A Comparative Study of SSDLC Adoption: Challenges and Best Practices in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Large Organizations

Abstract

The Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC) integrates security measures throughout the software development process. Despite its importance in minimizing vulnerabilities, adoption varies significantly across organizations. This paper examines the challenges and best practices associated with SSDLC adoption in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) compared to large organizations. Through a literature review, theoretical analysis, case studies, and comparative evaluation, the research identifies key barriers and proposes actionable strategies for improving secure development practices.

Introduction

With increasing cyber threats, integrating security throughout software development—via the Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC)—is essential. This study compares SSDLC adoption between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large organizations, highlighting differences due to resources, expertise, and organizational structure.

SMEs typically use open-source tools (e.g., OWASP ZAP, SonarQube) and informal training, resulting in early-stage security maturity. In contrast, large firms adopt commercial tools (e.g., Fortify, Veracode), structured training, and achieve higher maturity levels. Case studies show SMEs can significantly reduce vulnerabilities with basic SSDLC practices, while large organizations benefit from enterprise-wide DevSecOps and formal security programs.

Challenges for SMEs include cost and expertise gaps, while large firms face coordination and complexity issues. The paper recommends tailored SSDLC strategies—phased adoption and community tools for SMEs, centralized governance and standardized processes for large firms—and emphasizes DevSecOps, risk-based testing, and maturity assessments for all.

Conclusion

SSDLC adoption is critical in today\'s digital landscape. While SMEs and large enterprises face distinct challenges, both can significantly benefit from tailored, proactive security strategies. This paper offers a comparative lens and practical roadmap for integrating SSDLC into diverse organizational contexts.

References

[1] OWASP Foundation, “CLASP: Comprehensive, Lightweight Application Security Process.” [Online]. Available: https://owasp.org (accessed: May 28, 2025). [2] S. Singh, “Secure Software Development Life Cycle: Implementation Challenges in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs),” TechRxiv, Apr. 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.techrxiv.org/doi/full/10.22541/au.174585836.63395541/v1 (accessed: May 28, 2025). [3] J. Cheenepalli, A. Williams, M. K. Lee, and S. Desai, “Advancing DevSecOps in SMEs: Challenges and Best Practices,” arXiv preprint, arXiv:2503.22612, Mar. 2025. [Online]. Available: https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.22612 (accessed: May 28, 2025). [4] OpenSSF, “Why are Organizations Struggling to Implement Secure Software Development?” OpenSSF Blog, Jul. 2024. [Online]. Available: https://openssf.org/blog/2024/07/05/why-are-organizations-struggling-to-implement-secure-software-development/ (accessed: May 28, 2025). [5] Devoteam, “Common challenges when adopting DevSecOps in your organisation,” Devoteam Expert View, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.devoteam.com/expert-view/common-challenges-when-adopting-devsecops-in-your-organisation/ (accessed: May 28, 2025).

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Bisola Kayode. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.