Source code isn’t just a collection of lines produced via a programming language — instead, it is the very lifeline of their intellectual property.
The reality is that source code is vulnerable and valuable. It can get into the wrong hands — hackers, contractors, employees, and disgruntled former workers. Considering the possible threats, it’s worth talking to a source code expert.
Businesses should therefore take proactive measures to safeguard their own proprietary code.
Below are five methods that’ll help you do just that.
1. Use Strong Access Controls
The most important line of defense for source code security is access control to source code. Not everybody inside or outside the company needs full visibility into your codebase. Adopt a need-to-know policy so that users have access to only the portion of the code they need to do their jobs. What they don’t need to know should not be accessible to them. You can prevent many issues by adopting such a policy.
Here are some things you can consider when it comes to implementing access control:
Version control systems: Versioning tools like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket allow administrators to provide branch-level and repository-level permissions.
Multi-factor authentication: You can use MFA to make unauthorized access via stolen passwords almost impossible.
Audit logs: You can track access logs to maintain a record of who is accessing, copying, or modifying the source code.
By maintaining tight control over codebase access, you can minimize problems that stem from a lax codebase access policy.
2. Establish Confidentiality Agreements and Legal Protections
Protecting your source code through technology will not be enough — legal protections need to be put in place as well. Your company’s staff, contractors, and business partners must sign contracts explicitly stating your code is proprietary and not for use without authorization.
You can accomplish this through employment contracts and non-disclosure pacts.
3. Lock Down Your Development Environment
Your code is only as secure as the environment where your developers write and store it. You need to safeguard the servers, workstations, and cloud infrastructure that your developers write and store code on. Consider the following options:
Encrypted storage: Keep the source code on encrypted servers, so even if it falls into the wrong hands, the bad actors won’t be able to read it.
VPN and secure connections: Always use encrypted connections such as VPNs for remote developers to prevent eavesdropping.
Security patches: Unpatched systems and outdated software are a hacker’s paradise. You must automate the rollout of security patches so nothing falls between the cracks.
Segmentation: Isolate sensitive code into separate environments, instead of intermixing it with each project. This limits exposure.
Protecting your source code isn’t only a matter of keeping external threats at bay — but also internal ones.
4. Employ Code Obfuscation and Compilation
Code obfuscation transforms your source code’s form but not its function. That complicates any reverse-engineering attempts.
Obfuscation tools, for example, make variable names, functions, and flow ambiguous so it can’t be read easily.
Obfuscation isn’t foolproof, but it’s an effective deterrent. It’s similar to locking your front door: It won’t stop every break-in attempt, but it will discourage most.
5. Back Up and Audit Code Access Regularly
Hardware failure, accidental overwrite, or ransomware can leave you in a bind if you’re not backing things up. You need to consider automated backups, monitoring tools that watch for abnormal access patterns, and incident response plans, should issues materialize.
Your source code is one of your company’s most precious assets. But most companies don’t treat it with the seriousness it deserves until problems emerge and become critical. You can protect your code using the five measures mentioned above.
Consider source code protection an investment in the future of your business. With each step, you can reinforce your competitive edge and guard the innovations that set your business apart.
