It is quarter to five. Robin from communications uploads a document containing customer data to an internal portal. “It’s internal anyway,” she thinks. The next morning, IT discovers the portal was accessible to external testers — without a password. The data has been downloaded. No one noticed until it was too late.
The e-learning Secure Development Lifecycle (SDL) shows how situations like this occur. Not through negligence, but through small assumptions within complex processes. The course makes it clear that security in software development starts long before code is written — with everyday actions by employees.
Secure Development Lifecycle is an approach in which security is embedded in every phase of development, testing, management and use. Not as a final check, but from the very first idea. And it is not limited to developers or security teams. Anyone who provides information, tests systems, communicates changes or handles data is part of the development lifecycle — often without realising it.
Participants learn what SDL looks like in practice. It is about awareness, collaboration and asking the right questions. About the difference between “this should be fine” and “could this have consequences?”. The course shows that risks often arise when things seem too easy: test environments without authentication, unclear access rights or changes going live without security review.
A strong focus is placed on recognising risks. Employees learn to spot warning signs, even without technical expertise. This fresh perspective is often essential. The course then covers prevention: cross-department collaboration, asking questions, following procedures and involving security early.
Even in mature organisations, things can still go wrong. That is why the course explains what to do when a mistake or incident occurs. The message is clear: report it immediately. No blame, no silence, no waiting. Incident response is a team effort — and every employee plays a role.
The course concludes by highlighting individual responsibility. Whether you work in communications, HR, support or IT, your decisions matter. You do not need to be a technical expert — but you do need to be aware. Asking questions, expressing doubt and reporting issues help prevent serious incidents.
Secure Development Lifecycle is not a checklist. It is a culture of shared responsibility, where security is a natural part of everyday work.
What will participants learn?
After completing this course, participants will:
- understand what Secure Development Lifecycle means
- recognise that SDL applies to everyone, not just developers
- understand how risks arise in development processes
- see how collaboration helps prevent errors
- know how to act when something goes wrong
- take responsibility for secure software practices
Who is this course for?
This course is suitable for:
- all employees, technical and non-technical
- organisations aiming to embed secure development culture
- teams involved in digital systems and data
- employees seeking clarity on their role in security
Why this course is relevant right now
More people than ever are involved in software development processes. Making everyone aware of their role in SDL reduces risk and prevents small mistakes from becoming major incidents.