A tailored course, built for your situation
Mastering OWASP for Senior Technical Decision Makers
A tailored course to solidify your authority in security architecture and vendor evaluations
$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.
Being looped into security decisions but not setting the terms
The situation this course is for
Technical leaders often get pulled into reviews after the framework is chosen, the tool is bought, or the risk is flagged, too late to shape the outcome. Influence should come earlier, during vendor evaluation and control design, not during incident follow-up.
Who this is for
Senior technical leaders who are expected to lead security judgment but lack a formalized, defensible methodology for doing so , especially in vendor selection, control validation, and architecture review.
Who this is not for
Individuals looking for developer-focused OWASP tutorials, entry-level certification prep, or hands-on penetration testing labs.
What you walk away with
- Lead vendor security evaluations with a structured, recognized framework
- Document and defend architectural decisions using OWASP-backed criteria
- Anticipate peer challenges with pre-built counterpoints and real-world examples
- Streamline third-party risk assessments using modular OWASP control mappings
- Become the internal reference for secure design patterns in application procurement
The 12 modules (with all 144 chapters)
Module 1. Understanding OWASP's Role in Enterprise Security
Grounds the course in real-world application beyond developer checklists. Explores how secure design principles integrate into procurement, vendor review, and architecture governance.
12 chapters in this module
- Why OWASP matters beyond code reviews
- Security decision points in vendor selection
- Mapping OWASP to executive risk priorities
- How frameworks shape third-party contracts
- Security expectations in architecture bids
- Case example: Cloud access gateway evaluation
- Avoiding checkbox compliance in security
- Defining 'secure enough' for procurement
- Internal stakeholder expectations
- Where OWASP fits in enterprise standards
- Balancing innovation and control
- Setting thresholds for evaluation teams
Module 2. OWASP Top 10 as a Vendor Evaluation Tool
Teaches how to use the OWASP Top 10 not as a developer guide, but as a structured evaluation lens for procuring SaaS and internal tools.
12 chapters in this module
- Using Top 10 as a scoring rubric
- Mapping vulnerabilities to business impact
- Weighting risk by deployment context
- Security questions for vendor RFPs
- Translating technical findings for leadership
- Prioritizing findings by breach likelihood
- Common gaps in vendor self-assessments
- Benchmarking responses across providers
- Creating defensible scorecards
- Asking follow-up questions effectively
- Scoring without being technical
- Documenting evaluation rationale
Module 3. Architecture Sign-Off Using OWASP Principles
Builds a repeatable framework for evaluating new systems using OWASP standards, tailored for leaders who aren't coding but must approve.
12 chapters in this module
- Identifying critical trust boundaries
- Validating data flow security
- Reviewing API security design
- Assessing session management
- Evaluating identity integration
- Checking for insecure dependencies
- Security in CI/CD pipelines
- Misconfiguration risk in cloud services
- Logging and monitoring coverage
- Secure design patterns to demand
- Red flags in architecture diagrams
- Documenting approval rationale
Module 4. Building Internal Security Benchmarks
Shows how to turn OWASP into a consistent internal standard, so teams know expectations before projects begin.
12 chapters in this module
- Creating tailored checklists
- Setting minimum security bars
- Communicating standards across teams
- Versioning and updates
- Onboarding teams to the benchmark
- Handling exceptions and waivers
- Linking benchmarks to procurement
- Integrating with SDLC policies
- Auditing adherence efficiently
- Adjusting for technical debt
- Gaining cross-functional buy-in
- Updating benchmarks quarterly
Module 5. Facilitating Security Reviews with Peers
Equips leaders to lead cross-functional reviews with confidence, using OWASP as a neutral reference.
12 chapters in this module
- Structuring review agendas
- Framing findings without blame
- Leading technical discussions
- Using OWASP to depersonalize risk
- Anticipating pushback on delays
- Balancing speed and security
- Speaking to engineering credibility
- Engaging legal and compliance
- Documenting review outcomes
- Assigning ownership clearly
- Tracking remediation credibility
- Closing reviews with clarity
Module 6. Security Communication for Leadership
Focuses on translating OWASP findings into business terms for executives and stakeholders who need clarity, not jargon.
