At each key step of your life, before taking critical decision, you evaluate wisely the risk, calculating the pros and cons. The same mindset applies when integrating software and hardware into your organization. Deploying software without evaluating risks can introduce vulnerabilities.

The Growing Threat of Supply Chain Attacks

Cybercriminals increasingly target software supply chains, injecting malicious code into trusted components. The 2024 Sonatype State of the Software Supply Chain report identified 512,847 malicious packages—up 156% from the previous year. Traditional security tools often fail to detect these threats.

A major 2024 attack exploited the Python Package Index (PyPI), where attackers disguised malware as AI chatbot tools, compromising thousands of applications. This highlights the urgent need for robust security evaluations before deployment.

A Proactive Approach: Product Security Testing (PST)

Organizations must adopt Product Security Testing (PST) to assess software risks before deployment, addressing key questions:

• What risks does this product introduce?
• Is there a safer alternative?
• What security measures should be implemented?

PST prioritizes high-risk applications while streamlining lower-risk assessments. It ensures organizations secure critical assets first while maintaining overall system integrity.

Think Like an Attacker, Defend Like a Pro

The SANS SEC568 course builds expertise in black-box testing, simulating real-world scenarios to evaluate third-party products. Following the Think Red, Act Blue approach, security teams learn offensive tactics to strengthen defenses.

PST enables organizations to document dependency mapping, threat models, and targeted mitigations, ensuring faster, more effective responses to vulnerabilities. Instead of relying on generic security recommendations, organizations with PST insights can implement tailored controls to prevent breaches before they happen.

Who Benefits from PST?

PST is valuable for multiple roles:

• Security auditors align risk assessments with compliance.
• Penetration testers analyze proprietary software beyond standard scans.
• Developers learn to code more securely.
• SOC analysts detect and mitigate threats from new software.
• Decision-makers make informed security investment choices.

Take the Next Step

For hands-on expertise in software security testing, SANS SEC568 offers practical training. Just as test-driving a car reveals potential issues before purchase, structured PST ensures organizations identify software risks before deployment. Adopting this methodology enhances security readiness and minimizes exposure to emerging threats.