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A Secure Development Policy sets out an organization's rules and standards for creating safe, reliable software and systems. It guides developers and IT teams on essential security practices, from initial design through testing and deployment, aligning with New Zealand's Privacy Act 2020 and cybersecurity frameworks.

This policy helps protect sensitive data, prevent security breaches, and ensure compliance with local regulations. It typically covers code review requirements, encryption standards, access controls, and vulnerability testing protocols. For Kiwi businesses handling personal information or critical systems, having this policy demonstrates due diligence and supports their privacy and security obligations.

Organizations need a Secure Development Policy when creating new software applications, updating existing systems, or handling sensitive data. This becomes especially crucial for companies subject to New Zealand's Privacy Act 2020 or those developing solutions for healthcare, financial services, or government sectors.

The policy proves particularly valuable during security audits, privacy impact assessments, and when onboarding new development teams. It helps prevent costly security breaches, maintains regulatory compliance, and builds trust with customers and partners. Many organizations implement it before starting major digital projects or when expanding their development operations across multiple teams.

• Basic Policy: Essential security controls and coding standards for small to medium businesses developing internal applications.
• Enterprise-Grade Policy: Comprehensive framework covering multiple development teams, third-party integrations, and complex system architectures.
• Cloud-First Policy: Specialized guidelines for organizations building cloud-native applications, emphasizing data sovereignty under NZ law.
• High-Security Policy: Rigorous controls for financial institutions, government agencies, or healthcare providers handling sensitive data.
• Agile-Adapted Policy: Modified security requirements that maintain protection while supporting rapid development cycles.

• IT Directors and CISOs: Responsible for creating and maintaining the Secure Development Policy, ensuring it aligns with organizational goals and risk tolerance.
• Development Teams: Must follow the policy's requirements during software creation, testing, and deployment phases.
• Security Managers: Oversee policy implementation, conduct audits, and ensure compliance with NZ privacy regulations.
• Legal Counsel: Review policy content to ensure alignment with Privacy Act 2020 and industry regulations.
• Third-Party Developers: Often required to comply when working on projects for NZ organizations.

• Development Environment: Document your current software development tools, platforms, and methodologies.
• Risk Assessment: Map out sensitive data types, compliance requirements under NZ law, and potential security threats.
• Team Structure: List all development teams, their roles, and security responsibilities.
• Security Controls: Identify required authentication methods, encryption standards, and access controls.
• Testing Protocols: Define security testing requirements, code review processes, and deployment checks.
• Incident Response: Plan procedures for security breaches and vulnerability management.

• Scope Statement: Clear definition of systems, applications, and development activities covered.
• Security Standards: Specific coding requirements aligned with NZ Privacy Act 2020 and industry frameworks.
• Data Protection: Rules for handling personal information and sensitive data in development.
• Access Controls: Procedures for managing developer access rights and authentication.
• Testing Requirements: Mandatory security testing protocols and acceptance criteria.
• Incident Response: Procedures for handling security breaches during development.
• Compliance Declaration: Statement of adherence to NZ privacy principles and regulations.

A Secure Development Policy differs significantly from an Access Control Policy, though they're often confused because both deal with security measures. While a Secure Development Policy focuses on the entire software development lifecycle and security practices during creation, an Access Control Policy specifically manages who can access systems and data after deployment.

• Scope: Secure Development covers coding standards, testing protocols, and security requirements during development; Access Control focuses on user permissions and authentication systems.
• Timing: Development policies apply during the build phase; Access Control governs ongoing system usage.
• Primary Users: Development teams implement security policies; System administrators manage access controls.
• Compliance Focus: Development policies align with secure coding standards; Access Control addresses operational security requirements under NZ Privacy Act.