SDLC Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to define a consistent and controlled approach to software development and maintenance, ensuring that software is developed securely, efficiently, and in alignment with business and compliance requirements.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all software applications and systems developed, maintained, or acquired by the organization, including internal tools, customer-facing platforms, APIs, and third-party integrations.

3. SDLC Phases

The organization follows a simplified SDLC process consisting of the following core phases:

3.1 Planning

• Define goals, requirements, and stakeholders

• Assess feasibility and risks

• Identify security and compliance considerations

3.2 Design

• Create high-level and detailed design documentation

• Include security, performance, and scalability requirements

• Review and approve designs before development

3.3 Development

• Follow secure coding practices

• Use version control and code branching standards

• Perform peer code reviews

3.4 Testing

• Conduct functional, regression, and security testing

• Address critical bugs before release

• Maintain automated test coverage where feasible

3.5 Deployment

• Use automated CI/CD pipelines when possible

• Approve releases through defined change management processes

• Ensure rollback plans are in place

3.6 Maintenance

• Monitor systems for errors and vulnerabilities

• Apply patches and updates in a timely manner

• Review and refactor code as needed

4. Roles and Responsibilities

5. Policy Compliance

• All development teams must follow this policy.

• Exceptions must be documented and approved by the Engineering Manager or CISO.

• Violations may result in remediation actions or disciplinary measures.

6. Review and Updates

This policy will be reviewed annually or upon major changes to development practices, technology stack, or regulatory requirements.