Application Security

At Bitaic, security is embedded in every stage of our application development and deployment process. Our commitment to security ensures that we deliver a resilient and reliable platform to our users, while protecting data integrity and user privacy. We follow best practices in secure development, continuous monitoring, and vulnerability management to maintain a secure infrastructure.

Secure Development Practices

Bitaic's application security is underpinned by a robust set of practices designed to protect code quality and prevent vulnerabilities throughout the software development lifecycle.

  • Azure DevOps for Source Control and CI/CD:
    • All code is managed through Azure DevOps, ensuring a secure and centralized version control system.
    • Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines in Azure DevOps automate testing, scanning, and deployment processes, minimizing the risk of human error and enhancing deployment efficiency.
    • Branch protection rules enforce that all code changes undergo review and testing before merging, maintaining code integrity and preventing unauthorized changes.
  • Code Reviews and Approval Workflows:
    • Code Reviews: Every code change is reviewed by a senior engineer to ensure adherence to security and coding standards.
    • Release Approvals: Changes to the production environment undergo an approval process, requiring electronic sign-off by an engineering lead to initiate the pipeline deployment.
    • Static Code Analysis: Code is automatically scanned with SonarQube for potential vulnerabilities, code smells (indicators that suggest potential design or implementation issues that could make the code harder to maintain, understand, or extend), and compliance with secure coding practices.

Dependency and Vulnerability Management

We actively manage and monitor third-party dependencies to detect and mitigate security risks from external libraries.

  • Dependency Scanning with SonarQube:
    • Automated Scanning: Security tools are integrated into our CI/CD pipelines to scan for vulnerabilities in third-party dependencies, identifying risks in real-time.
    • Vulnerability Alerts: Alerts are triggered for known vulnerabilities in NuGet packages and other dependencies, and patches or alternative libraries are implemented as needed.
    • License Compliance: Dependencies are also reviewed for license compliance, ensuring we adhere to legal requirements and avoid using risky or outdated packages.
  • NuGet Package Security:
    • Bitaic uses third-party NuGet scanning tools to analyze every NuGet package for vulnerabilities and maintain a secure dependency tree.
    • A dependency risk assessment is conducted periodically to verify that each package is still secure and aligned with our compliance standards.
    • Automated Updates: Dependencies are automatically updated to the latest stable versions where possible, and all critical patches are applied immediately to maintain the integrity of our software.

Code Quality and Security Testing

To maintain high standards in code quality, Bitaic employs a combination of automated and manual security testing throughout the development cycle.

  • Static Application Security Testing (SAST):
    • Bitaic uses SonarQube and other SAST tools to perform static code analysis on each commit, identifying vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and insecure deserialization.
    • Real-Time Feedback: Developers receive immediate feedback on security risks directly in their development environment, helping prevent vulnerabilities early in the coding phase.

Secure Deployment Practices

Our deployment process is designed to maintain high security and control, ensuring that only verified and approved code reaches production.

  • Controlled Release Pipeline:
    • Multiple Environments: All deployments go through a multi-stage pipeline in Azure DevOps, including staging and pre-production environments where extensive testing occurs.
    • Release Approvals: Each release requires explicit approval from the Product Lead to ensure compliance with security standards.
    • Rollback Mechanism: A rollback process is in place for each deployment, allowing us to revert to previous versions if any issues or vulnerabilities are detected.
  • Environment-Specific Configuration:
    • Sensitive configuration information, such as API keys and connection strings, is managed securely using Azure Key Vault.
    • Configuration settings are environment-specific to prevent cross-environment data leaks and reduce the attack surface.

Monitoring and Incident Response

Bitaic uses continuous monitoring and a proactive incident response approach to detect and respond to potential security threats.

  • Real-Time Monitoring:
    • Security events and logs are continuously monitored for suspicious activities across the platform.
    • Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) monitor traffic patterns and detect anomalous behaviors, alerting the security team in real-time.
  • Automated Incident Response:
    • Our incident response process includes automated alerts and workflows to notify the security team of critical issues immediately.
    • Root Cause Analysis: Every security incident undergoes a root cause analysis to identify contributing factors, document findings, and implement long-term security enhancements.
    • Incident Playbooks: Predefined incident playbooks are available to guide the response to common security scenarios, such as attempted breaches, vulnerability exploits, and system anomalies.
  • Security Audits and Compliance Checks:
    • Bitaic conducts regular security audits and compliance reviews to identify improvements and ensure alignment with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
    • Quarterly Reviews: The platform's security posture is reviewed quarterly, including all tools, configurations, and access controls, to ensure that security remains robust and up to date.

Data Protection and Access Controls

Bitaic's commitment to data security extends to strict data protection and access control measures to prevent unauthorized access.

  • Role-Based Access Control (RBAC):
    • Access to systems and data is managed using role-based access control, restricting user permissions based on their role within the organization.
    • Only authorized personnel have access to sensitive systems, and permissions are reviewed regularly to enforce the principle of least privilege.
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):
    • MFA is required for access to all critical systems, adding an additional layer of security beyond passwords.
    • MFA policies are enforced for all developers, administrators, and support staff, ensuring that only verified individuals can access sensitive data.
  • Data Encryption:
    • Encryption at Rest and In Transit: Bitaic uses AES-256 encryption for data at rest and TLS encryption for data in transit, ensuring data remains protected during storage and transfer.
    • Key Management: Encryption keys are managed through Azure Key Vault and AWS Secrets Manager, with access controls and rotation policies in place to safeguard keys.