AppSec Terrain Check
Does this sound familiar?
Things move too slow
It's Monday morning and you just had another argument with a project lead because their team has still not onboarded your security tool. You have been waiting for almost one year. And they just keep finding new reasons why they can't do it. It sucks. Why can't they just onboard?
It would only take two hours!
Behavior doesn't change
It’s Wednesday. A weak temporary staging password made it to production. Again.
You wrote the policy. You added it to the code review guide. You already explained why “temporary” credentials have a strange way of becoming permanent. The ticket gets fixed. The password gets changed.
Sure, this was the last time...
Nothing works without you
It's finally Friday! And it's not only weekend: It's vacation time! And yes, you are totally ready for the beach and a few drinks.
There is just one problem. Before you even board the plane, your phone rings. “What? Incident? Yeah…” You would love to leave the laptop at home for once.
But without you, nothing moves.
What is the Terrain Check for?
Yes, your AppSec program is stuck.
I know how that feels. I was tired, sweaty, and just wanted to get to my camp spot somewhere in the Sahara. Then suddenly, my car stopped. I knew it. But I didn't want to believe it. Annoyed, I hit the gas, and sand flew straight through the open window into my face. Awesome.
So I got out, aired down the tires, and started digging sand away to make room for the recovery boards. But my car just sat there like a stranded whale and refused to move an inch. "What the f...? Why is it not moving?!" I paused for a moment. Then I saw it: There was no weight on the wheels. My car was sitting on too much sand. "Yeah, more digging..."
But at least: I was finally solving the right problem.
Dealing with structural AppSec problems like missing structures, unclear responsibility, and negative cultural patterns is exhausting. But it is necessary.
The Terrain Check helps you identify the underlying problems that keep your AppSec program stuck.
What is the Terrain Check for?
Yes, your AppSec program is stuck.
I know how that feels. I was tired, sweaty, and just wanted to get to my camp spot somewhere in the Sahara. Then suddenly, my car stopped. I knew it. But I didn't want to believe it. Annoyed, I hit the gas, and sand flew straight through the open window into my face. Awesome.
So I got out, aired down the tires, and started digging sand away to make room for the recovery boards. But my car just sat there like a stranded whale and refused to move an inch. "What the f...? Why is it not moving?!" I paused for a moment. Then I saw it: There was no weight on the wheels. My car was sitting on too much sand. "Yeah, more digging..."
But at least: I was finally solving the right problem.
Dealing with structural AppSec problems like missing structures, unclear responsibility, and negative cultural patterns is exhausting. But it is necessary.
The Terrain Check helps you identify the underlying problems that keep your AppSec program stuck.
How does the Terrain Check help you?
How it works
The Terrain Check starts with a kickoff call to understand where you see the biggest challenge today, which decisions are currently on the table, and where you want an outside perspective.
From there, I take a closer look at your current AppSec program through stakeholder interviews. I look at where expectations are unclear, where responsibility sits in the wrong place, and where culture creates friction.
I compare your current reality against the target vision defined by the AppSec Ownership Model, so we can make the underlying problems visible and outline a path forward.
What you receive
- A written assessment
- A clear ownership gap analysis
- A follow-up call to discuss the results
Timeline: Usually 3-4 weeks, depending on stakeholder availability on your side.
Investment: USD 17,000
Important: The Terrain Check works best when we can have an honest and open conversation. The quality of your input will shape the quality of the results.
How does the Terrain Check help you?
How it works
The Terrain Check starts with a kickoff call to understand where you see the biggest challenge today, which decisions are currently on the table, and where you want an outside perspective.
From there, I take a closer look at your current AppSec program through stakeholder interviews. I look at where expectations are unclear, where responsibility sits in the wrong place, and where culture creates friction.
I compare your current reality against the target vision defined by the AppSec Ownership Model, so we can make the underlying problems visible and outline a path forward.
What you receive
- A written assessment
- A clear ownership gap analysis
- A follow-up call to discuss the results
Timeline: Usually 3-4 weeks, depending on stakeholder availability on your side.
Investment: USD 17,000
Important: The Terrain Check works best when we can have an honest and open conversation. The quality of your input will shape the quality of the results.
Efficiency
By making the underlying problems visible first, you avoid spending time, budget, and effort on AppSec measures that lack the foundation for actual impact.
Buy-In
By making cultural blockers visible through an external perspective, you create a stronger basis for management support for real change.
Momentum
By seeing where responsibility currently sits in the wrong place, you can use each next measure to move it one step closer to where it belongs.
Understanding
By understanding where your organization's current culture creates friction that blocks secure behavior, you can address culture change intentionally.
Ready for your Terrain Check?
If you want to book the Terrain Check or still have questions, send me a message. We can clarify whether it is the right fit in a free introductory call.
