What does 'security by design' refer to?

The concept of 'security by design' refers to the practice of integrating security measures into the initial design and development phases of a system or product. This approach ensures that security considerations are built into the framework from the ground up, rather than being an afterthought that is applied after the system is already deployed. By doing this, potential vulnerabilities can be identified and mitigated early in the process, leading to a more robust and resilient system overall.

This method emphasizes the proactive identification of security requirements and the incorporation of security principles—such as confidentiality, integrity, and availability—into the architecture of the system. As a result, systems designed with security in mind are typically better equipped to withstand attacks and protect sensitive data compared to those where security is treated as an add-on or secondary concern. This proactive stance not only enhances security but also reduces long-term costs, as fixing security flaws post-deployment can be significantly more expensive and complex.