When you hear the words "application security training," your eyes probably glaze over. You think of long, irrelevant training videos. Fill-in-the-blank “interactive” exercises that don’t teach you anything new.
But application security training doesn’t need to be boring. It doesn’t need to feel punitive. And it should never be a waste of your engineering team's time.
If executed well, strong AppSec instincts are some of the most precious habits your organization can develop. It keeps your code clean, your (and your users’) data safe, and your team on top of the curve.
So if you're wondering how to build security training that actually works — and that people care about — you're in the right place.
Let's break it down.
Why You Should Care About Application Security Training
If you're a founder, investor, engineer, or anyone who touches technology, you have a stake in this one. Bad security is costly. Slows down launches. Destroys trust.
But the good news is that most common mistakes are completely preventable. Issues like hardcoded secrets, insecure APIs, and outdated libraries? All preventable through a combination of tooling and training.
Application security training isn’t just a compliance checkbox. It’s how you future-proof your team. Give people the tools and they will surprise you.
Let's Discuss What Doesn't Work First
Before we talk about how to do it right, let’s call out the usual suspects:
- Training that feels like punishment
- Long videos that nobody watches
- Content that’s either too simple or too complex
- Tests that feel like trick questions or SAT practice tests
If your security training fits into one of the above categories, it’s not surprising that people don’t like it.
At Anagram Security, we said enough is enough. Training should be something your team wants to do, not something they mindlessly click through.
So, What Actually Works?
Here's what we learned:
- Keep it Short and Snappy
No one needs to spend an hour listening to a lecture. Give them a 5-minute challenge instead. That's enough time for you to teach something valuable without ruining their entire day. - Make it Feel Real
You know what doesn’t do anybody any good? A made-up bug from a made-up app with nothing resembling their actual code.
This is why our developer security training leverages real-world scenarios. The sort of thing you might encounter on the job.
(By the way, the same lesson applies for non-technical teams. Show them scenarios they’ll face. Like spotting a fishy link or handling sensitive data.)
- Feedback Is Paramount
No one wants to do something wrong and get told, "Nope. Try again. "It’s highly frustrating. We're all about immediate feedback that leaves people saying, "Got it!"
The aim is not to shame, but to teach. And maybe even have some fun, too.
Giving Engineers A Security Mindset
Let's focus on developers for a moment. They're just expected to know how to write secure code. But honestly? Most aren’t taught that in school or boot camp. And even assuming they were, security risks change much more rapidly than a university syllabus. That’s where Anagram Security’s Developer Training comes in.
What We Do Differently:
- We ditch the textbook exercises. Our exercises involve real code from real apps, with real bugs to discover and fix.
- No "training wheels." No "fill-in-the-blank" editors. Devs dig in, spot problems, and make corrections as they would for their own repos.
- We focus on what matters. Threat modeling, defensive design, secure coding practices—things that assist them in writing better code, not just acing a quiz.
You're not converting your devs into security engineers full-time. You're equipping them with the mindset and capabilities to create more secure stuff.
It’s Not Just for Devs
It's not just developers. Security is a whole-company endeavor. The finance team touches bank account details, and the HR team handles systems that process social security numbers, payroll data, and a ton of other sensitive data. A few other examples:
- Marketing: Master the art of detecting social engineering deceptions and handling information with caution.
- Product: See how design decisions impact security vulnerabilities.
- Finance: Monitor bank accounts, budgets, and vendor fraud.
- Customer Support: How do you notice when a customer starts acting strangely?
The aim of training these groups is not to make people paranoid, but to make them intelligent, self-assured, and prepared for anything that comes their way.
Need a Training Program That Sticks? Do This
Now that we have the basics, let’s discuss the practicalities.
Here is your blueprint for a training program that doesn’t gather dust:
- Begin from the Top
If leaders don't care, neither will anyone else. Security must be taken seriously from the C-suite down. When your VP of Product or CTO is doing the same security training as your developer team, that's how culture spreads. - Personalize It
One-size-fits-all rarely fits anyone. Make it role-specific. Let people choose add-ons based on curiosity. Then make it relevant for the day-to-day. - Keep it Continuous
Security is not a one-time deal. Try bite-sized monthly challenges. Or quarterly refreshers. Keep it light, but maintain it. - Follow the Right Stuff
Forget who "passed." That's not the measure. Instead, look at:
- Who's engaging
- Who's getting faster at detecting problems
- If security incidents are declining
Real life trumps exam marks any day.
How Do We Deploy Without Creating Drama?
Start Small
Choose one of your pilot groups (perhaps your developers or a single product team). Give it a shot. Take feedback. Refine.
Make it Part of Onboarding
Establish the tone on day one. If security is in the welcome package, it’s adopted as the way that people do things. It shouldn’t be an afterthought.
Build It Into Workflows
Issue a security challenge during sprint planning. Align with quarterly goals. Build it, don’t add it afterwards.
Celebrate Your Successes
Someone fix a bug ahead of schedule? Shout it out!
Make security literacy the new normal.
What Not to Do (Trust Us On This)
Make it Scary
Nobody needs to feel that one click will bring the house down. Fear doesn’t create culture. Encouragement does.
Try to Teach Everything Simultaneously
Security is a big subject. Don’t try to cram it all in. Take one risk at a time. Treat it like a habit-forming practice, not cramming for the exam.
Use the Same Training for All
Role-related > general. Be respectful of others' time and provide something handy.
If You’re an Investor, Read This
Firms that are serious about security don't only protect their interests. They grow faster, maintain credibility, and respond better when an incident occurs.
Effective application security training for developers is one of the signs of a future-ready company.
- They will never be bogged down by avoidable intrusions
- They don’t panic when a bug makes it to production—they repair it quickly
- Their teams are confident and ultimately deploy code faster
Effective training is not just good security; it’s good business sense.
How Anagram Security Does It Differently
At Anagram Security, we didn’t set out to make security training less painful. We wanted to make it enjoyable. Sounds crazy, we know. But here’s how we make it happen:
Quick, Interactive Puzzles
We put users into real situations — "This code appears odd. How do you fix it?"Straight-talking, resourceful, and interesting in the best way.
Real Threats, No Fluff
No cartoon hackers or hour-long lectures. Just real people explaining actual risks you could face in building real applications.
Instant Feedback That Makes Sense
Messed up? No shame there. A simple nudge shows you where you went astray and how you can do better next time.
Developer Training That Delivers Deep
Our Application Security Training is practical. Not theoretical. Engineers discover flaws and fix them, and they learn new approaches to security each time they do it.
Conclusion: Create the Culture, Harvest the Rewards
At the end of the day, security isn’t just about tools or audits or fancy dashboards. It’s about people. When your team trusts themselves to make safe decisions — whether they're creating code or clicking links — you build something stronger. With Anagram Security, we help you get there through two proven training pathways:
- Security Awareness Training: Bite-sized, snappy, human-centric lessons for all
- Developer Training: Real-world problems that teach devs how to code with security
No lectures, no tricks. Just effective training that lasts.
