SDL Study Guide 2026
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📚 SDL Topics to Study (31)
✍️ Sample SDL Questions & Answers
1. Which of the following is a key advantage of integrating SAST tools into a CI/CD pipeline?
Integrating SAST into CI/CD enables shift-left security by alerting developers to potential vulnerabilities at commit time, reducing the cost and effort of remediation.
2. When applying the STRIDE-per-Element approach, which element type is typically associated with the FULL set of STRIDE threats?
Processes can be subject to all six STRIDE threats because they execute logic, handle identity, read/write data, perform logging, transmit data, and hold privileges.
3. Why is risk assessment important after threat modeling?
After identifying potential threats through threat modeling, risk assessment is crucial to evaluate the likelihood and impact of each identified risk. This process allows teams to prioritize risks based on their severity and potential consequences. Effective risk assessment enables informed decision-making on which risks require immediate mitigation, which can be accepted, or which need further monitoring.
4. What distinguishes a Security Development Lifecycle Certification certified professional from a non-certified practitioner?
Certification provides objective validation of competency through standardized assessment.
5. Which SDL governance document defines the minimum set of security activities that MUST be completed for every product release, regardless of risk level?
The SDL Policy establishes the non-negotiable baseline of security activities required for every release, with risk-based additions layered on top.
6. In Microsoft SDL, what is the 'bug bar' used for?
The bug bar establishes minimum severity levels (e.g., Critical, Important) that must be resolved before a product can ship, ensuring high-risk vulnerabilities are not deferred.
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