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Holistic Security

Testing the System: A Holistic Approach to Security in Systems Development with Scott Tilley

January 23, 2025

As cybersecurity threats evolve, testing is increasingly critical in maintaining systems' integrity, availability, and confidentiality. This talk explores a systems-oriented perspective on testing, drawing on concepts of risk management, security frameworks, and the interplay between human and technical elements of cybersecurity. Attendees will gain insights into integrating comprehensive security testing strategies across the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), focusing on areas such as:

Testing: Leveraging risk identification, assessment, and control to prioritize testing effort.
Risk-Based Framework Compliance Testing: Ensuring alignment with standards such as ISO 27001 and NIST, which demand rigorous, consistent testing practices.
Advanced Threat Testing: Adapting testing strategies for complex threats like Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) and social engineering.
Continuous Testing and Monitoring: The importance of ongoing testing in evolving environments, emphasizing tools like intrusion detection systems (IDS) and vulnerability scanning.
Human-Centric Testing: Addressing vulnerabilities tied to social engineering and insider threats through training and simulated attacks.

Focusing on technological and organizational security dimensions, this talk provides actionable insights for implementing robust, scalable testing frameworks that align with a systems perspective. Real-world scenarios and best practices will demonstrate how testers can proactively address emerging cybersecurity challenges.

Target Audience

Software testers, quality assurance professionals, security analysts, and software engineers.
Practitioners and researchers interested in integrating security testing throughout the software development lifecycle.
Students and educators seeking insights into current cybersecurity testing methodologies.

Scott Tilley Bio

Scott Tilley is an Emeritus Professor at the Florida Institute of Technology. He is the president of Big Data Florida, the Center for Technology & Society, Precious Publishing, and the Space Coast Writers’ Guild Fellow. His recent books include Addictive Poetry (2024), Systems Analysis & Design (2024), Poems of the Moment (2023), AFTERMATH (2022), and PETS (2021). He holds a PhD in computer science from the University of Victoria.