Development of secure software development lifecycle practices for financial applications

Posted: Sep 02, 2020

• Lucas Clark
• Lucas Nelson
• Lucas Scott

Abstract

The financial sector faces unprecedented security challenges in the emerging quantum computing era, where traditional cryptographic foundations become vulnerable to quantum attacks. Current secure software development lifecycle (SDLC) practices, while effective against classical computing threats, are fundamentally unprepared for the paradigm shift that quantum computing represents. This research addresses this critical gap by developing a Quantum-Resilient Secure Software Development Lifecycle (QR-SSDL) framework specifically tailored for financial applications. The novelty of our approach lies in its integration of quantum-safe principles throughout all development phases, creating a holistic security posture that anticipates rather than reacts to quantum threats. Financial institutions handle sensitive data including transaction records, personal identification information, and proprietary trading algorithms that require long-term confidentiality. The advent of quantum computing threatens to compromise this data through Shor's algorithm, which can efficiently solve the integer factorization and discrete logarithm problems that underpin current public-key cryptography. Our research responds to this imminent threat by reimagining secure development practices from first principles, incorporating post-quantum cryptography, quantum-resistant authentication mechanisms, and adaptive threat modeling. The significance of this work extends beyond immediate security improvements. By establishing a development framework that prioritizes cryptographic agility and quantum resilience, we enable financial institutions to transition smoothly to quantum-safe systems without disrupting existing operations. This research represents a fundamental shift in how financial software security is conceptualized and implemented, moving from reactive patching to proactive quantum threat mitigation.