Senate Defense Authorization Amendment Looks to Advance More Secure Software Procurement

A provision in the National Defense Authorization Act under debate on the Senate floor could have big implications by requiring Defense Department solicitations to include certain software security criteria. Language in the bill would direct the department’s undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment to coordinate with the CIO to “develop requirements for inclusion in solicitations for both commercial and developmental solutions, and for the evaluation of bids, of appropriate software security criteria.” It would include: “delineation of what processes were or will be used for a secure software development lifecycle, including management of supply chain and third-party software sources and component risks; and an associated vulnerability management plan or tools.”