WASHINGTON – May 12, 2021 – BSA | The Software Alliance welcomes the release of today’s executive order on software security. In the wake of recent cyberattacks, the executive order rightly identifies secure software development practices as an area where the government can improve security.

“We’re impressed by the breadth and boldness of this executive order, which takes an important step toward ensuring that the software the government procures is developed and deployed in line with security best practices,” said Aaron Cooper, Vice President, Global Policy at BSA | The Software Alliance. “Two years ago, BSA released our Framework for Secure Software to guide sound security policies. As the pace of digital transformation has continued to accelerate, thoughtful cybersecurity guidelines are more important than ever to protect our health and safety. We support the Order’s outcome-based approach, and we are pleased to see the central role NIST will play in identifying and developing appropriate software security frameworks. We look forward to working with the Administration on implementation and to promoting software security practices both in and out of the government.”

Cybersecurity requires a comprehensive approach to securing software, one that considers software development practices, the capabilities of the software service, and the software’s lifecycle. BSA’s Framework for Secure Software is a detailed, holistic guide to achieving these objectives – find it here.