Skip to main content

Security & Privacy Standards

Purpose​

These standards define the baseline security and privacy requirements for all projects using this system.

They are designed to support enterprise-grade software across SaaS, on‑premise, and hybrid environments, while remaining technology-agnostic.

Security and privacy are not optional features. They are default properties of the system.

Scope​

Applies to:

  • backend and frontend code
  • APIs and integrations
  • data storage and processing
  • logging, monitoring, and diagnostics
  • configuration and deployment

In case of conflict, the Definition of Done remains the final quality gate.

Core Principles​

  1. Security by design: threats are considered during design, not after incidents.
  2. Privacy by design: personal data is minimized, explicit, and intentional.
  3. Least privilege: access is restricted to what is strictly required.
  4. Defense in depth: multiple, independent safeguards are preferred.
  5. Fail safely: failures must not expose sensitive information or escalate risk.

Threat Awareness (Lightweight)​

Projects must explicitly consider:

  • what assets need protection (data, credentials, availability)
  • who potential attackers are (external users, insiders, compromised services)
  • which misuse or abuse cases are realistic

This does not require formal threat modeling, but assumptions must be explicit.

Input Validation and Boundary Protection​

  • Treat all external input as untrusted by default.
  • Validate and normalize input at system boundaries.
  • Do not rely on client-side validation for security.
  • Reject invalid or unexpected input explicitly.

Authentication and Authorization (High-Level)​

  • Authentication and authorization concerns must be explicit.
  • Authorization checks must be enforced server-side.
  • Avoid implicit or “default allow” behavior.
  • Permission models must be understandable and testable.

Secrets and Credentials Management​

  • Secrets must never be committed to source control.
  • Secrets must not be logged or exposed in error messages.
  • Configuration defaults must be safe.
  • Prefer environment-based or managed secret storage.

Data Protection and Privacy by Design​

Data Minimization​

  • Collect and store only data that is strictly required.
  • Avoid long-term retention unless justified.

Transparency and Intent​

  • Make data flows explicit: where data enters, where it is stored, where it is sent.
  • Avoid hidden or implicit data usage.

Personal and Sensitive Data​

  • Treat personal data as sensitive by default.
  • Avoid logging personal or sensitive data.
  • If sensitive data must be processed, scope and protect it deliberately.

Error Handling and Information Exposure​

  • Error messages must not reveal sensitive implementation details.
  • Distinguish between user-facing errors and internal diagnostics.
  • Prefer generic external error messages with detailed internal logging.

Dependency and Supply Chain Security​

  • Minimize external dependencies.
  • Keep dependencies up to date.
  • Respond to known vulnerabilities in a timely manner.
  • Avoid introducing dependencies without maintenance signals or justification.

Secure Configuration and Defaults​

  • Prefer secure defaults over permissive ones.
  • Configuration that weakens security must be explicit and documented.
  • Dangerous operations must require deliberate enablement.

Logging, Monitoring, and Diagnostics​

  • Log security-relevant events (authentication failures, permission violations).
  • Avoid logging secrets or personal data.
  • Ensure logs support investigation without creating additional risk.

Testing and Verification​

  • Security-sensitive logic must be covered by tests.
  • Include negative and abuse cases where realistic.
  • Validate that access control behaves as intended.

Incident Awareness (Basic)​

Projects must:

  • make it possible to detect abnormal behavior
  • support investigation and containment
  • avoid actions that would complicate incident response

Formal incident response plans may be added at the project level if required.

Compliance and Enterprise Context​

These standards are intended to support:

  • common enterprise security expectations
  • regulatory environments (e.g. data protection laws)

They are not legal advice, but provide a reasonable baseline for compliant system design.

Quality Gates​

A change meets Security & Privacy Standards only if:

  • security and privacy implications are considered
  • sensitive data is handled deliberately
  • no secrets or sensitive details are exposed
  • relevant tests and checks exist
  • Definition of Done is satisfied

Anti-Patterns​

  • Treating security as a post‑deployment concern
  • Relying on obscurity instead of explicit controls
  • Logging sensitive data “temporarily”
  • Hard‑coding credentials or secrets
  • Over‑privileged access by default