Product Security

Product Security is a specialized discipline within cybersecurity that focuses on integrating security practices throughout the entire lifecycle of a product, from its initial design and development to its deployment, maintenance, and eventual end-of-life. Unlike other security domains that might focus on networks or corporate infrastructure, product security is concerned with making the product itself—be it software, hardware, or a firmware-enabled device—resilient to attack. This is achieved by embedding activities like threat modeling, secure coding, vulnerability analysis, and penetration testing directly into the development process, a practice often called a Secure Development Lifecycle (SDLC), to build products that are secure by design and protect end-users from potential harm.

1. Foundations of Product Security
   1. Defining Product Security
      1. Definition and Scope
      2. Product Security vs Application Security
         1. Application Security Focus Areas
         2. Overlap Between Disciplines
         3. Key Differences in Approach
      3. Product Security vs Enterprise Security
         1. Organizational Security Concerns
         2. Product-Centric Security Focus
         3. Data Protection Considerations
         4. Product Integrity Requirements
      4. Product Lifecycle Security Integration
         1. Security in Development Phases
         2. Security in Deployment
         3. Security in Maintenance
         4. End-of-Life Security Considerations
   2. Core Security Principles
      1. Secure by Design
         1. Proactive Security Planning
         2. Security Requirements Integration
         3. Design-Level Security Controls
      2. Secure by Default
         1. Default Configuration Security
         2. Minimal Attack Surface Exposure
         3. Safe Failure States
      3. Defense in Depth
         1. Layered Security Controls
         2. Redundant Security Mechanisms
         3. Failover Security Systems
      4. Principle of Least Privilege
         1. Access Permission Minimization
         2. Role-Based Restrictions
         3. Privilege Escalation Prevention
      5. Security Left-Shift
         1. Early Security Integration
         2. Development Process Integration
         3. Cost-Benefit Analysis
   3. Security Terminology
      1. Vulnerabilities
         1. Vulnerability Definition
         2. Vulnerability Classification
         3. Vulnerability Lifecycle
         4. Vulnerability Examples
      2. Threats
         1. Threat Definition
         2. Threat Actors
         3. Threat Vectors
         4. Threat Intelligence
      3. Risk Assessment
         1. Risk Definition
         2. Risk Calculation Methods
         3. Risk Mitigation Strategies
         4. Risk Acceptance Criteria
      4. Exploits
         1. Exploit Definition
         2. Exploit Development Process
         3. Exploit Kits
         4. Exploit Mitigation
      5. Attack Surface
         1. Attack Surface Definition
         2. Attack Surface Identification
         3. Attack Surface Reduction
         4. Attack Surface Monitoring
      6. Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures
         1. CVE System Overview
         2. CVE Identification Process
         3. CVE Usage in Security Programs
      7. Common Weakness Enumeration
         1. CWE Framework
         2. CWE Categories
         3. CWE Mapping to Vulnerabilities