Explore KSACs by Pathway
In late 2025, the Partnership pulled together members of industry from across tech to share how the in-demand skillsets for entry-level roles in their fields have changed in the last two years. The Knowledge, Skills & Abilities and Credentials (KSACs) below reflect their feedback on entry-level expectations, especially in a tech workplace increasingly shaped by AI.
11. Secure Software
| Label | KSAC Description | Bloom's Taxonomy Level | |
|---|---|---|---|
| a | Choose the appropriate data structure for modeling a given problem. | skill | 3 |
| b | Implement a divide-and-conquer algorithm for solving a problem. | skill | 3 |
| c | Implement a coherent abstract data type, with loose coupling between components and behaviors. | skill | 3 |
| d | Identify common coding errors that lead to insecure programs (e.g., buffer overflows, memory leaks, malicious code). | knowledge | 3 |
| e | Apply the principles of least privilege, defensive programming, and fail-safe defaults. | ability | 3 |
| f | Write code with logging capabilities. | skill | 2 |
| g | Integrate security in all phases of the software development life cycle (SecDevOps). | ability | 3 |
| h | Understand web applicatin issues using OWASP | knowledge | 2 |
| i | Understand basics of securing web apps - SQL Injection and other input validation. | knowledge | 2 |
| j | Understand software bill of materials (SBOM). | knowledge | 2 |