A tailored course, built for your situation
Mastering OWASP for Research Leads in High-Efficiency Tech Environments
Build unshakable command of web application security frameworks from the ground up
$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.
Even strong research teams get delayed when security frameworks aren’t anticipated early
The situation this course is for
Security reviews often catch research teams off guard because OWASP isn’t fully internalized. Teams that lack proactive alignment face rework, extended cycles, and weakened influence with engineering partners.
Who this is for
Research Lead at a high-growth tech company driving innovation at the intersection of AI and product development
Who this is not for
This course is not for junior analysts or consultants without direct ownership of research-to-production pipelines. It’s tailored for seasoned practitioners who must speak confidently across technical, security, and executive domains.
What you walk away with
- Apply OWASP principles to early-stage research planning
- Anticipate security review questions before they're asked
- Speak confidently about control mappings in cross-functional meetings
- Reduce rework by aligning research outputs with compliance expectations
- Build a repeatable mental model for threat modeling in AI-integrated systems
The 12 modules (with all 144 chapters)
Module 1. Understanding OWASP’s Role in Modern Research
Explore how OWASP functions as a foundational reference in tech research, especially when security implications are not immediately visible. Learn where it fits among other standards and why it’s uniquely positioned for AI-adjacent risk frameworks.
12 chapters in this module
- How OWASP guides early-phase security thinking
- Why Research Leads are now first-line reviewers
- Mapping OWASP to common AI research outputs
- Where OWASP overlaps with internal Meta policies
- How security teams expect OWASP to be used
- Distinguishing OWASP from ISO 27001 and NIST CSF
- The rise of automated compliance tooling referencing OWASP
- Why OWASP matters even when not formally cited
- Using OWASP to strengthen peer review processes
- How OWASP informs red teaming exercises
- Common misconceptions about OWASP scope
- Building credibility through precise OWASP references
Module 2. Structure of the OWASP Top 10
Dive into the hierarchical logic of the OWASP Top 10, understand how risks are prioritized, and how each item maps to real-world vulnerabilities seen in recent Meta-scale incidents.
12 chapters in this module
- Why injection remains at the top of the list
- How broken access controls manifest in APIs
- Cryptographic failures in AI model serving layers
- How insecure design differs from implementation flaws
- Real case: Authentication bypass in a test rollout
- How security misconfigurations scale with AI
- Vulnerable components in third-party ML libraries
- How logging failures affect incident response
- Server-side request forgery in proxy systems
- How flawed AI access policies create risk
- Data exposure patterns in feature stores
- Prioritizing Top 0.5 risks beyond the main list
Module 3. OWASP ASVS Explained
Break down the Application Security Verification Standard and how it’s used to validate secure development practices across the software lifecycle, including research prototypes.
12 chapters in this module
- Understanding the three security levels in ASVS
- Mapping ASVS to research system design phases
- How Level 1 applies to internal tooling
- When Level 2 becomes necessary for deployment
- Standards alignment in pre-production reviews
- ASVS and data handling in model training
- Authentication requirements for research APIs
- Session management in cross-platform tools
- Verifying input validation in AI pipelines
- Ensuring secure error handling in outputs
- Encryption expectations for stored research data
- ASVS checkpoints for vendor-integrated tools
Module 4. Integrating OWASP into Threat Modeling
Learn how to use OWASP principles to guide structured threat modeling sessions, especially when integrating AI components into existing platforms.
12 chapters in this module
- Starting threat modeling with STRIDE
- How OWASP complements DFD-based analysis
- Identifying trust boundaries in AI systems
- Using OWASP to spot design-level risks
- Threat modeling for real-time inference APIs
- How to classify risk severity using OWASP
- Linking threats to mitigations in ASVS
- Documenting findings for audit readiness
- Facilitating sessions with engineering teams
- Capturing edge cases in model input handling
- Evaluating third-party model providers
- Tracking remediation progress post-session
Module 5. OWASP SAMM for Maturity Assessment
Use the Software Assurance Maturity Model to assess and improve the security posture of research teams and their delivery pipelines.
12 chapters in this module
- Four business functions in OWASP SAMM
- How to score current maturity levels
- Applying SAMM to research-specific workflows
- Benchmarking against internal peer teams
- Roadmap planning for maturity improvement
- Integrating SAMM into quarterly planning
- Measuring progress across development cycles
- Using SAMM to justify security investments
- Leadership reporting with SAMM metrics
- Tailoring SAMM for AI development pipelines
- Common pitfalls in SAMM implementation
- How Meta leverages SAMM-adjacent models
Module 6. OWASP ZAP in Practice
Apply the OWASP Zed Attack Proxy to identify vulnerabilities in research prototypes and staging environments, even without full operational control.
