Question: In the SDLC, where does secure coding fit?

A. Implementation

B. Maintenance

C. Design

D. Deployment

Correct Answer:  A

Explanation:

The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a framework that defines the tasks and phases involved in the creation of software. It usually consists of phases like Requirements Gathering, Design, Implementation, Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance.

Secure coding practices are most directly relevant to the Implementation phase, where the actual code for the software is written. During this phase, developers implement the design specifications, and it is crucial to follow secure coding practices to prevent vulnerabilities and ensure the security of the software. By applying secure coding standards and guidelines in this phase, developers can avoid common programming errors that lead to security issues such as SQL injection, buffer overflows, and cross-site scripting.

Here's a breakdown of each option:

Implementation: This is the phase where the code is actually written. Secure coding practices are vital at this stage to ensure the application is built securely.

Maintenance: While it's possible to incorporate security patches and updates during the maintenance phase, secure coding should ideally begin much earlier in the SDLC.

Design: While security architecture and design are important and are usually planned at this stage, secure coding practices are generally applied during the Implementation phase.

Deployment: This phase is about getting the software into the production environment. It's not the phase where secure coding practices would be applied, although security measures should be taken to ensure a secure deployment.