12 chapters in this module
- Turning risks into business impacts
- Avoiding technical overwhelm
- Explaining trade-offs simply
- Creating executive summaries
- Using analogies effectively
- Highlighting customer trust factors
- Positioning security as enablement
- Framing cost of inaction
- Presenting vendor comparison data
- Reporting upward with confidence
- Justifying investment in tooling
- Building recurring security updates
Module 7. Third-Party Risk and Contract Language
Teaches how to embed OWASP expectations into procurement contracts and vendor SLAs.
12 chapters in this module
- Defining security requirements in RFPs
- Including OWASP in vendor contracts
- Requiring proof of controls
- Penetration testing clauses
- Penalty terms for noncompliance
- Handling incident response commitments
- Audit rights and access clauses
- Managing subcontractor risk
- Evaluating SOC 2 reports
- Reading security questionnaires
- Negotiating remediation timelines
- Documenting vendor attestation
Module 8. Managing Security Exceptions and Waivers
Provides a structured process for approving deviations, so exceptions don't become liabilities.
12 chapters in this module
- Defining acceptable risk thresholds
- Requiring formal exception requests
- Assessing compensating controls
- Setting expiration on waivers
- Communicating with legal
- Documenting leadership approval
- Tracking exceptions centrally
- Reviewing expired exceptions
- Reporting exception trends
- Preventing scope creep
- Minimizing long-term risk
- Building a culture of accountability
Module 9. Integrating OWASP into SDLC Policies
Shows how to align development lifecycle stages with OWASP expectations , even when not managing engineering directly.
12 chapters in this module
- Mapping OWASP to SDLC phases
- Setting gates for security review
- Requiring threat modeling
- Code review expectations
- Automated scanning integration
- Penetration testing timing
- Security training for developers
- Managing open source risk
- Tracking vulnerabilities over time
- Measuring team performance
- Reporting progress upward
- Updating policies quarterly
Module 10. Security Metrics That Matter
Focuses on meaningful, non-technical metrics that show progress and justify investment.
12 chapters in this module
- Tracking time to patch
- Measuring exception reduction
- Vendor compliance rates
- Security finding resolution
- Score trends across teams
- Audit pass rates
- Third-party risk scores
- Security review cycle time
- Prevention versus detection
- Cost of security incidents
- Maturity model progression
- Reporting to leadership quarterly
Module 11. Leading Security Incident Reviews
Prepares leaders to guide post-mortems with structure, fairness, and strategic focus.
12 chapters in this module
- Setting the review tone
- Gathering technical facts
- Avoiding blame culture
- Identifying root causes
- Mapping to OWASP principles
- Assessing control effectiveness
- Recommending systemic fixes
- Tracking action items
- Communicating externally
- Updating policies proactively
- Learning from near misses
- Building organizational memory
Module 12. Sustaining Security Leadership Over Time
Ensures long-term influence by building systems that outlive individuals.
12 chapters in this module
- Creating reusable playbooks
- Onboarding new team members
- Sharing knowledge across roles
- Updating materials regularly
- Institutionalizing best practices
- Mentoring junior leaders
- Establishing peer review loops
- Soliciting feedback continuously
- Adapting to new threats
- Balancing consistency and innovation
- Measuring leadership impact
- Leaving a defensible legacy
How this maps to your situation
- Vendor selection under scrutiny
- Architecture proposal review
- Third-party risk escalation
- Executive security reporting
Before vs. after
Before
Consulted late in security decisions, relying on ad hoc inputs and incomplete vendor data
After
Leads security evaluations with a structured, repeatable method grounded in OWASP, setting the terms others 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 3 hours per module, designed for working practitioners. Total investment: 36 hours over 6-8 weeks.
If nothing changes
Continuing without a formalized approach risks inconsistent decisions, escalations during incidents, and diminished influence in critical architecture and procurement talks.
How this compares to the alternatives
Most OWASP training is aimed at developers or auditors. This course is designed specifically for senior technical leaders who must lead , but not execute , security decisions. No other course bridges OWASP into vendor selection, architecture review, and executive communication this directly.
Frequently asked
Is this course technical?
It focuses on decision-making, not coding. You’ll use OWASP as a framework to evaluate, not implement.
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Will I get hands-on labs?
No. This is a practitioner-focused course on judgment, influence, and process , not technical execution.
$199 one-time. Approximately 3 hours per module, designed for working practitioners. Total investment: 36 hours over 6-8 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