A tailored course, built for your situation
Mastering OWASP for Design Leadership in Secure Product Development
Build security deeper into product architecture by mastering the OWASP framework as a design-first discipline.
$199 one-time
24-hour access provisioning
30-day money-back guarantee
Hand-built implementation playbook
12 modules. 12 chapters per module. 144 chapters total.
12 modules, each with 12 chapters (144 chapters total), text-based, plus downloadable templates and a hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
Design decisions are being challenged by security retrospectives, after the work is done.
The situation this course is for
Despite strong design leadership, security feedback often arrives late, forcing costly rework and diluting product vision. Without a shared security language like OWASP, designers lack standing in risk alignment conversations.
Who this is for
Senior Design Leaders in tech companies who influence product architecture but lack formal levers in security validation.
Who this is not for
Individual contributors focused only on pixel-level UI, or security specialists looking for deep technical penetration testing content.
What you walk away with
- Define security benchmarks during design sprints using OWASP ASVS
- Lead secure-by-design workshops with engineering and security teams
- Reduce downstream security rework by aligning early on OWASP SAMM levels
- Present design proposals with embedded OWASP threat modeling references
- Earn standing in compliance and audit prep discussions as a design leader
The 12 modules (with all 144 chapters)
Module 1. Introduction to OWASP in Product-Centric Organizations
Understand how OWASP standards fit into modern product development, especially in design-driven cultures. Learn where OWASP adds value without slowing innovation.
12 chapters in this module
- Mapping OWASP to product design lifecycle stages
- How design leaders misinterpret OWASP as overhead
- Case study: Secure sprint planning at a Tier 1 SaaS company
- OWASP vs. ISO 27001: scope and team alignment differences
- Why security champions need design allies early
- Integrating OWASP into design critique rituals
- Common misconceptions about OWASP penetration testing
- Designing for OWASP ASVS Level 1 compliance
- The role of threat modeling in early mockups
- Tracking security debt during design handoff
- How product leaders use OWASP in roadmap reviews
- Building credibility with security teams through shared frameworks
Module 2. OWASP ASVS: Adapting for Design Team Usage
Translate the OWASP Application Security Verification Standard into actionable design guidance. Focus on early-stage interpretation, not developer-level details.
12 chapters in this module
- Breaking down ASVS Level 1 for non-security roles
- Identifying design-relevant ASVS checkpoints
- Mapping ASVS controls to UI/UX decisions
- How input validation rules affect form design
- Error handling patterns that reduce attack surface
- Authentication flows aligned with ASVS V2
- Session design considerations per OWASP guidance
- Protecting sensitive data in display and storage
- Designing for secure configuration management
- Access control visuals that reflect ASVS V4
- Handling file uploads with security in mind
- Integrating ASVS checkpoints into design review templates
Module 3. OWASP SAMM: Maturity Model for Design Influence
Use the Software Assurance Maturity Model to position design as a force multiplier in security culture evolution.
12 chapters in this module
- Understanding SAMM's governance, design, and verification streams
- Where design contributes to maturity level scoring
- Benchmarking team maturity using SAMM design criteria
- Designing for repeatable security assurance activities
- How SAMM maps to sprint planning and backlog refinement
- Introducing SAMM into design leadership 1:1s
- Measuring design’s impact on security maturity
- Case study: Raising SAMM score through design artifacts
- Integrating SAMM into quarterly product reviews
- Presenting maturity gains to engineering leads
- Using SAMM to justify design process investments
- Scaling SAMM-aware design patterns across teams
Module 4. Threat Modeling for Non-Security Practitioners
Equip design leaders to participate in threat modeling sessions using simple, structured methods that do not require technical depth.
12 chapters in this module
- Why threat modeling starts with user journey maps
- Identifying data flows in early wireframes
- Using DFDs to spot design-level risks
- Threats to user authentication in social login flows
- Design decisions that inadvertently increase risk
- How dark patterns compromise security posture
- Simplifying STRIDE for product team use
- Running a 30-minute threat workshop with designers
- Documenting design assumptions for security review
- Handing off threat models to engineering securely
- Tracking threat resolution in design systems
- Building threat modeling into design sprint closures
Module 5. Integrating Security into Design Systems
Embed OWASP-aligned patterns directly into your component library to ensure scalable, secure design delivery.
12 chapters in this module
- Security principles for component design
- Building accessible error states without exposing data
- Secure default states in form components
- Authentication UI patterns compliant with OWASP
- Password strength indicators: when they help or hurt
- Modal dialogs and phishing risk mitigation
- Role-based view templates in design systems
- Secure handling of user-generated content in UI
- Designing for session timeout without frustration
- Incorporating security messages with user empathy
- Versioning secure components across products
- Auditing design systems for OWASP compliance gaps
Module 6. Designing for Secure CI/CD Pipelines
Understand how design choices impact automated security checks in delivery pipelines, even without writing code.
12 chapters in this module
- How feature flags affect security testing scope
- Designing for canary releases with security guardrails
- UI changes that break static analysis tools
- Naming conventions that trigger false positives
- Versioning strategies that support rollback safety
- How A/B testing impacts security monitoring
- Designing admin interfaces that avoid privilege escalation
- Audit trail requirements for user actions
- Input sanitization expectations from UI to backend
- Designing for automated vulnerability scanning
- Feedback loops from pipeline failures to designers
- Aligning design timelines with security gate requirements
Module 7. Cross-Functional Collaboration Using OWASP
Lead effective collaboration between design, development, and security teams using OWASP as a common language.
