How to Trust Your Software Developer with Your Cybersecurity

Why security needs to be built into every line of code—starting now.

Software touches every part of your business. CRMs, accounting integrations, customer portals—all essential, all filled with sensitive data. But with over half of UK businesses reporting a cyberattack last year, the trust you place in your software (and the people building it) has never mattered more.

It’s not just about efficiency and innovation anymore. It’s about protection, compliance, and long-term safety.

So how do you ensure your software developer is as invested in your cybersecurity as you are?

This guide breaks down the most common risks in bespoke software development—along with the exact steps you can take as a business leader to avoid them. From insecure APIs to post-launch support, here’s how to build custom software you can truly trust.

The Biggest Cybersecurity Risks in Bespoke Software Development

The Biggest Cybersecurity Risks in Bespoke Software Development

One of the advantages of outsourcing your software project to a developer is the time and effort it saves. You’re busy enough without having to worry about becoming a tech expert overnight. But it still helps to have a broad view of the risks, so you can insist on certain practices and features to protect against them. 

Insecure Code

One of the biggest cybersecurity risks in software development comes right at the start of the software development life cycle (SDLC), insecure code. Insecure code is written when the developer does not prioritise security best practices. This leaves flaws and vulnerabilities in software, that can open the door to cyberattacks. Malicious scripts can be injected into the software leading to data theft (XSS) or attackers can insert code that allows them to modify a project (SQLi).

Weak Authentication and Authorisation 

Authentication and authorisation are essential for protecting the data in your software. Authentication verifies the user’s identity and makes sure they are who they really say they are. Authorisation determines the permissions the user has, such as what resources they can access. If your software was a theatre, then authentication would be out front checking tickets and authorisation would be the usher who shows people to their seats. 

Weak or broken authentication and authorisation therefore leads to unauthorised users gaining access to your software and data. 

Lack of Compliance with Data Protection Laws

Regulatory compliance is critical to cybersecurity and cannot be ignored. There are several regulations your software may need to align with. In the UK the most relevant are:

• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): Governs the collection, storage, and processing of personal data in the UK & EU.
• ISO 27001: An international standard for information security management systems.
• The UK Data Protection Act 2018: Enforces GDPR requirements while adding UK-specific rules for handling personal data.
• PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard): If your software handles credit card payments, compliance with PCI DSS is mandatory

 Noncompliance with regulations can result in fines, reputational damage and security vulnerabilities. For example, breaking GDPR can result in a penalty of £17.5 million or 4% of your company’s annual turnover. 

Insecure APIs

 APIs are like bridges between software platforms. They allow different programs to talk to one another and share data. For instance, online shops use APIs to communicate with your bank when you make a purchase. 

 APIs handle a lot of data; therefore, insecure APIs can lead to a litany of problems. Insecure APIs can be examples of insecure code or weak authentication, leading to the aforementioned cyberattack and unwanted access problems discussed above. But they can also have the data stolen in transit, return too much information leading to data leaks or be flooded with requests (DDoS attacks) if hackers are trying to overload your system. 

How Can Business Leaders Guarantee Secure Software Development? 

With the biggest risks in bespoke software development established, you may be thinking, what can I do about it? It’s easy to get overwhelmed. But by finding the right developer, asking the right questions and ensuring best practices; you can protect your business from the threats to cybersecurity.

Choose a Security Focused Software Developer

Secure software development is often a matter of prioritisation and communication. If cybersecurity was not at the heart of the planning phase, it can’t be delivered.  

Before even hiring a developer, communication is key. You should be asking questions about how they prioritise security throughout development. As well as emphasising how much of a priority cybersecurity and data protection are. This should help lead to secure code and APIs. As your developer should prioritise security appropriately. 

To reduce the risk of weak authentication and authorisation ask your developer about the following features:

• Multifactor authentication (MFA)
• Role-based access control (RBAC)
• Strong password requirements

Discussing all of this at the earliest possible juncture will help mitigate the risks. If potential developers can’t answer your questions clearly, they likely aren’t prioritising cybersecurity.

Test Your Software for Security Before Launch

It’s important to test your software before launching it. You’ll want to know if the software has all the features you requested and functions the way you wanted it to. But it’s important to also request a security test from your developer.  

Ask about penetration tests, static code analysis and vulnerability scans. If they don’t provide this service, then you can hire an independent third-party cybersecurity firm for an independent review. Helping to verify both functionality and security before implementing the new software in your business.

Ensure Post-Launch Support

Congratulations, your developer has finished your software, it passed all its security tests, and you have successfully implemented it in your business. But that doesn’t mean your software is secure forever. No matter how well your software is built, parts of it can break over time. Even a Rolls Royce needs an MOT now and then. 

Ongoing support should be an essential part of your package with your software developer. Patches and bug fixes should be implemented regularly to keep everything running optimally and to keep everything safe. 

New cybersecurity threats can arise that you aren’t protected against, because your software was developed before they were an issue. For example, it’s only in the last few years that AI has been leveraged by cybercriminals to enhance the sophistication of their attacks. The ever-evolving technological world means your business needs to have a long-term relationship with your software developer. 

Include Cybersecurity Clauses in Your Contract

Cybersecurity clauses in your contract can ensure secure software development. This is how you can guarantee effective testing and post-launch support. As well as best practices during development when it comes to secure coding. 

 You should also include compliance clauses for adherence to any relevant regulations. This can include GDPR, ISO27001 or more specific guidelines that apply to the industry your business operates in. If your industry is in a highly regulated sector like healthcare or finance, you may need to emphasise industry-specific compliance with your developer. Such as meeting NHS Data Security Standards or following FCA regulations.

Ensure Trust with Your Businesses Cybersecurity Today

In summary, you don’t need to be a tech wizard to secure cybersecurity throughout your software development project. Effective communication, finding the right developer and prioritising the best practices above is all it takes. 

At Unity, we pride ourselves on building software the right way, scalable and secure. If you’re looking for a software developer for your project, get in touch today.

Get in touch to explore bespoke solutions for your business!