Early on in the development of blockchain projects, systemic security concerns frequently emerge. A lack of initial security focus may lead to the adoption of flawed architectures or insecure design and development choices, ultimately resulting in difficult-to-maintain or vulnerable solutions. While traditional security reviews can uncover certain security vulnerabilities, they may arrive too late to rectify issues that could have been mitigated during earlier design and development phases.
To assist clients in recognizing and addressing potential security vulnerabilities sooner in the project lifecycle, Trail of Bits is launching a new offering: Early Stage Security Review. This service, already in demand from many of our clients, is particularly suited for early-stage projects looking for feedback, where code, documentation, testing, and technical solutions are still developing. As part of this service, engineers from Trail of Bits will conduct a comprehensive assessment of a project that includes:
- Review of architectural components
- Risk mitigation evaluation
- Detection of security practice gaps
- Assessment of code maturity
- Customized design recommendations
- Preliminary code review of critical project components
- Practical advice, recommendations, and next steps to enhance the project’s security
Resolve potential issues before they escalate
The early-stage security review provides a thorough security analysis of your project’s design and structure, aimed at guiding developers and informing security decisions throughout the project’s life cycle. We leverage years of experience gathered from code reviews across various domains—such as smart contracts, bridges, decentralized finance, and gaming applications—to steer your project’s development with security as a primary focus. Additionally, we apply our extensive knowledge of blockchain nodes (L1 and L2), particularly those built on geth.
Our early-stage evaluation of your project will center on identifying areas for enhancement that will encompass:
- Review of architectural components. We will examine architectural choices for associated risks, verify access controls for appropriate privilege separation, suggest changes to reduce code complexity, confirm that the stated level of decentralization is accurate, recommend on-chain/off-chain logic segregation, and assess the upgradeability process, including migration and pausing mechanisms.
- Risk mitigation evaluation. We will recognize existing risks and propose mitigations, ensuring that MEV and Oracle vulnerabilities are adequately addressed. We will assess the protocol’s dependence on blockchain risks (e.g., reorgs) and evaluate the handling of common ERCs as well as risks linked to third-party component integrations.
- Detection of security practice gaps. We will identify gaps in security practices, including deficiencies noted in documentation, and evaluate whether the project’s testing is enough for its long-term viability. We will assess the monitoring strategy and propose enhancements in the usage of automated security tools.
- Assessment of code maturity. Through our evaluation, we will analyze the maturity of the protocol and provide actionable recommendations for security improvements.
- Customized design recommendations. We will tailor our review to fit the project’s specific needs and requirements, offering recommendations that align with the protocol’s business logic.
- Preliminary code review of critical project components. We will examine the code to comprehend and evaluate the technical solution for potential security concerns. However, in this early-stage review, we will not conduct an extensive vulnerability search, as the focus will be on uncovering surface-level issues.
Clients engaging in our Early Stage Security Review will receive preferential scheduling and pricing for blockchain and other related Trail of Bits services. Insights gained from the initial review will help streamline the effort required for a comprehensive review after significant development has been completed.
Stay ahead of security challenges
The early-stage security review service will empower you to:
- Create a solid security foundation. Early input places your solutions on a path to success, reducing the likelihood of security oversights.
- Obtain expert recommendations sooner. Customized guidance for your specific codebase enables you to make informed choices and bolster your protocol’s security.
- Minimize costs by averting late-stage refactoring. A proactive approach to security from the outset prevents expensive refactoring later and streamlines the development process.
Don’t postpone addressing security concerns until your project is fully developed. Contact us to leverage our expertise in securing your project from the beginning.
