TDA-03: Development Methods, Techniques & Processes
Mechanisms exist to require software developers to ensure that their software development processes employ industry-recognized secure practices for secure programming, engineering methods, quality control processes and validation techniques to minimize flawed and/or malformed software.
Renumbered: Formerly TDA-02.3 in SCF 2025.4.
Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, TDA-03 was Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) Security Solutions. That control is now TDA-11.3.
Control Question: Does the organization require software developers to ensure that their software development processes employ industry-recognized secure practices for secure programming, engineering methods, quality control processes and validation techniques to minimize flawed and/or malformed software?
General (28)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| CIS CSC 8.1 | 16.1 16.10 |
| CIS CSC 8.1 IG2 | 16.1 16.10 |
| CIS CSC 8.1 IG3 | 16.1 16.10 |
| COBIT 2019 | BAI03.12 |
| CSA CCM 4.1.0 | AIS-04 |
| CSA IoT SCF 2 | SDV-07 |
| ISO 27002 2022 | 8.25 8.29 |
| ISO 27017 2015 | 14.2.9 |
| ISO 27018 2025 | 8.25 8.29 |
| ISO 42001 2023 | A.6.1.3 A.6.2.3 |
| NIST AI 100-1 (AI RMF) 1.0 | GOVERN 4.1 GOVERN 4.2 |
| NIST 800-53 R4 | SA-4(3) |
| NIST 800-53 R5.2 | SA-04(03) SR-03(01) |
| NIST 800-82 R3 | SA-04(03) SR-03(01) |
| NIST 800-160 Vol2 R1 | SR-03(01) |
| NIST 800-161 R1 | SR-3(1) |
| NIST 800-161 R1 Level 2 | SR-3(1) |
| NIST 800-161 R1 Level 3 | SR-3(1) |
| NIST 800-171 R3 (source) | 03.16.01 |
| NIST 800-171A R3 (source) | A.03.16.01.ODP[01] A.03.16.01 |
| NIST 800-218 | PO.1 PO.3 PO.3.1 PO.3.2 PO.3.3 PO.4.2 PW.2 PW.5 PW.6.1 RV.1 RV.2 |
| OWASP Top 10 2025 | A04:2025 |
| PCI DSS 4.0.1 (source) | 6.2 6.2.1 |
| PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ A-EP (source) | 6.2.1 |
| PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ C (source) | 6.2.1 |
| PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ D Merchant (source) | 6.2.1 |
| PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ D Service Provider (source) | 6.2.1 |
| SCF DPMP 2026 | 7.1 |
US (3)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| USA Federal DHS CISA SSDAF | 2 |
| USA Federal EO 14028 | 4e(iii) |
| USA California CCPA 2025 | 7123(c)(14) |
EMEA (3)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| EMEA Spain CCN-STIC 825 | mp.sw.1 mp.sw.2 |
| EMEA EU AI Act | Article 14.1 |
| EMEA Saudi Arabia ECC-1 2018 | 1-6-3-2 |
APAC (1)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| APAC India RBI Digital Payments 2021 | 24.c 31.0 |
Americas (3)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 | 03.16.01 |
| Americas Canada OSFI B-13 2022 | 2.4.3 2.4.5 |
| Americas Canada OSFI Self-Assessment Guidance | 2.4.3 2.4.5 |
Capability Maturity Model
Level 0 — Not Performed
Practices are non-existent, based on the inability to demonstrate an implemented and operational capability. A reasonable person would conclude the control is not being performed.
Level 1 — Performed Informally
SCR-CMM Level 1 criteria definitions are not available for this control: ▪ A reasonable person would conclude this control requires a structured process. ▪ At this level of maturity, the "ad hoc" nature of performing a capability informally would indicate the intent of the control is not met due to a lack of consistency and formality.
Level 2 — Planned & Tracked
Technology Development & Acquisition (TDA) capabilities are requirements-driven, but are not standardized across the entity (e.g., local/regional level consistency). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with TDA domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with TDA domain capabilities are documented and maintained by process owners. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel work with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with TDA domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Technology development and acquisition-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Technology development and acquisition management may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel. ▪ Secure development practices mostly conform to industry-recognized standards for secure engineering of Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) (e.g., OWASP, NIST SP 800-218 and NIST SP 800-160). ▪ An application development team, or similar function, uses a structured process to design, build and maintain secure configurations for test, development, staging and production environments.
Level 3 — Well Defined
Technology Development & Acquisition (TDA) capabilities are standardized across the entity for applicability to People, Processes, Technologies, Data and/or Facilities (PPTDF) to ensure consistency for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with TDA domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with TDA domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ A software development team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain TDA domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of technology development and acquisition management (e.g., project management software, software escrow solution and software testing tools). ▪ The entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function, works with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with TDA domain capabilities to address Minimum Compliance Requirements (MCR) (e.g., applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements) and Discretionary Security Requirements (DSR) (e.g., entity-required controls). ▪ An implemented and operational capability exists to require software developers to ensure that their software development processes employ industry-recognized secure practices for secure programming, engineering methods, quality control processes and validation techniques to minimize flawed and/or malformed software.
Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled
Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 4 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a quantitatively-controlled process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ While it may be possible to develop “metrics-driven” capabilities for this control, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.
Level 5 — Continuously Improving
Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 or Level 4 (if available) criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 5 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a continuously-improving process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ Level 5 capabilities should be considered “world-class” where the control builds on Level 4 capabilities, but are continuously improving through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or Machine Learning (ML) technologies. ▪ While it may be possible to develop responsive capabilities for this control through the use of AI and/or ML technologies, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.
Assessment Objectives
- TDA-03_A01 cybersecurity / data privacy systems engineering methods are defined.
- TDA-03_A02 software development methods are defined.
- TDA-03_A03 testing, evaluation, assessment, verification and validation methods are defined.
- TDA-03_A04 quality control processes are defined.
- TDA-03_A05 the developer of the system, system component or system service is required to demonstrate the use of a system development life cycle process that includes organization-defined system security engineering methods.
- TDA-03_A06 systems security engineering principles to be applied to the development or modification of the system and system components are defined.
- TDA-03_A07 <A.03.16.01.ODP[01]: systems security engineering principles> are applied to the development or modification of the system and system components.
Evidence Requirements
- E-TDA-01 Secure Software Development Principles (SSDP)
-
Documented evidence of a Secure Software Development Principles (SSDP). This is program-level documentation in the form of a runbook, playbook or a similar format provides guidance on organizational practices that support existing policies and standards.
Technology Design & Acquisition - E-TDA-04 Design and Development Plan (DDP)
-
Documented evidence of an engineering method to control the design process and govern the lifecycle of the product/service.
Technology Design & Acquisition
Technology Recommendations
Micro/Small
- Defined "secure engineering principles" (e.g., alignment with NIST 800-160)
- Product / project management
Small
- Defined "secure engineering principles" (e.g., alignment with NIST 800-160)
- Product / project management
Medium
- Defined "secure engineering principles" (e.g., alignment with NIST 800-160)
- Product / project management
Large
- Defined "secure engineering principles" (e.g., alignment with NIST 800-160)
- Defined business processes
- Product / project management
- Defined technical requirements
- Defined business requirements
- System Development Lifecycle (SDLC) governance / oversight
Enterprise
- Defined "secure engineering principles" (e.g., alignment with NIST 800-160)
- Defined business processes
- Product / project management
- Defined technical requirements
- Defined business requirements
- System Development Lifecycle (SDLC) governance / oversight