Home /Blog/ How a Static Code Analysis Tool Supports Data Privacy

How a Static Code Analysis Tool Supports Data Privacy

Josh Rank
January 4, 2023

Data privacy is impacted by the environment in which it is stored. Using a static code analysis tool reinforces that environment and supports a successful data privacy strategy.

Why It Matters: Any failure to properly protect Salesforce data can result in costly data loss events and falling out of compliance with data protection regulations.

Regulated industries such as healthcare and finance are among the most frequent targets for cybercrime.
Failing to comply with data privacy regulations results in costly fines, penalties, and the loss of consumer trust.
Simple bugs or errors in an application’s code can drastically impact the security of all associated data.

Here are 8 ways a static code analysis tool contributes to a successful data privacy strategy:

Eliminates Errors from New Updates and Applications
Ensures Backups Are Bug-Free
Increases Speed to Address Emerging Issues
Dashboards and Analytics Document Successes
Integrates with DevSecOps Platforms for Full Coverage
Creates an Atmosphere of Continuous Learning
Targets Technical Debt to Shore Up Existing Threats
Works Alongside Policy Scanners for Complete Visibility

1. Eliminates Errors from New Updates and Applications

Speed is important for the development and release of new applications and updates. Not only does this help you remain competitive in your industry, but it also helps address evolving data security concerns.

However, speed should not come at the cost of quality. Hurrying through the development and testing phases of new DevOps projects can lead to errors that aren’t found until after production.

A static code analysis tool enables speedy deployments while guaranteeing an error-free environment. This reduces vulnerabilities and misfires in the eventual product, making it more secure.

Strong products are built on strong code. And if you don’t have the proper systems in place, it becomes increasingly difficult to confidently produce new updates and applications.

Back to top

2. Ensures Backups Are Bug-Free

A recent and complete data backup—and the ability to quickly recover it—is an essential aspect of a complete data protection strategy. But if you have existing technical debt in your system, these bugs will also be backed up alongside important system data.

A static code analysis tool can be leveraged to scan backups for bugs and errors so they can be flagged and fixed.

Recovering bug-free data minimizes the impact of experiencing a data loss event and ensures your team can hit the ground running after recovery is complete. These situations are already challenging; there’s no need to add an additional layer of difficulty by recovering bad code.

Back to top

3. Increases Speed to Address Emerging Issues

The data privacy landscape is constantly evolving. New challenges, evolving compliance rules, and changing company sizes all require flexibility. The ability to introduce new updates to address these issues is a huge advantage in maintaining necessary privacy levels for your most sensitive information.

We’ve mentioned how speed shouldn’t come at the expense of quality. Automated code quality scans increase release velocity while guaranteeing total coverage.

Data privacy requires constant attention. Cybercriminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated. System misfires can lead to accidental deletions. The ability to increase your capacity for yearly releases also increases your ability to respond to these emerging challenges.

Being the first to market with new functionalities positions your company as a leader in your industry. It’s essential to ensure the stability of these releases with multiple lines of testing a flawless code.

Back to top

4. Dashboards and Analytics Document Successes

When it comes to data privacy, information is power. It’s impossible to fix a problem if you don’t know it exists. A Salesforce static code analysis tool provides dashboards and reports, so you have a clear view of what is happening at various stages of your DevOps pipeline.

The information contained within these reports can be used to improve processes and approaches over time, leading to a more secure and more streamlined development pipeline.

Documenting successes is an essential part of communicating proper practices to team members. In addition, this documentation also helps a company stay in compliance with certain data privacy regulations.

Back to top

5. Integrates with DevSecOps Platforms for Full Coverage

True DevSecOps requires a comprehensive approach. Multiple layers of testing and consideration for data security throughout the application lifecycle yield the strongest, most secure products possible. But how do you ensure this holistic approach works?

Source powerful, automated tools that work together to create synergy and amplify the benefits of each other.

A static code analysis tool integrates perfectly with a CI/CD pipeline to expand testing capacity and streamline deployment processes. Immediate alerts to coding errors save your team the hassle of reworking existing code after it makes its way into production, saving you time and supporting data privacy.

Back to top

6. Creates an Atmosphere of Continuous Learning

A static code analysis tool teaches talented team members to produce safer, more reliable Salesforce DevOps products. There’s no better way to mature than by learning from our own mistakes. However, you can only benefit from this when you are shown the best way to solve these problems.

Immediate alerts to coding errors provide real-time feedback to developers, which helps them quickly see how to fix mistakes and avoid repeating them in the future.

Data privacy requires a comprehensive approach. These dashboards and analytics help managers find problem areas so they can be addressed and refined. Ensuring proper operations from the beginning of a DevOps project reduces the errors seen at the end.

Back to top

7. Targets Technical Debt to Shore Up Existing Threats

Initiating new processes and the use of a static code analysis tool won’t go back in time to ensure every existing update and application is free of coding errors. These existing bugs are often left with the idea of going back later to address them. This is known as technical debt.

Static code analysis can find and flag technical debt so it can be addressed before it creates a data privacy issue.

Any bugs that exist in a live environment have the capacity to create data privacy risks, so finding and fixing these bugs must be a priority. They can create back doors for cybercriminals, who can then move throughout your environment and access private data. Protecting your data starts by fixing any existing errors and vulnerabilities.

Back to top

8. Works Alongside Policy Scanners for Complete Visibility

Static code analysis helps your team keep tabs on code health throughout the development life cycle. This is a crucial aspect of supporting data privacy concerns. However, the failure to follow internal rules can lead to accidental deletions and other costly team member mistakes.

A policy scanner offers total coverage for Salesforce administrators to verify adherence to internal rules as well as compliance considerations.

For example, the overexposure of data occurs when too many employees have access to sensitive data—even if they don’t need access to perform their duties. A policy scanner checks for these settings to ensure protected data is only accessible by appropriate roles. Regulatory compliance and a proper data privacy strategy rely on strict attention to permissions settings.

Back to top

Next Step…

Customizing your Salesforce development environment with VS code plugins makes for a more enjoyable experience for your team members. But how can you use that to perform quality checks?

Read “Performing Quality Checks with VS Code Plugins for Salesforce” to learn more.

Back to top

FAQs

Why is data privacy important?

Every business has a responsibility to properly handle the sensitive information they are entrusted with by their employees, partners, and customers. This information helps a business better perform its duties, but it also comes with a risk. Bad actors can use this information for their personal benefit to the detriment of the data owner. The importance of protecting sensitive data is highlighted by the numerous data privacy protection laws and regulations that exist throughout the world. Sensitive data is useful for anyone who gathers it, so it’s important for this information to be secured by those who are trusted to use and store it.

How does strong code support a data privacy strategy?

A stable Salesforce environment will minimize the opportunities for a data breach or data loss event. A DevOps program will be aimed at introducing updates and applications that will assist team members in their tasks while also patching vulnerabilities in the platform. Strong code ensures these updates and applications function as they are intended. A faulty application can lead to accidental deletions or other team member mistakes that can expose sensitive data. Bugs and errors that make it to a live environment also have the capacity to create vulnerabilities that can be exploited by cybercriminals.

What could happen if Salesforce data isn’t properly protected?

The catastrophic extent of the damages associated with data exposure depends on the specific data in question. Most often, we are referencing sensitive data such as personally identifiable information, medical data, or financial data. Exposing this information can have extremely negative consequences for the people impacted. In turn, this reflects very poorly on the company, leading to a loss of public trust. And for those in regulated industries like finance, medicine, and insurance, data exposures can also lead to costly fines and penalties from falling out of compliance with data security regulations.

Back to top

How a Static Code Analysis Tool Supports Data Privacy

1. Eliminates Errors from New Updates and Applications

2. Ensures Backups Are Bug-Free

3. Increases Speed to Address Emerging Issues

4. Dashboards and Analytics Document Successes

5. Integrates with DevSecOps Platforms for Full Coverage

6. Creates an Atmosphere of Continuous Learning

7. Targets Technical Debt to Shore Up Existing Threats

8. Works Alongside Policy Scanners for Complete Visibility

Next Step…

FAQs

Develop high quality, secure code!

Quick Links

Products

Contact Us