Engineers make cyber networks safer by incorporating security in their software, by ensuring the implementation of cryptography into software, and by monitoring and continuous patching of software to ensure continued security. The best way that engineers can make cyber networks safer is by starting security from step one. This means to program security into any software that can be used to access online applications.

Building security into the software development lifecycle … offers many benefits, including increased quality and performance and reduced costs. (This), however, isn’t easy. Beyond resource and time constraints, software complexity and the constant introduction of new features and software revisions make (this) a difficult task to achieve.

(10 Security-By-Design Principles to Include in the SDLC | TechTarget, n.d.).

Though not an easy task, coding security into software from the beginning can have many advantages for anyone who uses programs with this aspect in mind. There are many examples of costs associated with the lack of security in applications. These costs can be minimal for maintenance or very large for security breaches. These issues should be enough to make purchasers want to have security built into software from the beginning.

Another way to ensure the safety of the cyber network is to provide the best cryptography for software that can communicate with the rest of the internet. As Luther Martin (n.d.) says, following FIPS 140-2 Security Requirements for Cryptographic Modules will help an engineer to establish the security of his or her software since FIPS 140-2 is often used as a standard for encryption. Using government standards might often give credibility to a product. Though not a strict requirement, such regulations are often well-known and used throughout the field. This makes proving the validity of cryptography in software much easier.

Also, engineers can assist in the overall security model by providing continuous monitoring of network systems, and when an issue is identified, create an immediate patch to negate the problem at hand. Understanding network weaknesses, knowing the threat landscape, and penetration testing are just a handful of ways to monitor a network (How to Identify and Prepare for Network Security Threats and Vulnerabilities, n.d.). Realizing the faults within a network and working to negate those faults can increase the overall security of the system. It is also important to understand what threats are imminent to the domain and what threats bear watching. Testing the network for those threats and for other hazards that are on the internet will help to identify possible failures in the applications before the domain is compromised.

10 security-by-design principles to include in the SDLC | TechTarget. (n.d.). Security. https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/tip/Security-by-design-principles-to-include-in-the-SDLC

How to Identify and Prepare for Network Security Threats and Vulnerabilities. (n.d.). SecurityScorecard. https://securityscorecard.com/blog/identify-network-security-threats-and-vulnerabilities/

Martin, L. (n.d.). A software developers guide to encryption: How to make the right choice. TechBeacon. https://techbeacon.com/security/software-engineers-guide-encryption-how-not-fail