Ensure secure and compliant outsourced software development for SMEs with robust controls, clear ownership, and vendor oversight. ISO 27001:2022 aligned.
This SME-focused Outsourced Development Policy sets clear requirements for secure, contract-controlled software development by third parties. It covers contract obligations, secure coding, asset ownership, and post-project offboarding, ensuring regulatory compliance and risk mitigation even in organizations without dedicated IT or security teams.
Tailored for SMEs without dedicated IT teams, ensuring robust controls and compliance in outsourced development.
Mandates contractual clarity on asset ownership and full rights over deliverables and documentation.
Supports ISO 27001:2022 certification and maintains records for audits, legal, and regulatory needs.
Requires secure coding, proper vetting of third-party components, and post-delivery testing.
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Scope and Rules for External Development
Mandatory Contracts and NDA Clauses
Secure Coding and Testing Requirements
Access and Credential Management
Ownership, Handover, and Offboarding
Exception and Incident Response Processes
This product is aligned with the following compliance frameworks, with detailed clause and control mappings.
Clarifies who is responsible for vendor approval, access control, and risk acceptance when using outsourced developers.
Defines the proper creation, restriction, and termination of user accounts and admin access used during outsourced development.
Ensures internal staff understand how to coordinate securely with external developers, including handling credentials and project files.
Establishes security and legal requirements for handling personal data that may be processed by outsourced developers under GDPR.
Specifies how internal and external development must follow secure coding practices and vetting of libraries and frameworks.
Required when outsourced development leads to security incidents or vulnerabilities, guiding coordinated investigation and remediation.
Generic security policies are often built for large corporations, leaving small businesses struggling to apply complex rules and undefined roles. This policy is different. Our SME policies are designed from the ground up for practical implementation in organizations without dedicated security teams. We assign responsibilities to the roles you actually have, like the General Manager and your IT Provider, not an army of specialists you don't. Every requirement is broken down into a uniquely numbered clause (e.g., 5.2.1, 5.2.2). This turns the policy into a clear, step-by-step checklist, making it easy to implement, audit, and customize without rewriting entire sections.
Assigns oversight and approval to actual SME roles, like GM and IT Provider, for practical day-to-day control and accountability.
Requires signed delivery checklists, code transfer, and proof of data deletion for secure project closure and minimal residual risk.
This policy was authored by a security leader with 25+ years of experience deploying and auditing ISMS frameworks for global enterprises. It's designed not just to be a document, but a defensible framework that stands up to auditor scrutiny.