12 chapters in this module
- Installing and configuring OWASP ZAP
- Running automated scans on test APIs
- Interpreting scan results for non-security roles
- Differentiating false positives from real risks
- Using ZAP to validate input sanitization
- Scanning AI-powered web interfaces
- Integrating ZAP into CI/CD pipelines
- Generating reports for security teams
- Customizing rules for unique use cases
- Collaborating with security engineers on findings
- Staying within ethical testing boundaries
- When to escalate findings to specialists
Module 7. OWASP and AI Security Risks
Extend OWASP principles to the unique threat landscape of AI and machine learning systems, including model poisoning, prompt injection, and data leakage.
12 chapters in this module
- How OWASP applies to AI system architecture
- Mapping OWASP Top 10 to model endpoints
- Prompt injection as a form of injection flaw
- Authentication bypass in AI chat interfaces
- Data exposure in training datasets
- Model inversion and privacy risks
- Adversarial attacks on image classifiers
- Securing model weights and checkpoints
- Monitoring for anomalous model behavior
- Logging AI interactions for audit trails
- Third-party AI service risk assessment
- Building secure AI development guidelines
Module 8. Cross-Functional Alignment Using OWASP
Use OWASP as a shared language to align research, engineering, and security teams around common security goals and expectations.
12 chapters in this module
- Translating OWASP for engineering audiences
- Using OWASP to justify research timelines
- Facilitating joint review sessions
- Aligning with AppSec team priorities
- Negotiating scope with product managers
- Presenting risks to non-technical leaders
- Documenting decisions with OWASP references
- Building trust through consistent framing
- Avoiding overstatement of security claims
- Handling pushback on security findings
- Creating reusable risk narratives
- Owning the security narrative in reviews
Module 9. OWASP in Vendor and Third-Party Assessments
Leverage OWASP to evaluate third-party tools and APIs integrated into research workflows, ensuring they meet internal security bar.
12 chapters in this module
- Using OWASP to screen vendor documentation
- Asking the right questions during SIGs
- Evaluating vendor security posture claims
- Mapping vendor controls to OWASP Top 10
- Assessing AI model providers for compliance
- Reviewing third-party code libraries
- Validating API security implementations
- Identifying red flags in vendor responses
- Documenting assessment findings
- Escalating concerns to procurement teams
- Maintaining independence in vendor reviews
- Using OWASP to strengthen negotiation position
Module 10. Anticipating Security Review Questions
Develop the ability to foresee and preempt the most common security review questions using OWASP as a mental model.
12 chapters in this module
- Common OWASP-related questions in reviews
- How to answer confidently without overcommitting
- Preparing evidence in advance
- Structuring responses around control mapping
- Using ASVS to back up claims
- Handling edge-case scenarios
- When to involve AppSec for clarification
- Balancing transparency and risk disclosure
- Documenting assumptions and limitations
- Responding to follow-up questions
- Avoiding common misrepresentations
- Turning feedback into improvement
Module 11. Building a Personal OWASP Playbook
Create a customized, reusable playbook for applying OWASP principles to future research initiatives, reducing cognitive load and increasing consistency.
12 chapters in this module
- Capturing lessons from past projects
- Organizing OWASP knowledge by use case
- Creating templates for common scenarios
- Building decision trees for risk evaluation
- Integrating OWASP into personal workflow
- Sharing knowledge with team members
- Maintaining relevance amid framework updates
- Curating reliable external resources
- Automating checklist applications
- Tracking changes in OWASP guidance
- Using the playbook in peer reviews
- Updating content based on real-world use
Module 12. Applying Mastery: From Research to Production
Synthesize all OWASP knowledge into a final exercise that simulates a real-world transition from research concept to production-ready system, applying full framework fluency.
12 chapters in this module
- Starting with a hypothetical research project
- Applying OWASP Top 10 from the beginning
- Conducting a threat modeling session
- Using ASVS to define security requirements
- Integrating ZAP into prototype testing
- Assessing third-party dependencies
- Documenting decisions for audit purposes
- Aligning with engineering teams
- Preparing for AppSec review
- Anticipating follow-up questions
- Delivering a secure system narrative
- Reflecting on the end-to-end process
How this maps to your situation
- Research Leads defining early-stage AI systems
- Cross-functional alignment on security expectations
- Pre-production security reviews
- Third-party tool integration for AI research
Before vs. after
Before
Starting research without anticipating security review requirements
After
Launching projects with OWASP-integrated planning and preemptive control design
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: 90 minutes total, self-paced, designed for completion over a single weekend morning.
If nothing changes
Without internalizing OWASP, research teams face repeated rework, delayed deployments, and diminished influence in cross-functional security discussions.
How this compares to the alternatives
Generic compliance courses don’t address the nuances of AI research at Meta-scale. This course is tailored to the specific intersection of innovation, research leadership, and security framework fluency.
Frequently asked
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Who is this course for?
Research Leads and senior technical leaders who guide innovation and need to speak authoritatively about security frameworks.
Is OWASP relevant even if it’s not formally required?
Yes. It’s the de facto standard for internal security reviews and vendor assessments, even when not officially mandated.
$199 one-time. 90 minutes total, self-paced, designed for completion over a single weekend morning..
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