Developing secure software requires the integration of numerous methods and tools into the development process, and software design is based on shared expert knowledge, claims, and opinions. Empirical methods, including data analytics, allow extracting knowledge and insights from the data that organizations collect from their processes and tools, and from the opinions of the experts who practice these processes and methods. This book introduces the reader to the fundamentals of empirical research methods, and demonstrates how these methods can be used to hone a secure software development lifecycle based on empirical data and published best practices.

This book constitutes the proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Risks and Security of Internet and Systems, CRiSIS 2021, which took place during November 11-13, 2021. The conference was originally planned to take place in Ames, IA, USA, but had to change to an online format due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 9 full and 3 short papers included in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 23 submissions. The papers were organized in topical sections named: CPS and hardware security; attacks, responses, and security management; network and data security.