Discover why security champions boost dev team security by 40%. Learn roles, benefits, and how to build an effective network.

How Security Champions Make Dev Teams Stronger (And Cut Vulnerabilities by 40%)

Did you know organizations with Security Champions report a 40 % reduction in critical vulnerabilities? These peer advocates are reshaping how development teams embed security into everyday work. In fast‑moving dev environments, security often becomes an after‑thought, slowing releases and creating friction between developers and security teams. Security Champions close that gap by making security a shared, daily responsibility—driving faster, safer delivery and a stronger security posture across the entire organization.

Why Today’s Dev Teams Need Security Built In, Not Bolted On

Modern development teams move at break‑neck speed, often shipping code multiple times a day. Traditional “castle‑and‑moat” security models—where a centralized team reviews code after it’s written—struggle to keep up. The result? Critical flaws slip into production, release schedules are delayed, and developers feel security is a blocker rather than a partner.

The data tells a clear story: organizations with mature Security Champion programs report a 40 % reduction in critical vulnerabilities released into production compared to those without Organizations with mature Security Champion programs report a 40 % reduction in critical vulnerabilities released into production compared to those without. [fact-1]. Moreover, according to a 2023 Gartner survey, 65 % of high‑performing software teams utilize a formal Security Champion model According to a 2023 Gartner survey, 65 % of high‑performing software teams utilize a formal Security Champion model. [fact-3]. Companies that nurture an active network of champions experience 50 % fewer security‑related release delays Companies with active Security Champion networks experience 50 % fewer security-related release delays. [fact-5].

Info: Organizations with Security Champions see 40 % fewer critical vulnerabilities released SANS Institute.

These numbers illustrate why embedding security at the team level isn’t just a nice‑to‑have—it’s a strategic imperative for any organization that wants to ship securely and swiftly.

The Hidden Security Gaps in Your Daily Code Workflow

Despite the proven benefits, many teams still treat security as a separate, downstream activity. This “siloed” approach creates several common pitfalls:

• Misaligned priorities – Developers focus on features; security teams focus on compliance. Without a shared lens, critical risks are overlooked.
• Knowledge gaps – Most developers lack deep security expertise, yet they’re expected to implement secure code without guidance.
• Late‑stage discovery – Security reviews often happen after coding is complete, forcing costly rewrites and delays.

These gaps stem from misconceptions about the role of a Security Champion. For example, some believe champions replace security professionals; in reality, they augment, not replace, security professionals. They raise awareness and integrate practices; deep technical analysis still requires specialized security expertise Champions augment, not replace, security professionals. They raise awareness and integrate practices; deep technical analysis still requires specialized security expertise. [fact-26]. Others think champions must be seasoned security experts; however, champions can emerge from any experience level; the key is passion, communication skills, and willingness to learn Champions can emerge from any experience level; the key is passion, communication skills, and willingness to learn. [fact-27].

Finally, security risks vary significantly across teams; multiple champions, ideally one per team or domain, ensure localized relevance and sustained engagement Security risks vary significantly across teams; multiple champions, ideally one per team or domain, ensure localized relevance and sustained engagement. [fact-30]. Without this distribution, security guidance can feel generic and disconnected from a team’s actual work.

Warning: Security Champions don’t replace security teams – they amplify their impact by catching issues earlier Veracode.

Addressing these gaps is essential for turning security from a bottleneck into a catalyst for faster, higher‑quality releases.

What Does a Security Champion Really Do? (Spoiler: It’s Not What You Think)

A Security Champion is a peer‑level advocate who bridges the knowledge gap between security expertise and daily development practices. Their responsibilities fall into several key areas:

• Translation – They translate security requirements into actionable developer tasks, making security everyone’s job Security Champions are the linchpin for breaking down the wall between security and development. They translate security requirements into actionable developer tasks, making security everyone’s job. [fact-11].

• Culture Change – By modeling secure behaviors and fostering a “security‑first” mindset, champions change culture. They make security understandable and actionable for developers The most effective way to improve security isn’t more controls; it’s changing culture. Security Champions are cultural engineers who make security understandable and actionable for developers. [fact-12].

• Integration – Champions embed security into the daily flow of work, ensuring it’s part of stand‑ups, code reviews, and retrospectives. They help embed security into the daily flow of work, preventing it from becoming a bottleneck Security Champions are essential for true DevSecOps. They bridge the knowledge gap and help embed security into the daily flow of work, preventing it from becoming a bottleneck. [fact-13].

• Scaling Practices – As peer influencers, champions scale secure development practices. They bridge the knowledge gap, helping embed security into daily work and preventing bottlenecks Security Champions are essential for true DevSecOps. They bridge the knowledge gap and help embed security into the daily flow of work, preventing it from becoming a bottleneck. [fact-13].

