Software Assurance Maturity Model

About

The OWASP Software Assurance Maturity Model (SAMM) is a security framework that helps organizations assess, improve, and measure software security practices. Unlike ASVS, which focuses on application security verification, SAMM provides a structured model for integrating security into the software development lifecycle (SDLC).

What is OWASP SAMM?

OWASP SAMM is a flexible and scalable framework designed to help organizations analyze, measure, and improve their software security posture. It allows organizations to define security goals, implement best practices, and assess their progress over time.

• Helps in building secure software development processes.

• Provides a measurable way to track software security maturity.

• Offers best practices and recommendations for security improvements.

Official OWASP SAMM Documentation: https://owasp.org/www-project-samm/

Why is OWASP SAMM Important?

• Proactive Security Approach – Unlike traditional security testing, which occurs at the end of development, SAMM integrates security at every stage of SDLC.

• Measurable Security Improvements – Provides a structured way to assess and improve software security over time.

• Tailored for Organizations of All Sizes – Can be adapted to startups, enterprises, and government agencies.

• Aligns with Compliance Standards – Supports ISO 27001, NIST, PCI-DSS, GDPR, and other security standards.

• Reduces Costs – Helps prevent security vulnerabilities early, reducing the cost of fixing security issues later.

OWASP SAMM Security Domains

SAMM is structured into 5 business functions, each containing three security practices. These functions help organizations integrate security into software development.

Business Function	Security Practices
Governance	Strategy & Metrics, Policy & Compliance, Education & Guidance
Design	Threat Assessment, Security Requirements, Secure Architecture
Implementation	Secure Build, Secure Deployment, Secure Coding Practices
Verification	Security Testing, Code Review, Security Audits
Operations	Incident Response, Operational Security, Environment Hardening

OWASP SAMM Maturity Levels

Each security practice in SAMM has three maturity levels. Organizations assess their current maturity and work towards higher levels by improving security processes.

Maturity Level	Description
Level 1 (Initial/Basic)	Security practices exist but are informal, inconsistent, or ad-hoc.
Level 2 (Managed/Standardized)	Security processes are defined, documented, and followed across the organization.
Level 3 (Optimized/Advanced)	Security is fully integrated, automated, and continuously improved.

OWASP SAMM Business Functions – Detailed Overview

Governance (Strategic Security Management)

• Strategy & Metrics – Defines security goals, KPIs, and progress tracking.

• Policy & Compliance – Ensures regulatory and policy compliance (GDPR, PCI-DSS, etc.).

• Education & Guidance – Implements security training for developers, architects, and stakeholders.

Design (Secure Software Design)

• Threat Assessment – Conducts threat modeling to identify risks early.

• Security Requirements – Defines security standards for applications.

• Secure Architecture – Ensures secure design patterns are followed.

Implementation (Secure Coding & Deployment)

• Secure Build – Enforces code security scanning and dependency checking.

• Secure Deployment – Implements DevSecOps, CI/CD security, and automated testing.

• Secure Coding Practices – Ensures safe coding standards (e.g., input validation, authentication, cryptography).

Verification (Security Testing & Review)

• Security Testing – Conducts static (SAST) and dynamic (DAST) security testing.

• Code Review – Enforces manual and automated code reviews for security.

• Security Audits – Regular internal and external security assessments.

Operations (Incident Response & Security Monitoring)

• Incident Response – Implements security monitoring, logging, and forensic capabilities.

• Operational Security – Ensures secure cloud and infrastructure configurations.

• Environment Hardening – Protects applications from misconfigurations, DDoS attacks, and server vulnerabilities.

How to Implement OWASP SAMM in SDLC ?

Organizations can follow these five steps to integrate SAMM into their software development lifecycle:

Step 1: Assessment (Where Are We?)

• Evaluate current security maturity using the SAMM assessment model.

• Identify weaknesses and gaps in software security.

Step 2: Define Goals (Where Do We Want to Be?)

• Set security improvement goals based on business risks.

• Choose relevant maturity levels and practices.

Step 3: Develop a Roadmap (How Do We Get There?)

• Define a step-by-step plan to achieve security improvements.

• Prioritize high-risk areas and quick wins.

Step 4: Implement Security Improvements

• Apply best practices for secure development.

• Automate security testing and integrate security controls into CI/CD pipelines.

Step 5: Continuous Monitoring & Improvement

• Regularly assess progress and refine security processes.

• Use metrics and audits to measure security improvements.

OWASP SAMM vs. OWASP ASVS – What’s the Difference?

Feature	OWASP SAMM	OWASP ASVS
Scope	Maturity model for software security processes	Verification standard for application security
Focus	Assessing and improving software security practices	Security requirements for secure applications
Use Case	Roadmap for integrating security into SDLC	Checklist for security testing and verification
Granularity	Business-wide security governance	Technical security requirements

OWASP SAMM is for strategic security improvements, while OWASP ASVS is for application security testing.