Define clear security requirements: Identify sensitive data, regulatory needs, and potential threats. Implement least privilege access: Grant users and services only necessary permissions to minimize attack surface. Use defense in depth: Layer security controls, such as encryption, firewalls, and intrusion detection. Design for segmentation: Isolate sensitive components and data to limit lateral movement. Monitor and audit: Track system activity, detect anomalies, and respond to incidents. Prioritize simplicity: Avoid complexity, which can introduce security vulnerabilities. If this helps do like 😎

There are several industry tools which are used in modern day to identify security issues while undergoing product development. While it’s important to make sure organization benefits with singular/flex product but at same time cyber crimes are exponentially increasing, keeping such aspects in mind there are following steps laid out while product development is going on 1. Getting Clear Requirements from stakes 2. Thoroughly undergoing System failure (security) mode analysis using tools 3. Identifying potential security risk and mitigating them or accepting low risk with plans to mitigate them later as product evolve in its development 4. Sweet spot may not be easy to identify at first go but have to periodically keep reviewing them.

To balance flexibility and security in design, prioritize a modular approach that limits user permissions while ensuring adaptable, layered security measures. Employ role-based access controls, regular audits, and scalable encryption protocols. This structure allows flexibility in usage and modifications while safeguarding sensitive data, enabling a secure, user-centered experience that can evolve with emerging requirements.

Understanding the implications of a task in terms of security is a very high priority and OWASP training and information can help a lot with that. OWASP also has cheat sheets for common programming tasks, which can be a big help as well. With security I don't think it is necessarily a balance, you have to do it but having a clear idea of how to implement it will help not to waste time implementing unnecessary measures or missing measures that could hurt you later.

I feel it's much easier when designing and implementing within your own organisation. When working with clients who have big plans for their business it is a much more difficult proposition. However I feel you need to start with your full roadmap, granularise the requirements as much as possible and then identify the main security concerns. Once these are identified then I feel it is important for agreement on required features versus "nice to haves". Then once the iterative approach to the systems design begins it is important to visualise and ensure proper foundations are put in place inline with security standards, such as OWASP 10.