Utilities

Software Factory Utilities are integral components of our software development methodology, working in sync with the Intake Process and other SWF Model elements. They serve as the backbone, ensuring the provision of standardized tools and practices.

Better

Utilities lay the foundation for consistent, quality software delivery, aligning with VA's strategic objectives and ensuring every project, legacy or new, receives the necessary tools and resources.

Faster

By providing readily accessible resources, Utilities reduce time spent on redundant tasks, accelerating the software development process.

Safer

The integration of Utilities into the SWF Model ensures a streamlined, effective approach, promoting consistency and efficiency across all software projects.

Internal Developer Resources

Requires VA network access.

Resource Library SWF Utilities List

SWF Utilities: Enhancing Efficiency and Security across Key IT Functions

The chart below outlines the various utility categories integral to the Software Factory Model, each serving specific functions that bolster efficiency, security, and compliance within VA's software development process. Key categories include:

Category	Purpose
Certificate Management	Provision and manage TLS/SSL certificates
Certificate Management	Provision and manage TLS/SSL certificates	Communications	Facilitate external communications to provide updates, notifications, or other information to Veterans, their families, or other VA customers
Dashboarding	Visualize application or system data in a consumable fashion	Communications
Dashboarding		Design	Enable design / development of consistent, accessibility-compliant user interfaces
Event Management	Provide a common tool for incorporating event streaming into products	Design
Event Management		Identity and Access Management (IAM)	IAM services identify and manage access controls to authenticate users and grant or deny access rights to data and applications
IT Service Management	Facilitate incident, configuration, and change management across VA	Identity and Access Management (IAM)
IT Service Management		Monitoring	Gather data on real-time application or system health
Planning	Support planning and workflow for project teams; track progress metrics	Monitoring	Gather data on real-time application or system health
Planning		Secrets Management	Store sensitive configuration and credentials safely
Static Application Security Testing (SAST)	Store code in a securely managed, centralized repository	Secrets Management	Store sensitive configuration and credentials safely
Static Application Security Testing (SAST)	Store code in a securely managed, centralized repository	Static Analysis	Analysis of source code (e.g., for vulnerabilities) without executing