Navigating the Security Landscape with Security Champions 

Security Champions don’t just advocate for best security practices within their engineering teams; they become catalysts for fostering a greater security culture. How? They bridge the gap between security and development teams by facilitating communication, encouraging best practices, and bolstering security awareness. It’s important to note that their role is not to become new security experts, but instead, to act as liaisons and advocates of a more security-focused process. 

Introducing the Checkmarx Security Champion Program 

Checkmarx has developed an updated and dedicated program to help you build, nurture and empower your Security Champions. Our program aims to develop a network of security-conscious developers that are primed to help elevate their team’s security posture. 

This immersive learning experience, built on the bedrock of our Codebashing platform, presents developers with an interactive, game-like environment. Developers can now learn about application security at their own pace, while also being equipped with the essential skills and knowledge they need in order to champion security within their teams. 

A Holistic Approach to Security Education 

The Checkmarx Security Champion Program contains useful information for the entire range of engineering roles, including back-end, front-end, DevOps, and QA. The program, developed by our application security researchers, includes more than 80 lessons focusing on secure code writing. When participants complete the training, they are awarded a Security Champion Program certificate that is issued by Checkmarx. Security Champion Program certificates are issued at various levels, ranging from 1 to 3.  

Within the program, your developers will: 

1. Learn To Stay Ahead of Threats: Developers will learn how to remain ahead of security threats by continuously learning about the latest security vulnerabilities and best practices, through regularly updated content. 

2. Think Like a Hacker: Our lessons are curated from an attacker’s perspective, making the learning process both practical and relatable. 

3. Action-Oriented Learning: With hands-on exercises, developers can instantly apply their newfound knowledge and quickly observe the impact of their actions in real-world scenarios. 

A Culture Shift in Security Advocacy 

At Checkmarx, we understand that the goal of cultivating Security Champions goes well beyond just training— it’s nurturing an overarching security-conscious culture. Our program’s influence extends beyond the Codebashing platform, because it also containing: 

1. Continuous Learning: The program provides bite-sized learning modules and personalized learning paths, that can assist in fostering an environment of ongoing security education. That kind of environment keeps developers well-versed in evolving threats and secure coding practices. 

2. Enhanced Engagement: Gamification helps keep developers engaged throughout their learning journey. This helps create a proactive security culture where secure coding education seamlessly blends into developers’ daily routines. 

3. Codebashing Learning Paths: Tailored learning paths ensure that each developer acquires the appropriate skills that are aligned with their specific responsibilities, and helps promote accountability while empowering them to support security. 

Elevating Communication and Closing the Gap 

By directly linking lessons to vulnerabilities within developers’ integrated development environments (IDEs), Codebashing facilitates communication between AppSec teams and developers. This helps unite two pivotal groups in a collaborative effort.  

Boost your security posture with Checkmarx Security Champion Program 

Application security education must be an integrated part of the development process. Checkmarx is committed to empowering your developers with the knowledge, tools, and support to become true Security Champions. Through the Checkmarx Security Champion Program, we lead the charge in transforming development teams into CISOs and App Sec extensions. 

The Checkmarx Approach to Developer Experience 

DevEx considers all the tools, processes, and systems developers use during software development. A well-designed DevEx translates to more efficient developers, which could even lead to expedited releases with reduced bug rates. At Checkmarx, we recognize the importance of a comprehensive, developer-oriented approach to AppSec. We aim to seamlessly blend security into the developer’s existing workflow, allowing developers to concentrate on their main goal – developing exceptional applications.

In Application Security, TRUST is not just a word; it’s a vital element. It’s the bond that aligns CISOs, AppSec teams, security champions, and developers – shaping a security program’s framework, methodology, goals, and progress. Trust emphasizes the significance of an effective DevEx program, where developers can confidently navigate the security landscape while maintaining productivity. 

At Checkmarx, we believe that an effective DevEx program requires specific elements to thrive: 

1. Improved accuracy and heightened alert fidelity: Providing developers accurate security insight is essential. By enhancing alert fidelity, organizations empower their teams to take immediate action, focusing efforts on high-impact vulnerabilities that pose the most significant risk to applications.
2. Knowing where to start to make the greatest impact: Knowing where to begin can be daunting, especially with countless potential vulnerabilities to address. Effective DevEx programs provide clear visibility into an application’s security posture, offering prioritization mechanisms to identify and address vulnerabilities based on severity, and potential impact. This can allow for effective resource allocation, which can maximize the impact on application security. 
3. Seamless integration within the developers’ ecosystem: AppSec should seamlessly integrate into the developers’ existing workflow. This integration ensures that security is an intrinsic part of the development process that empowers developers to identify, and remediate, vulnerabilities in real time. Organizations that encourage secure coding practices may find they have a faster time-to-market. by embedding security checks into their ecosystems. 
4. Giving every developer the knowledge to write secure code faster: Developer education plays a fundamental role in a successful DevEx program. Equipping developers with the knowledge and tools to write secure code can save valuable time and resources. Comprehensive security education platforms, like Codebashing, provide interactive and gamified learning experiences that proactively enable developers to address security concerns during the early stages of development. 

By embracing these elements, organizations can create a strong DevEx program that nurtures collaboration, productivity, and security. Trust, accuracy, targeted prioritization, seamless integration, and developer education form the pillars of an effective DevEx strategy that enables organizations to unlock the true potential in their development teams.

The Integral Role of Security Education in Developer Experience 

Security education is a fundamental component of an effective DevEx strategy. When equipped with strong security skills, developers can identify and resolve vulnerabilities during the initial stages of software development. This proactive approach can minimize potential security incidents, while also saving time and resources that can be spent fixing issues later in the development cycle. 

Codebashing 2.0 is a revolutionary tool that provides developers with an interactive security education. It is designed to empower developers and give them the knowledge they need to write secure code from the first line. With tailored training paths, security champion programs, and an engaging, gamified learning environment, Codebashing has quickly become a trusted tool for developer-centric security education. 

“It becomes part of everybody’s

workday, identifying potential problems before they

start — and how to avoid them,” said Stearns. “The

learning is continuous and organic, with lessons and

best practices delivered to developers right when

they are needed. That is a powerful proposition.”

Joel Godbout

Cybersecurity and Networking Manager, PCL Construction

What’s New in Codebashing 2.0? 

We are excited to announce the launch of Codebashing 2.0, the next generation of our interactive secure code learning platform. Codebashing 2.0 brings a range of exciting new features and enhancements, including: 

• Personalized Learning Paths: To ensure relevant learning, developers can now access learning paths tailored to their specific skill level and needs. 
• Security Champion Program: This feature will help organizations nurture a culture of leadership and responsibility. This allows each department to have a dedicated security expert – building trust across your organization and facilitating effective communication between developers and security teams. 
• Engine Integrations: Codebashing can be seamlessly integrated with Checkmarx One, which allows for a familiar ecosystem for users.
• Revamped UX/UI: Codebashing 2.0 offers a more intuitive, user-friendly design, making secure code learning accessible for developers of all levels. 
• Expanded Content: Our new library extends beyond the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) 2023 Top 10, covering a broader range of vulnerability classes for more comprehensive security learning. 

Ready to See It in Action?

Investing in Developer Experience is no longer optional for today’s software development lifecycle. Upgrade your DevEx to empower your team with secure code skills.  

To learn more about Codebashing 2.0, visit our page and schedule a demo today. Take the first step towards secure code and a better Developer Experience today.