Manual Security Reviews
Manual Security Reviews are a systematic process where security experts manually examine software code, architecture, or configurations to identify vulnerabilities, security flaws, and compliance issues that automated tools might miss. This involves techniques like code review, threat modeling, and penetration testing to assess security posture. It is a critical component of secure software development lifecycles (SDLC) for ensuring robust application security.
Developers should learn and use Manual Security Reviews when building high-risk applications (e.g., financial, healthcare, or government systems) to catch complex vulnerabilities like logic flaws, business logic errors, or subtle misconfigurations that automated scanners often overlook. It is essential during major releases, after significant code changes, or as part of compliance audits (e.g., for standards like PCI-DSS or HIPAA) to enhance security and reduce breach risks.