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In today’s digital environment, software has become the backbone of how organisations operate and deliver technology. For most, reliance on external software is no longer optional, businesses of all sizes, including critical infrastructure providers, now depend on software vendors to power everything from core operations to customer-facing services.
While modern software has brought clear benefits: faster innovation, improved scalability and greater efficiency, it also concentrates risk. With fewer providers serving more critical functions, any weakness, whether it’s a coding flaw, a misconfiguration, or a targeted attack, can have far-reaching consequences across organisations, sectors and even countries.
Security by design
When software is developed with security and robustness in mind from the start, it reduces the risk of vulnerabilities and downstream failures. It also empowers organisations to make better-informed decisions when selecting vendors, with greater assurance that the products they rely on have been built responsibly.
The benefits are wide-reaching:
- Stronger supply chains with fewer weak points for attackers to exploit.
- More resilient services, with reduced disruption from bugs, outages, or security incidents.
- Improved transparency, enabling more open communication on risks, mitigations, and fixes.
- Better outcomes for customers and society, through safer digital products and more reliable services across sectors.
Why software security matters to Santander
As a global bank serving hundreds of millions of customers across multiple markets, Santander understands that trust is our most valuable currency. Every day, our customers rely on us to protect their finances, and we rely on a wide ecosystem of software to deliver that promise. When a single vulnerability can potentially impact thousands of transactions or compromise sensitive data, software security isn't just an IT concern, it's fundamental to our mission.
That's why we've moved beyond simply managing risk to actively championing higher standards across the industry. As both a significant consumer of software and a provider of digital financial services, we're uniquely positioned to influence positive change from both sides of the equation.
Being an ambassador for the UK Government's Software Security Code of Practice reflects our broader commitment to collective resilience. In financial services, we've long understood that the strength of the system depends on its weakest link, a principle that applies equally to software supply chains. By advocating for these standards, we're not just protecting Santander; we are helping to build a more secure digital economy that benefits everyone.
A shared responsibility for a stronger future
As digital infrastructure becomes more interconnected and interdependent, improving the security and resilience of software must be a shared priority, as shown in the UK’s Software Security Code of Practice. Governments, businesses, and technology providers each have a role to play, from embedding secure practices at every stage of development, to fostering a culture of transparency and collaboration.
Now is the time to act. By working together to demand higher standards and design security from the start, we can reduce vulnerabilities at scale and ensure the software we rely on is not just powerful, but trustworthy.