Wikimedia Security Team/Goals 201516

= Goals =

All goals are in addition to training, reviews, and security bug work.

Q1 (July-Sept 2015)
1. Automated dynamic scanning of MediaWiki in beta. This is an area where the WMF trails industry practice. In addition to finding flaws before malicious users do, integrating dynamic scanning (along with static analysis) into the development process should allow teams to take more ownership of the security of their code and ensure security is not a blocker for teams to "deliver on-time and on-budget". Additionally, dynamic scanning will give the Security Team quantitative measurements related to the security of code produced by different teams, which may be useful in identifying trends over time. During this quarter, we will:
 * Pick tool to implement
 * Configure weekly automated scanning from labs of beta (coordinated with RelEng - )
 * Record baseline scan results for core and one extension

2. Document and report initial metrics for security bug handling. The security team currently operates without defined KPI's. Since security bug handling is a core process for the team, we will define metrics that may measure the health of this process.

The team will also support other teams in the following initiatives
 * 1) Support legal during rollout of email encryption initiative
 * 2) Support privacy for Analytics initiatives
 * 3) Support Reader Infrastructure in deploying AuthManager
 * 4) Support Fundraising Tech for PCI

Q2 (Oct-Dec 2015)
1. Continue to triage security bugs, fix security bugs on our backlog, and respond to security incidents; perform security reviews as needed.

2. Automated security static analysis of MediaWiki (depends on budget request)
 * 1) Evaluate Checkmarx, Veracode
 * 2) Setup weekly static scans of mediawiki core, critical extensions, and services (depends on 1.1)

3. Expand developer training 4. (stretch) Document and report initial metrics for security review process
 * 1) Present secure code and secure SDL training for community and staff
 * 2) (stretch) Develop and present security training materials for DevOps and Mobile (potentially outsource)

The Team will also support other teams in the following initiatives
 * 1) Support privacy for Analytics projects (Wikistats, Uniques)
 * 2) Support security and privacy for Services' event propagation
 * 3) Support security initiatives by Ops (Authn, logging)
 * 4) Support Auth improvements by Reading Infrastructure
 * 5) Anticipated Security reviews:
 * 6) Revscoring and Link Recommendations for Research
 * 7) Article Placeholder for Wikidata

Q3 (Jan-Mar 2016)

 * 1) Automated security static analysis of MediaWiki. (depends on budget request)
 * 2) Report weekly results to teams responsible for each extension / service (depends on Q2-1.2)
 * 3) Setup weekly scans of site Javascript, used on enwiki
 * 4) Coordinate external security review of MediaWiki. (removed from budget)

Q4 (Apr-Jun 2016)
= Context & References =

Strategy
WMF Strategy Preview

Specific things called out that effect the Security Team:
 * The WMF can become a thought-leader on Privacy
 * To "improve the core", there is emphasis on metrics for each department, specifically:
 * Score cards & KPIs
 * Outcome-based budgeting
 * Improved, clear success criteria for projects

2015 Call to Action
Strengthen Technology & Execution Focus on Community & Knowledge Experimentation & New Knowledge
 * We will define our commitments -- and deliver on-time and on-budget.
 * We will make our decisions based on data.
 * We will improve our process for community input and allocate dedicated technical resources to community requests.
 * We will update legacy architectures and deliver mobile-ready infrastructure and services to support structured data, user security, and a simplified user experience.
 * We will integrate across community engagement functions to improve communication and results.
 * We will create a central, multilingual hub for community support.
 * We will have a working plan to support emerging users and communities.
 * We will improve our measures of community health and content quality, and fund effective community and content initiatives.
 * We will integrate, consolidate, and pause or stop stalled initiatives.
 * We will create spaces for future community-led innovations and new knowledge creation.
 * We will facilitate and support new models and structures for knowledge curation.
 * We will strengthen partnerships with organizations that use or contribute free content, or are aligned with the WMF in the free-knowledge movement.