concept

Security As Afterthought

Security As Afterthought is a software development anti-pattern where security considerations are deferred or neglected until late in the development lifecycle, often after core functionality is built. This approach treats security as a secondary concern rather than an integral part of the design and implementation process, leading to vulnerabilities that are costly and difficult to fix. It contrasts with proactive security practices like DevSecOps or secure-by-design principles.

Also known as: Security Afterthought, Security as an Afterthought, Security Deferred, Late Security, Post-Hoc Security

🧊Why learn Security As Afterthought?

Developers should learn about this concept to understand the risks and inefficiencies of delaying security, as it often results in increased technical debt, higher remediation costs, and greater exposure to breaches. It is critical in contexts like legacy systems, rapid prototyping, or when teams lack security expertise, highlighting the need for early integration of security measures. Recognizing this anti-pattern helps advocate for practices such as threat modeling, code reviews, and automated security testing from the start.