A Common Sense Way to Make the Business Case for Software Assurance

SEI Report
In this article, the authors demonstrate how a true cost/benefit for secure software can be derived.
Publisher

Software Engineering Institute

Abstract

This article demonstrates how a true cost/benefit for secure software can be derived using three generic practice areas: (1) threat/risk understanding, (2) implementation of security requirements, and (3) operational security testing. Having an accurate cost for these aspects of the software assurance process would allow decision makers to make intelligent decisions about the level of investment they wish to make.

Cite This SEI Report

Drommi, A., Shoemaker, D., Ingalsbe, J., Bailey, J., & Mead, N. (2013, May 14). A Common Sense Way to Make the Business Case for Software Assurance. Retrieved September 12, 2026, from https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/a-common-sense-way-to-make-the-business-case-for-software-assurance/.

@techreport{drommi_2013,
author={Drommi, Antonio and Shoemaker, Dan and Ingalsbe, Jeff and Bailey, John and Mead, Nancy},
title={A Common Sense Way to Make the Business Case for Software Assurance},
month={May},
year={2013},
institution={Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University},
url={https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/a-common-sense-way-to-make-the-business-case-for-software-assurance/},
note={Accessed: 2026-Sep-12}
}

Drommi, Antonio, Dan Shoemaker, Jeff Ingalsbe, John Bailey, and Nancy Mead. "A Common Sense Way to Make the Business Case for Software Assurance." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, May 14, 2013. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/a-common-sense-way-to-make-the-business-case-for-software-assurance/.

A. Drommi, D. Shoemaker, J. Ingalsbe, J. Bailey, and N. Mead, "A Common Sense Way to Make the Business Case for Software Assurance," Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, 14-May-2013 [Online]. Available: https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/a-common-sense-way-to-make-the-business-case-for-software-assurance/. [Accessed: 12-Sep-2026].

Drommi, Antonio, Dan Shoemaker, Jeff Ingalsbe, John Bailey, and Nancy Mead. "A Common Sense Way to Make the Business Case for Software Assurance." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute, 14 May. 2013. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/a-common-sense-way-to-make-the-business-case-for-software-assurance/. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

Drommi, Antonio; Shoemaker, Dan; Ingalsbe, Jeff; Bailey, John; & Mead, Nancy. A Common Sense Way to Make the Business Case for Software Assurance. Software Engineering Institute. 2013. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/a-common-sense-way-to-make-the-business-case-for-software-assurance/