03.02.2025
Try to imagine: your company has launched a new application, and within a few days it comes under attack from hackers. Customer data has been stolen, the system has been hacked, and your reputation is at risk. Why? The answer is simple, the security system has not been integrated into the development process.

It’s not just apps that are under threat : financial services could be a target for payment data theft, hospital systems could be a source of medical records leakage, and enterprise software could be a gateway for malware that paralyzes the company's operations.

Nowadays, security is not an advantage but a necessity that requires a consistent approach. It is provided by Secure Software Lifecycle (SLC), a concept that integrates security measures at all stages of the software development lifecycle.

That's why businesses require an SLC audit. In Ukraine, this service is provided by IT Specialist: our team has received a license from the Payment Card Industry (PCI) and is ready to tell you how we implement security solutions in practice. 

SLC Audit License: What is it?

Earlier, we explained in detail what PCI SLS is and why it is important for modern companies. Today, we'd like to tell you more about the process of obtaining a license and the new benefits we can offer our clients.
So, the SLC audit license is granted to organizations that meet the requirements and standards of the relevant authorities, in particular the PCI Security Standards Council. This document confirms that the auditing company has the expertise, qualifications, and technical capabilities to assess software development processes for compliance with security standards. 

License confirming the right of IT Specialist to conduct Secure Software Lifecycle (SLC) audits
The license allows us to conduct independent process audits, analyze risks, identify weaknesses, and provide recommendations for eliminating vulnerabilities. Only 51 companies in the world have such a permit, and the IT Specialist team is proud to be among the best specialists and provide its clients with the highest level of services.

IT Specialist is on the list of the world's best companies eligible for PCI audit and certification

Requirements for obtaining an SLC license

To become an SLC auditor, an organization must meet several strict criteria. Among them:

● availability of certified specialists - the staff must include qualified auditors with experience in assessing development processes, software security, and DevSecOps approaches;
● experience in the field of cybersecurity and audits - the company must have a proven history of successful audits in the field of information security, and experience with financial institutions, banks, payment service providers and financial software developers is important;
● implemented security policies and procedures - the organization should have its own security management processes that comply with international standards (for example, NIST, which we have described earlier), as well as internal policies that include mechanisms for information security, risk management and incident response;
● technical capabilities and tools - the audit company should use specialized software security analysis tools, including static and dynamic code analysis, penetration testing, and have access to technology for process evaluation;
● compliance with PCI SLC standards - in order to be able to audit other organizations, the company must be assessed independently and regularly update its audit standards in accordance with changes in the standards.

Thanks to the careful control of all stages, IT Specialist has obtained a license that allows us to conduct audits, certify developers, help companies meet security requirements, and minimize cyber threats.

Who needs a Secure Software Lifecycle (SLC) audit?

SLC compliance audits are an essential requirement for any business engaged in software development or implementation of software that is important for data security and financial transactions. Let's take a closer look at the main categories of clients of audit firms.

Software developers
Any company that develops software products for financial institutions, payment systems, the public sector, or other critical industries. The audit confirms that their development processes take into account the best security practices and that the code is protected from possible threats.

Financial institutions and payment systems
Banks, processing centers, payment gateways, and other services work with large amounts of sensitive data - this is the main purpose of their activities. And this fact makes such companies a real “bait” for hackers.

An SLC audit helps them align compliance with security standards and ensure the smooth operation of their software products.

Cybersecurity solution providers
Companies that develop or integrate cybersecurity solutions (EDR, SIEM, IAM, DLP) must meet the highest requirements for the reliability of their software. Certification demonstrates that their products pass several strict stages of security control.

Organizations working with payment technologies
Companies that develop mobile applications for online payments, POS systems, e-wallets, and other digital finance solutions must guarantee a high level of security for transactions and user data.

IT outsourcing companies
Developers working with large corporations, financial institutions, or government agencies must ensure that their software is secure and meets the security requirements of their customers. Conducting an SLC audit is a significant plus to your reputation, which will help you emphasize the advantages of your products and stand out from the competition in the market.

What is the purpose of Secure Software Lifecycle (SLC) audits?

We found out that companies operating in various industries need certification for compliance with security standards. But why exactly? Let's take a closer look at this question and consider the key goals of an SLC audit:

1. Identification of vulnerabilities at the early stages. An audit allows you to assess whether security mechanisms are properly integrated into the software development life cycle. This helps to prevent future cyber threats that can be exploited by hackers.
2. Compliance with international standards (ISO, IEC 27001, NIST, etc.). This is important for companies that work with confidential data, financial transactions, or personal in formation of users.
3. Optimization of development processes. Implementation of modern cybersecurity practices significantly improves the quality of the finished product and reduces the cost of fixing security errors after release.
4. Protection of business reputation. The audit ensures that the company adheres to basic security principles. This minimizes the likelihood of critical incidents and increases the organization's rating in the eyes of consumers, customers, and partners.
5. Training and raising cyber awareness of the team. During the audit process, development and testing teams receive recommendations for implementing security standards.

Thus, SLC auditing is a strategic process that covers almost all areas of the company's activities and helps to create reliable and secure software products.

What problems does an SLC audit solve?

A security compliance audit helps to eliminate many systemic issues related to vulnerability risks, regulatory requirements, and customer confidence. Let's take a closer look at the main ones: