- ClassificationCategorySoftware SecurityDomainSoftware SecurityFramework FamilyOther
- Regulatory ContextTypeGuidanceLegal InstrumentProgramSectorCross-SectorIndustryCross-Industry
- Region / PublisherRegionNorth AmericaRegion DetailUnited StatesPublisherCybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
- VersioningVersion2024Effective DateMarch 11, 2024Issue DateMarch 11, 2024
- AdoptionAdoption ModelRegulatory ComplianceImplementation ComplexityModerate
- Official ReferenceOpen Link in New TabSource
License included / downloadable: Yes
CISA publishes the SSDAF on its website and is publicly available for free download from the U.S. CISA. License included with platform
Framework text is licensed by its publisher and is included only where stated above.
Why it Matters
The U.S. CISA Secure Software Development Attestation Form (SSDAF) strengthens trust by ensuring organizations follow secure software development practices and regulatory requirements.
Key benefits include:
- Support stronger supply chain security
Require software providers to attest to secure development, limiting risks from third-party software procurement and integration.
- Enhance regulatory compliance
Enable organizations to demonstrate alignment with federal cybersecurity standards, improving their ability to meet compliance obligations during audits.
- Increase software transparency
Promote greater visibility into suppliers' development practices, enabling informed risk management and procurement decisions.
- Improve incident response readiness
Mandate secure development controls that reduce exploitable vulnerabilities and support more effective detection and remediation of software-based threats.
- Strengthen organizational reputation
Provide assurance to customers and stakeholders regarding the security integrity of deployed software products and internal development processes.
How it Works
The U.S. CISA Secure Software Development Attestation Form (SSDAF) structures secure software development requirements around a set of security controls, process safeguards, and regulatory criteria aligned with executive orders and federal guidelines. The framework establishes a formal lifecycle for assessing software supply chain risks and codifies key security practices into defined domains such as source code integrity, vulnerability management, and secure development methods. Organizations are required to self-attest to the implementation of these controls as part of compliance with federal procurement requirements.
In practice, organizations apply the SSDAF by integrating its control requirements into their secure development lifecycle (SDLC), mapping the framework’s standards to internal governance policies, and conducting regular compliance assessments. Security teams implement controls such as code review processes, automated vulnerability scanning, and developer training to address compliance gaps. Ongoing monitoring and document collection support continuous alignment with SSDAF expectations and facilitate timely incident response and remediation.
Through SmartSuite, organizations simplify SSDAF operationalization by using pre-built control libraries tailored to secure software development, managing risks within configurable registers, and enforcing policy governance workflows. The platform’s evidence collection features support audit readiness, while compliance tracking modules and reporting dashboards enable ongoing monitoring of software supply chain security practices and regulatory adherence.
Key Elements
- Secure Software Development Practices
Specifies required processes for building software that address security considerations throughout the development lifecycle.
- Supplier Risk Management Controls
Outlines mechanisms for evaluating and managing third-party and supply chain software risks.
- Secure Software Design Standards
Establishes minimum standards for secure architecture and coding within developed applications.
- Vulnerability Management Requirements
Describes procedures for identifying, disclosing, and remediating vulnerabilities in delivered software.
- Continuous Monitoring Activities
Provides for ongoing oversight and review of software to ensure continued compliance with security requirements.
- Attestation and Documentation Processes
Defines necessary evidence and documentation to support self-attestation of secure software development.
Framework Scope
The U.S. CISA Secure Software Development Attestation Form (SSDAF) is adopted by software producers contracting with U.S. federal agencies, addressing the development and delivery of secure software running on federal information systems and cloud services. Organizations typically complete the SSDAF when demonstrating control effectiveness and meeting federal supply chain security requirements.
Framework Objectives
The U.S. CISA Secure Software Development Attestation Form (SSDAF) defines key outcomes for secure software practices and organizational compliance.
Strengthen cybersecurity governance through formalized secure software development processes
Enhance risk management by addressing vulnerabilities in software supply chains
Promote regulatory compliance with federal security and privacy requirements
Improve data protection through implementation of security controls
Support operational resilience by ensuring software integrity and trustworthiness
Demonstrate audit readiness and transparency in software development practices The U.S. CISA Secure Software Development Attestation Form (SSDAF) aligns with secure development practices found in NIST SP800-218, NIST SP 800-53, and the OWASP Software Assurance Maturity model. Organizations typically implement SSDAF to fulfill federal procurement requirements, regulatory compliance, or to demonstrate secure software development practices to government customers.