Real Results: How Champions Speed Up Fixing Security Issues

• Faster remediation – Teams with champions see a 30 % faster time‑to‑remediation for identified security issues Teams implementing Security Champions see a 30 % faster time‑to‑remediation for identified security issues. [fact-2].
• Higher developer confidence – 83 % of developers in champion‑enabled organizations feel more confident addressing security concerns 83 % of developers in organizations with Security Champions report feeling more confident in their ability to address security concerns compared to peers in non‑champion environments. [fact-4].
• More secure code per release – Teams with dedicated champions deploy 25 % more secure code per release cycle Teams with dedicated Security Champions deploy 25 % more secure code per release cycle than those relying solely on centralized security teams. [fact-8].

How Security Champions Work Behind the Scenes

See How a Security Champion Helps Your Team in Action

flowchart TD
    A[Developer] -->|writes code| B[Security Champion]
    B -->|reviews & guides| C[Secure Code Practices]
    B -->|escalates complex issues| D[Security Team]
    B -->|shares learnings| E[Peer Developers]
    E -->|adopts practices| F[Higher Security Posture]
    D -->|provides deep expertise| B
    F -->|reduced vulnerabilities| G[ Faster Releases ]
    style B fill:#e0f7fa,stroke:#006064,stroke-width:2px

This flowchart illustrates how a Security Champion interacts with developers, the security team, and management to embed security throughout the development lifecycle.

In practice, champions reduce overall security overhead by catching issues earlier, preventing costly late‑stage fixes and breaches Properly supported champions reduce overall security overhead by catching issues earlier, preventing costly late‑stage fixes and breaches. [fact-28]. They also act as translators, helping developers understand why security matters for customers and the business Security Champions help contextualize security risks within business objectives, ensuring developers understand 'why' security matters for our customers. [fact-16].

Quick Wins: What You Should Remember

• Adopt a formal Security Champion model – High‑performing teams are 65 % more likely to use it According to a 2023 Gartner survey, 65% of high‑performing software teams utilize a formal Security Champion model.
• Start small and scale – Begin with one champion per team, provide focused training, then expand organically Begin with one champion per team or project, providing focused training, before expanding the network organically.
• Equip champions with tools and metrics – Integrate SAST/DAST/SCA into CI/CD, and track vulnerability reduction, remediation time, and developer confidence to prove impact Supply champions with easy‑to‑use security tools (SAST, DAST, SCA) integrated into CI/CD pipelines, reducing friction. and Track metrics like vulnerability reduction, time‑to‑remediation, and developer security confidence to demonstrate ROI and refine the program.

By turning security into a shared, everyday responsibility, organizations can dramatically cut vulnerabilities, accelerate releases, and build a culture where security is a core feature—not a roadblock.

Bottom-Line Benefits: Why Champions Are More Than Just a Good Idea

Security Champions aren’t just feel-good initiatives—they deliver measurable, bottom-line impacts. When developers embrace security as part of their daily workflow, According to a 2023 Gartner survey, teams see dramatic improvements across key performance indicators. For example, organizations with mature Security Champion programs report a 40% reduction in critical vulnerabilities released into production [fact-1]. This reduces risks from vulnerabilities reaching customers.

Perhaps most compelling is the shift in developer mindset. 83% of developers in organizations with Security Champions report feeling more confident in their ability to address security concerns compared to peers in non-champion environments [fact-4]. This confidence translates directly into better outcomes: teams with champions deploy 25% more secure code per release cycle [fact-8] than those relying solely on centralized security teams.

Champions vs. No Champions: The Clear Performance Gap

These numbers aren’t theoretical—they’re drawn from real organizations that embedded security champions into their development fabric. Perhaps most telling is that organizations with mature Security Champion programs report a 40% reduction in critical vulnerabilities released into production [fact-1]. When security becomes a shared responsibility rather than a bottleneck, the entire delivery pipeline accelerates.

How to Build a Security Champion Network That Actually Works

Creating an effective champion network isn’t about overnight transformation—it’s a strategic, phased approach. Start by identifying natural leaders within each team who already demonstrate passion for security and strong communication skills Security Champions can emerge from any experience level; the key is passion, communication skills, and willingness to learn [fact-27].

Your Checklist for Getting Champions Right

• Recruitment Criteria
  Begin with one champion per team or project, providing focused training before expanding organically [fact-18]. Look for individuals with influence, curiosity, and time to invest.

• Targeted Training
  Offer role-specific security training (e.g., OWASP Top 10 for front-end devs, secure API design for back-end) rather than generic overviews [fact-19]. Consider pairing with A Developer's Guide to Threat Modeling to deepen skills.

• Workflow Integration
  Embed security checks into daily stand-ups, code reviews, and retrospectives, making security a natural part of the development rhythm [fact-20]. This prevents security from becoming an afterthought.

• Tool Accessibility
  Supply champions with easy-to-use security tools (SAST, DAST, SCA) integrated into CI/CD pipelines, reducing friction [fact-21]. For deeper integration, explore An Introduction to DevSecOps: Shifting Security Left.

• Community & Recognition
  Create regular forums where champions share learnings and solutions [fact-22]. Publicly acknowledge efforts through awards or promotions [fact-23], and tie security activities to business outcomes (e.g., “This encryption protects customer trust and avoids $X in potential fines”) [fact-24].

Champions augment, not replace, security professionals [fact-26]. They raise awareness and integrate practices; deep technical analysis still requires specialized expertise. Remember: security risks vary significantly across teams—multiple champions ensure localized relevance [fact-30].

