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Assess and Improve Your AppSec Programme using OWASP SAMM
One-Day Interactive (Classroom) Training - OWASP New Zealand Day 2026
Abstract
Incorporating a mix of lectures and workshops, this training delivers an in-depth view of and practical implementation of the OWASP Software Assurance Maturity Model (SAMM). SAMM provides an effective and measurable way for organisations to analyze and improve their software security posture.
Course Details
Dates: Tuesday, 1 September 2026
Time: 8:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (NZDT)
Instructor: John DiLeo, Application Security Lead, Gallagher Security
Course Fee: NZ $450.00 (plus GST and ticketing fees)
Registration Site: https://events.humanitix.com/owaspnz2026-training
Course Description
Building security into the software development and management practices of an organisation can be a daunting task. There are many elements to the equation: organisation structure, different stakeholders, technology stacks, tools and processes, and so forth. Implementing software assurance can have a significant impact on the organization. Yet, trying to achieve this without a good framework is most likely leading to just marginal and unsustainable improvements. OWASP SAMM gives you a structural and measurable framework to do just that. It enables you to formulate and implement a strategy for software security that is tailored to the risk profile of your organisation.
The goal of this one-day training, which is conceived as a mix of presentations and interactive workshops, is for the participants to get a more in-depth view of, and practical feel for, the OWASP SAMM model. The training is set up in three parts:
- In the first part, we present an overview of the model, and review the similarities and differences with other models. The five Business Functions - Governance, Design, Implementation, Verification, and Operations - are explained. Furthermore, different constituent elements (e.g., metrics) are discussed and the overall usage scenarios of the model are explained.
- Next, approximately half a day will be spent doing an actual SAMM evaluation of your organisation (or one that you have worked for). We will go through an evaluation of all the SAMM domains and discuss the results in the group. This will give all participants a good indication of the organisation’s maturity in software assurance. In the same effort, we will define a target model for your organisation and identify the most important challenges in getting there.
- The final part of the training will be dedicated to specific questions or challenges that you are facing about secure development in your organisation. In this group discussion, experiences will be shared among participants to address these questions.
In case you haven’t started a secure software initiative in your organisation yet, this training should provide you with the necessary foundations and ideas to do so. Be prepared for the highly effective and applicable treatment of this large domain!
And, in case you would be concerned about confidentiality issues, we adhere to the Chatham House Rule.
Course Topics
Part One: SDLC Overview and OWASP SAMM Introduction
- The ‘Application Security Problem’
- Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) Overview
- OWASP SAMM - Vision, History, Structure
- OWASP SAMM As an Assessment Tool
Part Two: Applying OWASP SAMM
- Methodology
- Establishing Assessment Scope
- Assessing Governance
- Assessing Design
- Assessing Implementation
- Assessing Verification
- Assessing Operations
- Setting Improvement Targets
Part Three: OWASP SAMM Tools
- Assessment Tools
- OWASP SAMM Toolkit (Excel workbook)
- SAMMwise (single-page application)
- Benchmark Project
- Relationships with Other SAMM Projects and Tools
Part Four: OWASP SAMM Best Practices
- Choosing the Right Starting Points
- Monitoring and Metrics
- Achieving Security by Default
- Critical Success Factors
Your Instructor
Dr. John DiLeo leads the OWASP New Zealand Chapter. In his day job, John is the Application Security Lead at Gallagher Security in Hamilton. Before joining Gallagher, John led the Application Security Services team at Datacom, providing support and guidance to clients in launching, managing, and maturing their enterprise software assurance programs.
Before turning to full-time roles in security, John was active as a Java enterprise architect and Web application developer. In earlier lives, John has been a full-time professor and had specialized in developing discrete-event simulations of large distributed systems. Twitter: @gr4ybeard