Why secure code training doesn’t stack up (and what you can do about it)
Boring, boring, boring! That’s one of the main responses you’ll hear from developers whenever secure code training is mentioned. At Secure Code Warrior we believe there must be a better way, so we engaged with Evans Data Corp. to conduct primary research into developers’ attitudes towards secure coding, secure code practices, and security operations (download your copy of the whitepaper here).
In the soon-to-be-released Shifting from reaction to prevention: The changing face of application security, developers were asked about their main problems with current secure code training – and the answer was revealing.
Training that brings developers down
40% of surveyed developers felt that secure coding is taught in a vacuum. Another 40% felt the training was too theoretical, not related to their work, and not ‘hands-on’ enough. 30% identified a lack of training in the language:framework they work in every day. This is serious because it tells us that current secure code training is contextually irrelevant and has no meaningful relationship with what developers do every day.
For many developers, their main challenge is staying awake during mind-numbing, hands-off activities that are neither effective nor inspiring them to keep security front-of-mind.
Training in a vacuum prevents developers from making the cognitive links between the laboratory and the real world.
3 things developers want from secure code training:
- Overwhelmingly, developers say they want training that is more hands-on and more contextually relevant to their everyday work.
- 65% of developers say more training is required in language-specific vulnerabilities and the OWASP Top 10.
- 75% of developers surveyed prefer structured, on-the-job training.
Training that lifts developers up
When it comes to on-the-job training, developers bring with them a certain level of experience and existing knowledge. This points to the need for 'scaffolded’ learning. This is training that is structured – or scaffolded – to build on what the developer already knows. Scaffolded education both activates and enhances any prior experience while continuing to build new skills in bite-sized chunks. This makes it the perfect means for on-the-job learning.
Imparting skills that stick
When it comes to developer security training, we know that developers prefer the learn-by-doing method to the drudgery of theory-based static learning. In that sense, learning to code securely in a hyper-relevant, contextual environment is key. As champions of change in secure coding, Secure Code Warrior delivers contextual, hands-on education in relevant programming languages and frameworks, with challenges that mimic those developers face in the real world. Learning content includes over 5,500 challenges and missions covering over 147 different vulnerability types, including the all-important OWASP Top 10, OWASP Mobile Top 10, OWASP API Security Top 10 and CWE/SANS Top 25.
If you’d like to see the potential impact on your teams and their ability to deliver secure code faster, book a demo now.
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Boring, boring, boring! That’s one of the main responses you’ll hear from developers whenever secure code training is mentioned. At Secure Code Warrior we believe there must be a better way.
Secure Code Warrior makes secure coding a positive and engaging experience for developers as they increase their skills. We guide each coder along their own preferred learning pathway, so that security-skilled developers become the everyday superheroes of our connected world.
Secure Code Warrior is here for your organization to help you secure code across the entire software development lifecycle and create a culture in which cybersecurity is top of mind. Whether you’re an AppSec Manager, Developer, CISO, or anyone involved in security, we can help your organization reduce risks associated with insecure code.
Book a demo
Secure Code Warrior makes secure coding a positive and engaging experience for developers as they increase their skills. We guide each coder along their own preferred learning pathway, so that security-skilled developers become the everyday superheroes of our connected world.
This article was written by Secure Code Warrior's team of industry experts, committed to empowering developers with the knowledge and skills to build secure software from the start. Drawing on deep expertise in secure coding practices, industry trends, and real-world insights.
Boring, boring, boring! That’s one of the main responses you’ll hear from developers whenever secure code training is mentioned. At Secure Code Warrior we believe there must be a better way, so we engaged with Evans Data Corp. to conduct primary research into developers’ attitudes towards secure coding, secure code practices, and security operations (download your copy of the whitepaper here).
In the soon-to-be-released Shifting from reaction to prevention: The changing face of application security, developers were asked about their main problems with current secure code training – and the answer was revealing.
Training that brings developers down
40% of surveyed developers felt that secure coding is taught in a vacuum. Another 40% felt the training was too theoretical, not related to their work, and not ‘hands-on’ enough. 30% identified a lack of training in the language:framework they work in every day. This is serious because it tells us that current secure code training is contextually irrelevant and has no meaningful relationship with what developers do every day.
For many developers, their main challenge is staying awake during mind-numbing, hands-off activities that are neither effective nor inspiring them to keep security front-of-mind.
Training in a vacuum prevents developers from making the cognitive links between the laboratory and the real world.
3 things developers want from secure code training:
- Overwhelmingly, developers say they want training that is more hands-on and more contextually relevant to their everyday work.
- 65% of developers say more training is required in language-specific vulnerabilities and the OWASP Top 10.
