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In today’s digital age, cybersecurity is more crucial than ever for organizations adopting the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) to deliver complex systems and software. As cyber threats continue to evolve, ensuring secure development practices is essential for businesses seeking to scale Agile practices without compromising data integrity, privacy, and security. In this blog, we will explore the critical cybersecurity considerations SAFe teams should implement to ensure safe and secure development.

#### 1\. Integrating Cybersecurity into the SAFe Framework

Security is not just a technical concern; it must be part of the SAFe framework from the ground up. SAFe’s **Built-in Quality principle** emphasizes integrating quality, including security, into every part of the development lifecycle.Treating cybersecurity as a **non-functional requirement (NFR)** ensures it becomes an integral aspect of development rather than a last-minute concern. This approach ensures that every Agile Release Train (ART) incorporates security protocols, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities later in the product lifecycle.

#### 2\. Adopting a Shift-Left Approach to Security

The **shift-left** approach to security is one of the best strategies SAFe teams can adopt. Traditionally, security testing occurs at the end of the development cycle, which increases the complexity and cost of fixing issues. However, with a shift-left approach, security is considered early in the development process. SAFe teams can incorporate automated security testing tools directly into their **Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)** pipeline. This allows teams to catch and remediate vulnerabilities early, minimizing risk and enabling faster, more secure releases.

3\. Security by Design

Incorporating security during the design phase is one of the most effective ways to ensure secure development practices. SAFe teams should follow **secure coding standards** and conduct **threat modeling** and **architectural reviews** to identify potential security risks during the design stage. Building security into the product from the start is far more efficient than retrofitting it later.

Furthermore, fostering collaboration among development, security, and operations teams ensures that security is considered for every feature and increment. With security specialists as part of the Agile teams, organizations can embed security controls seamlessly into their workflows and delivery processes.

#### 4\. Ensuring Continuous Compliance

For organizations operating in industries with stringent regulatory requirements, maintaining compliance is essential. SAFe teams must ensure continuous compliance by performing regular **security audits** during **Program Increment (PI) planning** and **Inspect & Adapt (I&A) workshops**. This allows for proactive identification and resolution of potential security and compliance issues, ensuring the organization remains aligned with relevant regulations.

By embracing **DevSecOps**, SAFe teams can integrate security within the development and deployment processes. This approach supports continuous delivery without compromising security or compliance, enabling faster and safer releases while ensuring adherence to laws like **GDPR**, **HIPAA**, or industry-specific standards.

#### 5\. Enhancing Security within the Agile Release Train (ART)

The **Release Train Engineer (RTE)** plays a crucial role in incorporating cybersecurity into the ART’s operations. It is the RTE’s responsibility to ensure that security considerations are included in release planning and overall program execution. To further enhance security, SAFe teams should designate **security champions** within each Agile team. These champions act as advocates for security best practices, ensuring the team stays vigilant and follows security protocols throughout development.

By making security part of every team member's responsibility, the entire ART can work together to mitigate risks, ensuring that security is never an afterthought.

Want to advance your Agile career become a [Certified SAFe® Release Train Engineer (RTE)](https://skillbookacademy.com/courses/safe-release-train-engineer-rte-certification-training) with Skillbook Academy's expert-led training.

#### 6\. Protecting Data and Privacy

Data breaches are one of the most significant risks organizations face today. To mitigate this risk, SAFe teams must prioritize **data protection** through encryption, data masking, and anonymization techniques. These methods safeguard sensitive information during development and production, ensuring that even if a breach occurs, the data remains secure.

In addition to data protection, it’s essential to ensure compliance with **global data privacy regulations** like the **General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)** or **California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)**. Integrating privacy protection into the development process helps minimize the risk of data leaks or privacy breaches, keeping the organization compliant and maintaining customer trust.

7\. Preparing for Incident Response and Recovery

Even with the best security practices, breaches can still happen. That’s why it’s essential for SAFe teams to have a robust **incident response plan** in place. Proactively training teams to recognize and respond to security incidents ensures quick detection and remediation.

Additionally, teams should have a **disaster recovery plan** integrated into their Agile practices. A well-prepared disaster recovery plan allows organizations to rapidly restore operations after a breach, minimizing downtime and mitigating damage.

![cybersecurity considerations for safe teams](https://skillbook-cms-prod-latest.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/cybersecurity_considerations_for_safe_teams_e8caf1dcb9.png)

#### 8\. Building a Security-First Culture

Cybersecurity isn’t just a set of practices—it’s a mindset. SAFe teams need to cultivate a **security-first culture**, ensuring that everyone from developers to product owners is educated on the importance of cybersecurity. Regular security awareness training is essential to keep team members up to date on the latest threats and best practices.

Conducting **blameless post-mortems** after security incidents can also foster a culture of continuous improvement. Instead of focusing on blame, teams can analyze what went wrong and how they can improve security protocols for future releases. This culture of learning helps teams evolve their security practices and respond more effectively to emerging threats.

#### 9\. Managing Third-Party Risk

Third-party vendors and tools can introduce security risks. It’s essential to establish strict **vendor security requirements** and vet all third-party providers to ensure they meet the organization’s standards. **Supply chain security** should be a top consideration, as vulnerabilities in third-party software are a common attack vector.

For example, a financial institution enforced strict security protocols for third-party vendors, avoiding potential vulnerabilities and safeguarding their platform from supply chain attacks.

#### 10\. Cybersecurity Governance in SAFe

Effective **cybersecurity governance** ensures that security remains aligned with business goals. By integrating cybersecurity into **Lean Portfolio Management (LPM)**, organizations can balance agility with necessary security controls. This integration helps organizations achieve their goals without compromising security.

An energy company incorporated cybersecurity into its LPM processes, ensuring all ARTs followed security protocols while maintaining high levels of agility in development.

Master the principles of Portfolio Management with Skillbook Academy's [SAFe® Lean Portfolio Management (LPM) training](https://skillbookacademy.com/courses/safe-lean-portfolio-management-lpm-certification-training) for Business Agility. 

### Conclusion: Achieving Agility Without Compromising Security

As organizations scale their Agile practices through SAFe, cybersecurity must remain a priority. By embedding security into every phase of development—from design to deployment—teams can create products that are both agile and secure. Leveraging strategies like shift-left security, continuous compliance, and a security-first culture ensures that SAFe teams can deliver value while protecting sensitive data and safeguarding against cyber threats.

With the right focus on cybersecurity, SAFe teams can maintain rapid development cycles without compromising the safety and security of their products or services.

Discover essential cybersecurity considerations for SAFe teams to ensure secure development practices. Learn how to integrate security into the SAFe framework, adopt shift-left security, protect data, and maintain compliance while achieving agility.

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