Security
Software security is important, especially in distributed systems, to protect the integrity of the information stored and used by a software system. Questions about security requirements should be asked of the customers during requirements solicitation. The best practice for providing a secure system to customers is to ensure that security concerns are provided for upfront, and during all phases of development. Adding security features to an application, after development of the main functionality is complete, is difficult.

Privacy
Privacy concerns can arise due to security problems or questions about why certain information is gathered by a website or application. Privacy issues for users of all levels must also be addressed as early in development as the requirements phase, with an emphasis on whom has access to certain information and what will be done with the information. A system should be created that only stores the minimal amount of personal information about a person required to complete a given function.