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In an age where cyber threats are increasingly sophisticated and prevalent, organizations must prioritize integrating security into the very core of their technology. Security can no longer be an afterthought or a box to check; it needs to be part of the design and development process from the start.
This is the core principle behind “Secure by Design,” a framework developed by the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) that ensures security is embedded at every stage of the product lifecycle. At Netskope, we are fully committed to this philosophy, taking proactive steps to ensure our products and services are as secure as possible.
What Is “Secure by Design”?
Secure by Design is based on the principle that security should be a built-in feature of every product and service from the very beginning. Rather than applying patches after vulnerabilities are discovered, a Secure by Design approach advocates for developing systems that are secure from the ground up. This involves identifying and addressing security risks throughout the product development lifecycle—from initial design, through development, and into deployment.
By following rigorous software development life cycle practices, Netskope integrates security into each phase of the development pipeline. Additionally, we employ a strict security review process to ensure vulnerabilities are caught early. We are also building new standards to align code generation with cutting-edge security technologies like copilots, which can further enhance how we approach secure software development.
The Rise of the Secure by Design Pledge
In May 2024, Jen Easterly, Director of CISA, introduced the Secure by Design pledge. While it was initially signed by just 68 companies, the Secure by Design pledge has gained significant traction and now boasts more than 200 participating organizations–including Netskope–each committed to incorporating security from the start.
Being part of the Secure by Design initiative is an important signal of a company’s dedication to cybersecurity and can help build trust with customers. However, it is essential to recognize that merely being a signatory is not a silver bullet.
What matters is taking consistent, accountable actions to demonstrate how technology aligns with Secure by Design principles. Companies must move beyond the pledge and prove through their actions that security is ingrained in their culture and product offerings.
At Netskope, we recognize that security and compliance are essential components of our customer relationships, which is why