usage, automation, and following requirements from a comprehensive standard like the OWASP ASVS.
These controls are especially useful because they are short and to the point. Each one briefly describes the issue it addresses, highlights related threats, and then jumps right into how to fix the issue. This is incredibly convenient for developers looking to answer their questions quickly.
There are controls for every basic question you may have. You can go to C1: Implement Access Control to find minimum access control requirements or to C6: Keep your Components Secure to learn how to identify and secure trusted libraries. These controls should form the foundation of your secure development process and be found throughout your entire infrastructure.
The OWASP Top 10 Proactive Controls list, like their other resources, is shared freely on their webpage. Beyond the OWASP resources, Security Journey released 10 brand-new lessons covering the top 10 list. These quick, focused lessons explain each individual control in detail, concisely and thoroughly.
Want to dive deeper? Security Journey’s new learning path covers each Proactive Control in a developer-friendly format, perfect for teams looking to build secure code habits. Schedule a demo.