Secure Development Policy Template for Nigeria

A Secure Development Policy guides how organizations build and maintain secure software systems, aligned with Nigeria's Cybercrimes Act and NITDA regulations. It sets clear rules for developers and IT teams to follow security best practices throughout the software development lifecycle - from initial planning through deployment and updates.

The policy typically covers secure coding standards, vulnerability testing requirements, data protection measures, and incident response procedures. For Nigerian businesses handling sensitive data or providing digital services, this policy helps prevent cyber attacks, protect customer information, and demonstrate compliance with local cybersecurity laws while building trust with stakeholders.

A Secure Development Policy becomes essential when your organization starts creating or maintaining software applications, especially those handling sensitive data under Nigeria's Data Protection Regulation. It's particularly crucial for fintech companies, healthcare providers, and government agencies developing digital services that process personal or financial information.

Use this policy before starting new software projects, when expanding development teams, or after security incidents expose gaps in your current practices. Nigerian businesses facing regulatory audits, pursuing ISO certifications, or partnering with international organizations also need this policy to demonstrate their commitment to secure development standards and compliance.

• Enterprise-Wide Policy: Comprehensive guidelines covering all development teams and projects across an organization, typically used by large Nigerian corporations and government agencies
• Project-Specific Policy: Tailored security requirements for individual software projects, common in fintech startups and smaller development teams
• Cloud-Native Policy: Focused on securing applications deployed to cloud platforms, addressing specific risks in cloud environments
• Mobile App Policy: Specialized guidelines for mobile application development, meeting NITDA's mobile security requirements
• API-Focused Policy: Security standards specifically for developing and maintaining APIs, crucial for financial services integration

• Development Teams: Must follow the Secure Development Policy's guidelines when writing code, testing applications, and deploying updates
• IT Security Officers: Create and maintain the policy, conduct security reviews, and ensure compliance with NITDA regulations
• Legal Department: Reviews policy alignment with Nigerian cybersecurity laws and data protection requirements
• Project Managers: Enforce policy requirements throughout the development lifecycle and ensure team compliance
• External Auditors: Verify policy implementation and effectiveness during security assessments or compliance reviews
• Third-party Developers: Must adhere to the policy when working on organizational software projects

• Development Environment: Document your current software development tools, platforms, and frameworks used across projects
• Risk Assessment: Map out potential security threats specific to your applications and Nigerian regulatory requirements
• Team Structure: Identify all roles involved in development, from programmers to security testers
• Security Standards: Review NITDA guidelines and industry security frameworks relevant to your sector
• Compliance Requirements: List applicable Nigerian data protection and cybersecurity regulations
• Incident Response: Outline existing security incident handling procedures and reporting channels
• Review Process: Plan how security checks will be conducted throughout development stages

• Purpose Statement: Clear objectives aligned with NITDA guidelines and Nigerian cybersecurity laws
• Scope Definition: Specific applications, systems, and development processes covered
• Security Controls: Mandatory security measures for code development and testing
• Data Protection: Compliance requirements with Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR)
• Access Controls: Rules for code repository access and deployment permissions
• Incident Response: Procedures for handling security breaches during development
• Review Process: Schedule for policy updates and security assessments
• Compliance Statement: Reference to relevant Nigerian cybersecurity regulations and standards

A Secure Development Policy differs significantly from an Access Control Policy in both scope and application, though they're often confused because both deal with security measures. While a Secure Development Policy focuses on the entire software development lifecycle and security practices during creation, an Access Control Policy specifically manages who can access systems and data after deployment.

• Focus and Timing: Secure Development Policies govern how software is built securely, while Access Control Policies regulate how the finished product is accessed
• Primary Users: Development teams and security engineers use the Secure Development Policy; system administrators and IT managers implement Access Control Policies
• Compliance Scope: Secure Development addresses NITDA's software development guidelines; Access Control aligns with data protection requirements
• Risk Management: Secure Development prevents vulnerabilities during creation; Access Control prevents unauthorized access post-deployment