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Securing The SDLC For No-Code Environments

Yair Finzi is cofounder & CEO of Nokod Security and was cofounder & CEO of SecuredTouch (now Ping Identity) and a product leader at Meta.

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The software development life cycle (SDLC) is the backbone of application development, providing a structured process to ensure quality, functionality and security. Traditional SDLC security controls—applied during software planning, analysis, design, implementation, testing and maintenance—are deeply ingrained in how enterprises manage application risk. However, no-code development flips the script, presenting unique challenges that render many traditional security practices unworkable.

Traditional SDLC Security Versus No-Code

In conventional application development, SDLC phases serve as gates where security checks and balances are applied:

•Planning involves defining security requirements.

•Analysis identifies potential threats.

•Design incorporates secure architectures.

•Implementation follows secure coding practices.

•Testing evaluates vulnerabilities.

•Maintenance ensures ongoing compliance and patching.

No-code development, however, operates under vastly different rules. Many traditional SDLC phases are skipped outright in no-code workflows—not necessarily because developers are careless, but because the nature of no-code makes these steps redundant or unfeasible.

Since apps are often created and deployed within days, no-code development leaves little room for detailed planning or analysis. Also, because no-code platforms simplify much of the underlying complexity in creating applications, developers are heavily dependent on pre-built tools and connectors.

Given these differences, expecting the full SDLC to apply to no-code environments is unrealistic. Instead, organizations need to rethink how and where to embed security, focusing on phases where it can have the most impact.

What Doesn't Work—And Why

Many elements of the traditional SDLC simply don't apply to no-code development. For example, in the planning phase, traditional SDLC emphasizes budget allocation, timelines and stakeholder input, with security embedded from the outset. In no-code, many projects are grassroots efforts initiated by citizen developers to solve immediate problems, and planning often does not involve security personnel.

The analysis phase, typically used for threat modeling and risk assessments, also proves challenging. Most citizen developers lack the expertise or time to conduct such activities. While centrally managed no-code projects may include some level of analysis, it is rarely robust enough to support meaningful security measures.

The design phase often does not exist in no-code workflows as developers jump directly to implementation and "coding." While some no-code users may create informal plans, these rarely incorporate security considerations. This lack of structured design can create critical gaps, particularly around data sensitivity and access controls, since citizen developers rely on drag-and-drop interfaces or AI-driven prompts and frequently bypass traditional secure coding practices.

The testing phase suffers from gaps as well, as many no-code platforms lack robust testing environments. Apps frequently move straight from development to production without validation, increasing the risk of undetected vulnerabilities.

Finally, in the maintenance phase, no-code apps lack centralized version control or visibility into changes, making it harder to track and secure updates over time. Maintenance tends to be reactive and inconsistent, which can introduce additional risks associated with unremediated vulnerabilities.

How To Secure The No-Code SDLC

Given the unique dynamics of no-code, securing the SDLC must focus on the later phases—implementation, testing and maintenance—where security can make the most difference. While earlier phases like planning and analysis are often skipped for the reasons mentioned above, these later phases present opportunities to embed meaningful security controls.

Implement real-time security detection and remediation.

Focus security efforts on the implementation phase, where no-code developers are actively building apps. Automated tools should integrate directly with no-code platforms to detect vulnerabilities in real time, such as injection risks or misconfigured permissions. These tools must translate findings into actionable guidance tailored to the platform's terminology, helping citizen and automation developers address issues without requiring deep security expertise.

Establish governance policies for testing and deployment.

Testing environments are essential for validating security before apps go live. Establish governance policies that mandate dev-test-prod separation and enforce checks for security compliance. This ensures that testing becomes a natural step in the development process, enabling vulnerabilities to be addressed before reaching production.

Streamline maintenance with version control.

In the maintenance phase, a centralized version control mechanism is essential for tracking changes and ensuring accountability. Require all no-code apps to log updates, capturing details such as who made changes and when. Governance policies should extend to monitoring app performance and enforcing timely security updates.

Opt for secure-by-default platform features.

Advocate for no-code platform providers to include built-in security features, such as pre-configured secure connectors and automated compliance checks. Choosing platforms with robust security defaults reduces the burden on developers and mitigates risks upstream.

Conclusion

Many SDLC phases aren't directly relevant to no-code development, and some are skipped altogether. Rather than forcing traditional SDLC security practices into no-code environments, organizations should focus their efforts on later SDLC phases—primarily implementation, testing and maintenance. This can empower citizen developers to innovate quickly without sacrificing security.

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