- 75% of developers surveyed prefer structured, on-the-job training.
Training that lifts developers up
When it comes to on-the-job training, developers bring with them a certain level of experience and existing knowledge. This points to the need for 'scaffolded’ learning. This is training that is structured – or scaffolded – to build on what the developer already knows. Scaffolded education both activates and enhances any prior experience while continuing to build new skills in bite-sized chunks. This makes it the perfect means for on-the-job learning.
Imparting skills that stick
When it comes to developer security training, we know that developers prefer the learn-by-doing method to the drudgery of theory-based static learning. In that sense, learning to code securely in a hyper-relevant, contextual environment is key. As champions of change in secure coding, Secure Code Warrior delivers contextual, hands-on education in relevant programming languages and frameworks, with challenges that mimic those developers face in the real world. Learning content includes over 5,500 challenges and missions covering over 147 different vulnerability types, including the all-important OWASP Top 10, OWASP Mobile Top 10, OWASP API Security Top 10 and CWE/SANS Top 25.
If you’d like to see the potential impact on your teams and their ability to deliver secure code faster, book a demo now.
Boring, boring, boring! That’s one of the main responses you’ll hear from developers whenever secure code training is mentioned. At Secure Code Warrior we believe there must be a better way, so we engaged with Evans Data Corp. to conduct primary research into developers’ attitudes towards secure coding, secure code practices, and security operations (download your copy of the whitepaper here).
In the soon-to-be-released Shifting from reaction to prevention: The changing face of application security, developers were asked about their main problems with current secure code training – and the answer was revealing.
Training that brings developers down
40% of surveyed developers felt that secure coding is taught in a vacuum. Another 40% felt the training was too theoretical, not related to their work, and not ‘hands-on’ enough. 30% identified a lack of training in the language:framework they work in every day. This is serious because it tells us that current secure code training is contextually irrelevant and has no meaningful relationship with what developers do every day.
For many developers, their main challenge is staying awake during mind-numbing, hands-off activities that are neither effective nor inspiring them to keep security front-of-mind.
Training in a vacuum prevents developers from making the cognitive links between the laboratory and the real world.
3 things developers want from secure code training:
- Overwhelmingly, developers say they want training that is more hands-on and more contextually relevant to their everyday work.
- 65% of developers say more training is required in language-specific vulnerabilities and the OWASP Top 10.
- 75% of developers surveyed prefer structured, on-the-job training.
Training that lifts developers up
When it comes to on-the-job training, developers bring with them a certain level of experience and existing knowledge. This points to the need for 'scaffolded’ learning. This is training that is structured – or scaffolded – to build on what the developer already knows. Scaffolded education both activates and enhances any prior experience while continuing to build new skills in bite-sized chunks. This makes it the perfect means for on-the-job learning.
Imparting skills that stick
When it comes to developer security training, we know that developers prefer the learn-by-doing method to the drudgery of theory-based static learning. In that sense, learning to code securely in a hyper-relevant, contextual environment is key. As champions of change in secure coding, Secure Code Warrior delivers contextual, hands-on education in relevant programming languages and frameworks, with challenges that mimic those developers face in the real world. Learning content includes over 5,500 challenges and missions covering over 147 different vulnerability types, including the all-important OWASP Top 10, OWASP Mobile Top 10, OWASP API Security Top 10 and CWE/SANS Top 25.
If you’d like to see the potential impact on your teams and their ability to deliver secure code faster, book a demo now.
Click on the link below and download the PDF of this resource.
Secure Code Warrior is here for your organization to help you secure code across the entire software development lifecycle and create a culture in which cybersecurity is top of mind. Whether you’re an AppSec Manager, Developer, CISO, or anyone involved in security, we can help your organization reduce risks associated with insecure code.
View reportBook a demo
Secure Code Warrior makes secure coding a positive and engaging experience for developers as they increase their skills. We guide each coder along their own preferred learning pathway, so that security-skilled developers become the everyday superheroes of our connected world.
This article was written by Secure Code Warrior's team of industry experts, committed to empowering developers with the knowledge and skills to build secure software from the start. Drawing on deep expertise in secure coding practices, industry trends, and real-world insights.
Boring, boring, boring! That’s one of the main responses you’ll hear from developers whenever secure code training is mentioned. At Secure Code Warrior we believe there must be a better way, so we engaged with Evans Data Corp. to conduct primary research into developers’ attitudes towards secure coding, secure code practices, and security operations (download your copy of the whitepaper here).
In the soon-to-be-released Shifting from reaction to prevention: The changing face of application security, developers were asked about their main problems with current secure code training – and the answer was revealing.