Common Framework Mappings
The U.S. CISA Secure Software Development Attestation Form is often mapped to recognized software security and risk management frameworks to demonstrate security practices, ensure regulatory alignment, and simplify compliance reporting.
Mapped frameworks include:
CIS Critical Security Controls
FedRAMP
ISO/IEC 27001
ISO/IEC 27002
NIST Cybersecurity Framework
NIST SP 800-161
NIST SP 800-218 Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF)
NIST SP 800-53
PCI DSS
SOC 2
How SmartSuite Supports CISA SSDAF
SmartSuite provides the system for managing controls, evidence, mappings, assessments, and reporting.
Manage secure software development attestations required by U.S. federal agencies by organizing SSDAF requirements, tracking development practices, and maintaining evidence supporting secure software supply chain assurances.
Secure Development Requirement Library
Structure SSDAF secure software development requirements with mapped controls and responsible owners.
Secure Software Development Lifecycle Governance
Track security activities across design, coding, testing, and deployment stages of software development.
Vulnerability and Dependency Management
Monitor software vulnerabilities, open-source dependencies, and remediation workflows across development pipelines.
Build Integrity and Release Governance
Document build processes, code signing, artifact integrity checks, and release approvals.
Third-Party Software and SBOM Tracking
Track third-party software components, vendor security attestations, and SBOM documentation.
SSDAF Federal Software Security Attestation Readiness
Provide dashboards showing SSDAF requirement coverage, evidence status, and readiness for federal software security attestations.
Related frameworks
CIS Controls v8.1 provides prioritized, practical security actions to help organizations mitigate common cyber threats and strengthen defenses.
FedRAMP standardizes security requirements to assess, authorize, and continuously monitor cloud services that handle U.S. federal data.
ISO/IEC 27001:2022 is an international ISMS standard that helps organizations manage information security risks and protect data.
ISO/IEC 27002:2022 provides best-practice information security controls to help organizations select, implement, and manage protections for information assets.
NIST SP 800-171 defines security requirements for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in nonfederal systems and organizations.
NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 provides a catalog of security and privacy controls to manage risks to information systems.
Frequently Asked Questions For U.S. CISA Secure Software Development Attestation Form (SSDAF)
The SSDAF is used to confirm that software producers have implemented secure software development practices as required under U.S. federal guidance, particularly for software provided to federal agencies. The form is designed to promote transparency and accountability by requiring organizations to self-attest to their software security practices.
Yes, completion and submission of the SSDAF is mandatory for organizations wishing to provide software to U.S. federal agencies, in line with Executive Order 14028 and OMB Memorandum M-22-18. Non-compliance can result in disqualification from federal procurement processes.
The SSDAF applies to all software producers whose products are used by U.S. federal agencies, including both commercial off-the-shelf and custom-developed software. It covers both new and existing software that is subject to federal acquisition.
Organizations must provide a completed attestation form and demonstrate adherence to secure software development practices, such as threat modeling, code review, vulnerability remediation, and supply chain security. Evidence may include documentation of policies, procedures, and technical controls supporting secure development.
Organizations should align their software development lifecycle with secure-by-design principles, integrating security controls such as secure coding standards, automated security testing, and third-party component risk assessments. Regular training and process reviews are also essential to ensuring continued compliance.
The SSDAF draws on requirements from frameworks such as NIST SP 800-218 (Secure Software Development Framework) and aligns with federal security mandates, but it does not replace other certification regimes (like FedRAMP or FISMA). Organizations may reference existing controls and processes already implemented under these standards when completing the SSDAF.
Organizations must maintain secure software development practices continuously and update their attestation as changes occur. Periodic review, monitoring for emerging threats, and ongoing documentation are required to remain compliant with SSDAF obligations.
SmartSuite can assist organizations in managing SSDAF compliance by providing centralized tracking of risks and controls, managing evidence collection across development teams, and supporting audit readiness with thorough documentation. Automated workflows and reporting capabilities streamline ongoing compliance and demonstrate adherence to SSDAF requirements to auditors and regulators.
Manage controls, risks, evidence, and audits in one platform designed for modern governance, risk, and compliance.