Synology Secure Development Lifecycle

The development of secure software products is a central issue in the modern security environment. To this end, Synology, the world’s leading NAS brand, has deeply embedded and integrated best security practices through Synology Security Development Life Cycle (SSDLC). SSDLC in turn offers a higher level of guarantee that security is integrated at every step, starting from the inception of the software up to the deployment and to even its maintenance. This blog connects the dots regarding Synology’s SSDLC elements and how they fit into modern security challenges.

Introduction to SSDLC

Synology Secure Development Lifecycle is a formal process that inculcates many practices in the process of software development. SSDLC goes one step forward to reduce security risks by proactive application of steps regarding security at each step through the development life cycle. This is the reason that such vulnerabilities, which could have been dangerous by taking advantage of the weakness, are evaded.

Various phases of SSDLC can be broadly categorized as below:

Stage 1: Requirements Gathering

In the requirements-gathering phase, security is treated as a first-class citizen. Synology focuses on identifying security requirements alongside functional requirements. This involves:

• Threat Modeling: Security experts work with product teams to identify potential threats that could affect the system. By understanding potential attack vectors early on, the team can devise countermeasures to mitigate these risks.
• Compliance Requirements: Synology considers regulatory and compliance requirements relevant to its products. These may include GDPR, HIPAA, and other industry-specific regulations. Ensuring that products meet these standards from the outset reduces the likelihood of compliance-related issues later.
• Security Requirements Specification: A detailed security requirements specification is created, outlining necessary security features and practices, such as encryption, authentication, and access control.

Stage 2: Design

The design phase is where security requirements are translated into a technical blueprint. Key security practices in this phase include:

• Secure Design Principles: Synology adheres to secure design principles such as least privilege, defense in depth, and fail-safe defaults. These principles guide the creation of architectures that are inherently resistant to attack.
• Architecture Risk Analysis: A comprehensive risk analysis of the system architecture is performed. This includes identifying critical components, data flows, and potential attack surfaces.
• Security Architecture: Synology designs a security architecture that includes elements like secure boot, secure communication channels, and hardware-based security features (e.g., TPM).
• Design Reviews: Cross-functional teams conduct design reviews with a focus on security. These reviews aim to identify design flaws that could lead to vulnerabilities.

Stage 3: Implementation

During the implementation phase, security practices are embedded into the coding process:

• Secure Coding Standards: Synology enforces strict secure coding standards across its development teams. These standards are based on industry best practices, such as OWASP and CERT guidelines, and are tailored to the specific needs of the products.
• Code Analysis: Automated tools are used for static and dynamic code analysis. These tools help identify potential security issues such as buffer overflows, SQL injection vulnerabilities, and cross-site scripting (XSS).
• Dependency Management: Synology carefully manages third-party libraries and dependencies, ensuring that they are up-to-date and free from known vulnerabilities. This involves using tools like software composition analysis (SCA) to track and remediate risks.
• Secure Build Environment: The build environment is secured to prevent tampering and ensure that only authorized code is included in the final product. This includes using code signing and enforcing access controls on build servers.

Stage 4: Verification

Verification is a critical phase where the security of the software is rigorously tested:

• Automated Security Testing: Synology integrates security testing into its continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipeline. This includes automated tests for common vulnerabilities, as well as more complex scenarios.
• Manual Security Testing: In addition to automated tests, Synology conducts manual security testing, including penetration testing and code reviews by security experts. This helps identify vulnerabilities that automated tools may miss.
• Fuzz Testing: Fuzz testing is employed to identify unexpected behavior and vulnerabilities by providing invalid, unexpected, or random data inputs to the software.
• Security Regression Testing: As new features are added, Synology ensures that previous security fixes remain effective. This is achieved through comprehensive security regression testing.

Stage 5: Release

Before releasing the product, Synology undertakes the following steps to ensure its security:

• Final Security Review: A final security review is conducted to ensure that all identified issues have been addressed and that the product meets Synology’s security standards.
• Secure Distribution: Synology uses secure distribution methods to deliver software to customers. This includes code signing and using secure channels to prevent tampering.
• Documentation: Synology provides detailed security documentation for its products, including best practices for deployment and configuration to maintain security.

Stage 6: Maintenance

Security does not end with the release of the product. Synology continues to ensure security throughout the product’s lifecycle:

Incident Response: In the event of a security incident, Synology has an incident response plan in place. This plan includes steps for containment, investigation, remediation, and communication with stakeholders.

Security Monitoring: Synology monitors for emerging threats and vulnerabilities that could affect its products. This involves staying informed about new vulnerabilities and attack methods that could be relevant.

Patch Management: Synology has a robust patch management process to quickly address any discovered vulnerabilities. This includes providing timely updates to customers and ensuring that patches are applied without disrupting service.

Synology’s Commitment to Security

Synology’s SSDLC reflects its commitment to delivering secure products in an increasingly complex threat landscape. By integrating security into every phase of the development process, Synology ensures that its products not only meet functional requirements but also stand resilient against modern cyber threats.

Muhammad Adel

Former Nuclear Engineer | University Lecturer | Technology Advisor | Digital Transformation evangelist | FinTech | Blockchain | Podcaster | vExpert ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | VeeamVanguard ⭐️⭐️ | Nutanix SME | MBA | AWS ABW Grant’23

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