Secure SDLC, or Secure Software Development Life Cycle, is a development process that builds security into every stage of software creation. Instead of checking for problems only at the end, teams add code review, threat modeling, testing, dependency checks, secret scanning, and approval gates from the start.
This matters because security flaws are cheaper and easier to fix before software ships. In modern environments, especially with AI-assisted coding, teams can produce more code faster, but speed can also amplify mistakes such as vulnerable libraries, exposed credentials, or unsafe logic. A Secure SDLC helps defenders catch those issues before release and keeps AI-generated changes subject to the same controls as human-written code. In real attacks, weak development processes are often exploited through dependency poisoning, leaked secrets, or rushed deployments. A strong Secure SDLC reduces that risk by making security a routine part of delivery, not a last-minute patch.