12 chapters in this module
- Translating OWASP findings into design actions
- Running joint design-security critique sessions
- Creating shared risk heatmaps with security teams
- Facilitating OWASP Top 10 discussions with product teams
- Using OWASP documentation to resolve prioritization disputes
- Negotiating scope based on ASVS compliance needs
- Escalating design conflicts through OWASP frameworks
- Building trust with security teams through early alignment
- Presenting design choices with OWASP justification
- Integrating security feedback into design handoff checklists
- Co-developing threat model libraries with engineers
- Measuring collaboration quality using OWASP milestones
Module 8. OWASP Top 10: Design Implications and Mitigations
Interpret the OWASP Top 10 with a design lens, focusing on how UI/UX choices contribute to or mitigate common vulnerabilities.
12 chapters in this module
- Broken access control in user role displays
- Cryptographic failures in data visibility decisions
- Injection risks in rich text input design
- Designing for secure dependencies in third-party widgets
- Security misconfigurations in error messages
- Exposure of sensitive data in UI previews
- Identification of weak authentication flows
- Design patterns that enable SSRF attacks
- Using insecure deserialization in state management
- Software and data integrity risks in update UX
- Designing safe redirects and forwards
- Server-side request forgery in embedded content
Module 9. Secure Design Patterns Library Implementation
Build and govern a living library of OWASP-aligned design patterns for reuse across teams.
12 chapters in this module
- Cataloging high-risk interaction patterns
- Creating canonical secure form templates
- Building reusable authentication screens
- Documenting design decisions in pattern specs
- Versioning patterns with security updates
- Integrating OWASP references into pattern documentation
- Training designers on secure pattern usage
- Governance model for pattern library updates
- Automating compliance checks for pattern usage
- Auditing product screens against pattern library
- Scaling patterns across global design teams
- Updating patterns for new OWASP revisions
Module 10. Measuring the Impact of Secure Design
Quantify the downstream value of early security alignment through reduction in rework, faster review cycles, and improved audit outcomes.
12 chapters in this module
- Tracking rework hours saved by early alignment
- Measuring velocity gains in CI/CD pipelines
- Correlating design decisions to security bug counts
- Auditors' response time to design documentation
- Security team capacity freed by clear design specs
- Reduced findings in penetration testing reports
- Cost savings from avoiding post-launch patches
- User trust metrics influenced by secure design
- Benchmarking against peer organizations
- Presenting impact data to executive stakeholders
- Integrating metrics into design performance reviews
- Building business cases for design-led security
Module 11. Scaling Secure Design Across Product Lines
Lead organization-wide adoption of OWASP-aligned design principles while maintaining product differentiation.
12 chapters in this module
- Assessing readiness for secure design rollout
- Identifying champion teams for pilot programs
- Adapting OWASP guidance for domain-specific needs
- Running secure design enablement workshops
- Creating internal certifications for design teams
- Aligning design leaders across business units
- Managing exceptions and edge cases
- Securing budget for program expansion
- Measuring adoption using design system usage
- Integrating secure design into onboarding
- Sustaining momentum through quarterly reviews
- Sharing wins across the product community
Module 12. Sustaining Design Authority in Evolving Threat Landscapes
Maintain long-term influence by adapting design practices to emerging threats and regulatory expectations.
12 chapters in this module
- Monitoring OWASP for framework updates
- Updating design systems in response to new threats
- Revising patterns after real-world incidents
- Engaging with the OWASP community
- Contributing design insights back to OWASP
- Preparing for regulatory audits involving design
- Building resilience into design processes
- Communicating proactive security posture
- Balancing innovation with risk tolerance
- Mentoring junior designers on secure principles
- Documenting legacy decisions for future teams
- Designing for post-quantum transition scenarios
How this maps to your situation
- Design leadership in product development
- Influence over security architecture decisions
- Cross-functional collaboration with engineering and security
- Creating reusable, compliant design systems
Before vs. after
Before
Security decisions happen downstream, often challenging design choices after implementation.
After
Design leads security alignment, setting benchmarks that engineering teams follow.
What's included with your purchase
- 12 modules with 12 chapters each (144 chapters)
- Downloadable templates and worked examples for every module
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Delivery and format
- Course and learning environment access provisioned within 24 hours of purchase
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
Format: Text-based modules and chapters in the Art of Service learning environment, plus downloadable templates and worked examples for every chapter, plus the hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
Time investment: Approximately 90 minutes per week over eight weeks.
If nothing changes
Without integrating OWASP early, design teams remain reactive to security findings, losing influence over product architecture and increasing rework cycles.
How this compares to the alternatives
Unlike generic security awareness courses, this program is tailored for design leaders, offering actionable OWASP integration strategies, not just theory.
Frequently asked
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Is this course technical?
No. It's designed for design leaders, not developers or security engineers. We make OWASP practical for non-technical roles.
Will I get access to the OWASP materials?
Yes, the course includes curated references and direct links to official OWASP documentation.
$199 one-time. Approximately 90 minutes per week over eight weeks..
Within 24 hours your account in the learning environment is provisioned and the tailored implementation playbook is delivered alongside it.
30-day money-back guarantee·
144 chapters·
Hand-built playbook included·
Account access within 24 hours