Training that brings developers down
40% of surveyed developers felt that secure coding is taught in a vacuum. Another 40% felt the training was too theoretical, not related to their work, and not ‘hands-on’ enough. 30% identified a lack of training in the language:framework they work in every day. This is serious because it tells us that current secure code training is contextually irrelevant and has no meaningful relationship with what developers do every day.
For many developers, their main challenge is staying awake during mind-numbing, hands-off activities that are neither effective nor inspiring them to keep security front-of-mind.
Training in a vacuum prevents developers from making the cognitive links between the laboratory and the real world.
3 things developers want from secure code training:
- Overwhelmingly, developers say they want training that is more hands-on and more contextually relevant to their everyday work.
- 65% of developers say more training is required in language-specific vulnerabilities and the OWASP Top 10.
- 75% of developers surveyed prefer structured, on-the-job training.
Training that lifts developers up
When it comes to on-the-job training, developers bring with them a certain level of experience and existing knowledge. This points to the need for 'scaffolded’ learning. This is training that is structured – or scaffolded – to build on what the developer already knows. Scaffolded education both activates and enhances any prior experience while continuing to build new skills in bite-sized chunks. This makes it the perfect means for on-the-job learning.
Imparting skills that stick
When it comes to developer security training, we know that developers prefer the learn-by-doing method to the drudgery of theory-based static learning. In that sense, learning to code securely in a hyper-relevant, contextual environment is key. As champions of change in secure coding, Secure Code Warrior delivers contextual, hands-on education in relevant programming languages and frameworks, with challenges that mimic those developers face in the real world. Learning content includes over 5,500 challenges and missions covering over 147 different vulnerability types, including the all-important OWASP Top 10, OWASP Mobile Top 10, OWASP API Security Top 10 and CWE/SANS Top 25.
If you’d like to see the potential impact on your teams and their ability to deliver secure code faster, book a demo now.
Table of contents
Secure Code Warrior makes secure coding a positive and engaging experience for developers as they increase their skills. We guide each coder along their own preferred learning pathway, so that security-skilled developers become the everyday superheroes of our connected world.
Secure Code Warrior is here for your organization to help you secure code across the entire software development lifecycle and create a culture in which cybersecurity is top of mind. Whether you’re an AppSec Manager, Developer, CISO, or anyone involved in security, we can help your organization reduce risks associated with insecure code.
Book a demoDownloadResources to get you started
Benchmarking Security Skills: Streamlining Secure-by-Design in the Enterprise
Finding meaningful data on the success of Secure-by-Design initiatives is notoriously difficult. CISOs are often challenged when attempting to prove the return on investment (ROI) and business value of security program activities at both the people and company levels. Not to mention, it’s particularly difficult for enterprises to gain insights into how their organizations are benchmarked against current industry standards. The President’s National Cybersecurity Strategy challenged stakeholders to “embrace security and resilience by design.” The key to making Secure-by-Design initiatives work is not only giving developers the skills to ensure secure code, but also assuring the regulators that those skills are in place. In this presentation, we share a myriad of qualitative and quantitative data, derived from multiple primary sources, including internal data points collected from over 250,000 developers, data-driven customer insights, and public studies. Leveraging this aggregation of data points, we aim to communicate a vision of the current state of Secure-by-Design initiatives across multiple verticals. The report details why this space is currently underutilized, the significant impact a successful upskilling program can have on cybersecurity risk mitigation, and the potential to eliminate categories of vulnerabilities from a codebase.
Secure code training topics & content
Our industry-leading content is always evolving to fit the ever changing software development landscape with your role in mind. Topics covering everything from AI to XQuery Injection, offered for a variety of roles from Architects and Engineers to Product Managers and QA. Get a sneak peak of what our content catalog has to offer by topic and role.
Quests: Industry leading learning to keep developers ahead of the game mitigating risk.
Quests is a learning platform that helps developers mitigate software security risks by enhancing their secure coding skills. With curated learning paths, hands-on challenges, and interactive activities, it empowers developers to identify and prevent vulnerabilities.
Resources to get you started
Is Vibe Coding Going to Turn Your Codebase Into a Frat Party?
Vibe coding is like a college frat party, and AI is the centerpiece of all the festivities, the keg. It’s a lot of fun to let loose, get creative, and see where your imagination can take you, but after a few keg stands, drinking (or, using AI) in moderation is undoubtedly the safer long-term solution.
The Decade of the Defenders: Secure Code Warrior Turns Ten
Secure Code Warrior's founding team has stayed together, steering the ship through every lesson, triumph, and setback for an entire decade. We’re scaling up and ready to face our next chapter, SCW 2.0, as the leaders in developer risk management.
Developer-driven coding.
Securely.
Contact us today and make software security an intrinsic part of your development process.
