Security Debt in Government Software: The Hidden Risk You Can’t Ignore

When we think about software security risks, we often focus on immediate threats—new vulnerabilities discovered in the latest release or zero-day exploits making headlines. But beneath the surface lies a more insidious problem, especially in the public sector: security debt. This hidden risk accumulates quietly, but its impact can be severe, eroding the integrity, resilience, and trustworthiness of government software systems. 

What Is Security Debt? 

We define security debt as unresolved software flaws that linger in applications for over a year. These aren’t just minor bugs; many are critical vulnerabilities that pose significant risk if left unaddressed. Just like financial debt can weigh down an organization’s budget, security debt slows down software development, increases risk exposure, and makes future fixes more complicated and expensive. 

The Public Sector’s Security Debt Problem 

According to the recent 2025 State of Software Security (SOSS) Snapshot for the Public Sector, 78% of public sector organizations have accrued some level of security debt, slightly higher than the overall average of 74%. Even more concerning, over half (55%) of government organizations carry critical security debt — severe flaws that remain unresolved for more than a year. This is 5% higher than the average across all industries. 

These numbers aren’t just statistics; they reflect real vulnerabilities in software that powers essential government services. From managing citizen data to handling critical infrastructure, the risks posed by lingering flaws can have far-reaching consequences. 

Why Does Security Debt Accumulate in the Public Sector? 

Several factors contribute to the accumulation of security debt in government applications: 

• Legacy Systems: Many public sector applications have been in use for years, built on outdated frameworks that are harder to maintain and secure. 
• Resource Constraints: Budget limitations and bureaucratic hurdles often slow down remediation efforts. 
• Complex Approval Processes: Security fixes can get delayed due to multi-layered approval workflows.
• Lack of Continuous Monitoring: Without continuous scanning integrated into the development lifecycle, many flaws go unnoticed until much later. 

The High Cost of Ignoring Security Debt 

Ignoring security debt doesn’t make it disappear. In fact, it compounds risks: 

• Vulnerabilities may be exploited by attackers, causing data breaches or service disruptions. 
• Over time, the backlog of unresolved flaws makes new development slower and more error-prone. 
• Public trust can erode when government systems suffer from security incidents.
• Compliance with evolving regulations becomes harder to achieve. 

Tackling Security Debt: Where to Start 

If your government organization is part of the 78% burdened with security debt, the path forward begins with visibility. You need to know exactly where the flaws lie—across both your own code and any third-party open-source components. 

• Continuous Scanning: Integrate static and dynamic analysis tools early in the software development lifecycle (SDLC) to catch flaws before they reach production.
• Prioritization: Use risk-based metrics to prioritize fixes based on severity, exploitability, and business impact rather than just volume. 
• Address Open-Source Risks: Don’t overlook third-party libraries, which contribute to over 70% of critical security debt in the public sector. 
• Adopt a Lifecycle Approach: View application security as an ongoing process, not a one-time project. This mindset helps prevent debt from piling up again. 

Moving Toward a More Secure Public Sector 

Security debt is a hidden risk that threatens the integrity of public sector applications. But it’s not an inevitable fate. By understanding the scope of the problem and adopting a disciplined, metrics-driven approach to AppSec, government organizations can reduce debt, improve security posture, and ultimately provide safer, more reliable services to the public. 

Explore the full SOSS Snapshot for the Public Sector to see detailed metrics and recommendations to benchmark your organization’s AppSec maturity and start making meaningful progress against security debt today.