Designing secure and resilient ISV applications

Understanding the evolving security landscape

Cyber threats have increased fivefold in the past year, with organizations facing:

• 340 million nation-state cyberattacks daily
• A rise in password attacks from 4,000 to 7,000 per second
• Over 1,500 tracked threat actors, up from 300 in 2023

With the growing sophistication of adversaries, prioritizing security is no longer optional—it’s a necessity. ISVs must take proactive measures to safeguard their applications and services.

Figure 1- Cyber threats in the Era of AI

Key security strategies for ISVs

1. Embed security into product design

Security should be an integral part of the software development lifecycle (SDLC), not an afterthought. By incorporating secure design principles early, ISVs can reduce costs and risks associated with vulnerabilities.

• Perform threat modeling to identify risks before development
• Use secure coding frameworks and avoid custom-built security controls
• Implement the Zero Trust model, assuming no implicit trust for users, devices, or applications

📌 Explore: Microsoft Secure Development Lifecycle guide

2. Strengthen identity and access controls

Identity remains the primary security perimeter. Implement strong authentication and authorization mechanisms to protect user accounts.

• Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to block 90% of cyberattacks
• Use conditional access policies to limit access based on risk signals
• Adopt least privilege principles to restrict access to necessary resources

📌 Start with: Identity and Access Management in Azure guide

3. Secure secrets and credentials

One of the most common security mistakes is hardcoding credentials in source code.

Instead:

• Store secrets securely using Azure Key Vault
• Implement automated secret scanning to detect exposed credentials
• Rotate secrets regularly and avoid long-lived access tokens

📌 Check: GitHub Advanced Security for automated secret scanning

4. Adopt a Zero Trust architecture

Traditional perimeter-based security is no longer sufficient. The Zero Trust model ensures continuous verification across:

• Identities – Enforce strong authentication and least privilege access
• Devices – Assess compliance before granting access
• Applications & Data – Restrict access based on risk levels

📌 Learn more: Zero Trust Guidance Center

5. Ensure secure supply chain practices

Many security breaches originate from compromised third-party dependencies. Strengthen your software supply chain security by:

• Using code signing and package verification for all dependencies
• Scanning for vulnerabilities in third-party libraries
• Implementing DevSecOps pipelines to automate security checks

📌 Read: Secure Supply Chain Consumption Framework

6. Protect against AI-specific threats

AI-powered applications introduce new attack vectors, including prompt injection, model poisoning, and adversarial manipulation. Mitigate these risks by:

• Using responsible AI principles to minimize unintended biases and risks
• Applying AI safety measures, such as Azure AI Content Safety
• Restricting access to models and validating input/output integrity

📌 Discover: Microsoft Responsible AI Guidelines

7. Monitor and respond to security threats

Effective threat detection and incident response are essential for minimizing damage from cyberattacks.

• Use Microsoft Sentinel for real-time security monitoring
• Automate threat detection with Defender for Cloud
• Establish an incident response plan to quickly contain and mitigate breaches

📌 Explore: Microsoft Defender for Cloud

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Take action: strengthen your security posture today

Security is an ongoing journey. By adopting proactive security strategies, ISVs can build resilient, trusted applications that safeguard customers and drive long-term success.

🔹 Want to learn more?

• 📅 Join our ISV Security sessions to stay updated on the latest best practices
• 🔗 Subscribe to Azure Security Updates for continuous learning
• 📞 Connect with your Microsoft account representative for tailored security guidance

Let’s work together to build a more secure digital future. 🚀

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Additional resources

To embed your security when you design your applications, explore these key resources:

• Security Development Lifecyle: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/securityengineering/sdl
• Secure Supply Chain Consumption Framework: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/securityengineering/sdl/s2c2f
• Cloud Adoption Framework: https://aka.ms/caf
• Zero Trust: https://aka.ms/Zero-Trust
• Adopt Security: https://aka.ms/trysecurity
• SaaS Workload: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/well-architected/saas/
• Join ISV Success: www.microsoft.com/isv