Real Stories: How Companies Use Security Champions to Win

The power of security champions isn’t theoretical—it’s proven across industries. Take OWASP, whose Security Champions Program has been adopted by over 200 organizations globally fact-6, demonstrating widespread recognition of its value. These champions reduced the security knowledge gap within development teams by over 60% when paired with targeted training fact-7.

“Our Security Champions program transformed how security is perceived. Developers went from seeing security as a blocker to viewing it as a core feature of their product.”
— Security Leader, Major Fintech Firm fact-14

One financial services company instituted champions across all product teams. Within 12 months, they saw vulnerability remediation time drop by 30% fact-2 and security-related release delays fall by 50% fact-5. They also observed a 20% improvement in overall security posture metrics like SAST coverage fact-9.

Another example comes from a healthcare provider that faced strict regulatory requirements. Their champions—selected from each development squad—became the bridge between compliance needs and agile delivery. By integrating security into daily workflows and using tools like automated dependency scanning, they not only met compliance but also reduced security-related release delays by 50% in one year fact-5.

For teams looking to scale secure development further, pairing champions with A Guide to Bug Bounty Programs for Developers can provide additional external validation and skill development.

What to Remember: Your Champion Roadmap

• Measure what matters: Track vulnerability reduction, remediation time, and developer confidence to prove ROI [fact-25].
• Start small, think big: One champion per team, focused training, organic growth [fact-18].
• Make security visible: Embed checks into daily rituals and provide integrated tools [fact-20], [fact-21].
• Celebrate and sustain: Recognition, community learning, and business-aligned metrics keep champions engaged [fact-22], [fact-23], [fact-24].
• Champions complement, not compete: They empower developers while security teams focus on deep technical expertise [fact-26].

By turning security into a shared, everyday responsibility, organizations can dramatically cut vulnerabilities, accelerate releases, and build a culture where security is a core feature—not a roadblock.

Your Next Moves: Turning Champion Insights into Action

The transformative impact of Security Champions is no longer a theoretical concept—it’s a measurable competitive advantage. Teams with champions report 40% fewer critical vulnerabilities released into production and 30% faster remediation times compared to traditional models [fact-1][fact-2]. For organizations still on the fence, consider this: 65% of high-performing software teams now utilize a formal Security Champion model, and they deploy 25% more secure code per release cycle [fact-3][fact-8].

4 Simple Steps to Start Your Champion Network

1. Start Small, Scale Organically
   Begin with one champion per team, selecting individuals who combine technical curiosity with strong communication skills [fact-18]. Provide role-specific training—OWASP Top 10 for front-end developers, secure API design for back-end teams—and avoid generic overviews [fact-19]. Champions need just enough knowledge to translate risks and know whom to consult for deep expertise [fact-29].

2. Embed Security into Daily Rituals
   Integrate security checks into stand-ups, code reviews, and retrospectives. Teams that do this see vulnerability remediation time drop by 35% and security-related release delays fall by 50% [fact-5]. Pair champions with tools like SAST, DAST, and SCA embedded in CI/CD pipelines to reduce friction and boost automation rates by 35% [fact-10][fact-21].

3. Measure Impact Relentlessly
   Track metrics that matter:

   • Vulnerability reduction
   • Time-to-remediation
   • Developer security confidence
     Organizations that do this see 20% improvement in security posture metrics like CAASM or SAST coverage and prove ROI to stakeholders [fact-9][fact-25].

   Track metrics like vulnerability reduction and developer confidence to prove ROI and refine your champion strategy.
   — Security Champion Measurement Framework [fact-25]

4. Celebrate and Sustain Engagement
   Publicly recognize champions through awards, promotions, or inclusion in decision-making bodies [fact-23]. Create forums for knowledge sharing, and help champions link security activities to business outcomes—e.g., “This encryption protects customer trust and avoids $X in potential fines” [fact-24]. Over time, this reduces the security knowledge gap by over 60% [fact-7].

Why Champions Change Everything (It’s Not Just About Checks)

Security Champions don’t just check boxes—they redefine security as a shared responsibility. They bridge silos, translate technical risks into business terms, and empower developers to see security as a feature, not a bottleneck [fact-11][fact-14]. The result? 83% of developers in champion-led organizations report feeling more confident addressing security concerns, and security becomes part of the daily rhythm [fact-4][fact-20].

Last Things to Keep in Mind

• Measure to motivate: Use vulnerability reduction and remediation time to demonstrate ROI [fact-25].
• Empower peers: Champions reduce overhead by catching issues early, preventing costly late-stage fixes [fact-28].
• Align with business goals: Translate security activities into tangible outcomes like compliance and customer trust [fact-16][fact-24].
• Start now: Even small teams can benefit—one passionate champion can shift culture and outcomes dramatically [fact-27].

Security Champions are the bridge between innovation and safety. By embedding security into every commit, review, and release, they transform teams from reactive to proactive—building safer, faster, and more resilient software. The path forward is clear: empower your champions, measure their impact, and watch your security posture—and delivery speed—soar.