y
WHAT S SOFTWARE ENGINEERING?
Software engineering is the branch of computer science that deals with the design, development, testing, and maintenance of software applications. Software engineers apply engineering principles and knowledge of programming languages to build software solutions for end users.
Software engineers, sometimes called software developers, create software for computers and applications. If you’re an analytical thinker who enjoys solving problems and making digital products easier to use, you may find a career as a software engineer rewarding.
Software engineer tasks and responsibilities
Successful engineers know how to use the right programming languages, platforms, and architectures to develop everything from computer games to network control systems. In addition to building their own systems, software engineers also test, improve, and maintain software built by other engineers.
In this role, your day-to-day tasks might include:
- Designing and maintaining software systems
- Evaluating and testing new software programs
- Optimizing software for speed and scalability
- Writing and testing code
- Consulting with clients, engineers, security specialists, and other stakeholders
- Presenting new features to stakeholders and internal customers
Systems developer vs. application developer
Software engineers will usually fall into one of two categories, systems developers or application developers.
As a systems developer (sometimes called a backend engineer), you’ll build things like computer systems and networks that front-end (user-facing) applications will need. You can do this by:
- Ensuring that different types of software programs communicate with each other on one platform
- Creating and enforcing IT standards within an infrastructure
- Maintaining documentation of IT systems
- Updating to new technologies as needed
- Collaborating with development teams, senior systems architects, and data science professionals
Working as an application developer is more client-focused. You may work on either the front or back end of the system, designing software that the end user will interact with. Tasks might include:
- Developing applications for iOS, Android, Windows, or other operating systems
- Conducting an analysis of requirements and tweaking software as needed
- Releasing software updates
- Working with graphic designers, customer service staff, project managers, and other customer-facing departments
Why should I pursue a career as a software engineer?
If you enjoy solving problems and have strong analytical skills, a career as a software engineer can be both fun and challenging. And as technology continues to evolve, the need for software developers continues to grow (much faster than average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) [1].
Choosing a career as a software engineer gives you opportunities to work in many different industries and fields, as nearly all businesses use software. Whether you enjoy finances, entertainment, sports, real estate, or some other industry, there’s a good chance there are jobs for software engineers.
It’s also a career that allows flexibility in where you work. You may be able to work from home for companies in other states or even other countries. The important thing is that you’re able to meet deadlines and deliver a project on time.
What Is Security Testing In Software Engineering
Security Testing is a type of Software testing that uncovers vulnerabilities of the system and determines that the data and resources of the system are protected from possible intruders. It ensures that the software system and application are free from any threats or risks that can cause a loss. Security testing of any system is focused on finding all possible loopholes and weaknesses of the system which might result in the loss of information or repute of the organization.
Goal of Security Testing: The goal of security testing is to:
- To identify the threats in the system.
- To measure the potential vulnerabilities of the system.
- To help in detecting every possible security risks in the system.
- To help developers in fixing the security problems through coding.
Principle of Security Testing: Below are the six basic principles of security testing:
- Confidentiality
- Integrity
- Authentication
- Authorization
- Availability
- Non-repudiation
Major Focus Areas in Security Testing:
- Network Security
- System Software Security
- Client-side Application Security
- Server-side Application Security
Types of Security Testing:
- Vulnerability Scanning: Vulnerability scanning is performed with the help of automated software to scan a system to detect the known vulnerability patterns.
- Security Scanning: Security scanning is the identification of network and system weaknesses. Later on it provides solutions for reducing these defects or risks. Security scanning can be carried out in both manual and automated ways.
- Penetration Testing: Penetration testing is the simulation of the attack from a malicious hacker. It includes an analysis of a particular system to examine for potential vulnerabilities from a malicious hacker that attempts to hack the system.
- Risk Assessment: In risk assessment testing security risks observed in the organization are analyzed. Risks are classified into three categories i.e., low, medium and high. This testing endorses controls and measures to minimize the risk.
- Security Auditing: Security auditing is an internal inspection of applications and operating systems for security defects. An audit can also be carried out via line-by-line checking of code.
- Ethical Hacking: Ethical hacking is different from malicious hacking. The purpose of ethical hacking is to expose security flaws in the organization’s system.
- Posture Assessment: It combines security scanning, ethical hacking and risk assessments to provide an overall security posture of an organization.
Benefits of Security Testing in Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
Security testing is one of the integrated parts of software development, and one should always verify the system’s performance in terms of security and privacy.
The following are the advantages of security testing in software engineering.
1. Cost Saving
2. Protection from external attacks
Security testing reduces the risk of attacks by showing all the errors during the testing process. With the growth of technology, the security of the application is equally important. It becomes mandatory if there is any process of transaction and users’ personal data.
3. Saves Time
Getting errors at the initial stage of development saves time. Fixing bugs during development takes less time because the coder knows what to fix and where to fix it. If errors come during production, it takes time as well as reputation compromises. In today’s era, time is money, so do not forget to run security testing in order to deliver well-secured software.
4. Reduced intrinsic business risk
With the help of security testing, the team verifies software at all possible grounds. QA team ensures to follow a well-planned security testing so that the data of end-user could always be safe. If the security of an application is not proper, its reputation lowers, and as a result, the whole business comes at a risk.
5. Guaranteed quality product
Security testing brings quality to the software. During security testing, the QA team highlights all the bugs, and the development team removes the same instantly. This process brings quality to the software. Quality is the most influential aspect of any application, and one should never compromise with it, in any case.
6. Increase the demand for software
If the software doesn’t have any security flaws, it gains the user’s attention automatically. A secure system gains users’ trust and belief that increases the demand for the software. Rating and reviews are the elements that identify the popularity of the software.
One should always maintain a higher rating with positive reviews. If your application is free from bugs and does not have security related issue, then your system will always be in great demand.
7. Overall business growth
Quality drives traffic, and traffic drives revenue. As a result, there is overall business growth. Users expect one thing i.e. data privacy. If the data of the users are safe, people automatically give their favor. More people bring more revenue, and it ultimately increases the growth of the business.
Hence these are the well-known benefits of security testing in SDLC. The advantage of security testing is limitless, and one can experience the same by practical implementation. Hence in order to get accelerated business growth, always perform security testing.
If your system is secure, you will grow amazingly. We will keep on adding the new knowledgeable content in the series so stick to us. Keep browsing the page to know more about the achievements of the information technology world.
One should always maintain a higher rating with positive reviews. If your application is free from bugs and does not have security related issue, then your system will always be in great demand..
Drop your comment
