In which phase does an application enter after being implemented according to software development lifecycle principles?

After an application has been implemented, the phase it enters into is secure operations. This phase involves ensuring that the application is continuously monitored, maintained, and updated to handle any security vulnerabilities or operational issues that may arise over time. The primary focus during this stage is on the secure and efficient functioning of the application in its production environment.

In secure operations, actions such as applying patches, performing regular security assessments, and monitoring system performance are crucial to protect the application and the data it processes. It also includes responding to incidents and managing risks to ensure compliance with security policies.

The other phases pertain to different stages in the software development lifecycle. For instance, testing focuses on validating the application’s functionality and security before it goes live, defining relates to the initial stages of requirements gathering and planning, and disposal involves the final phase where the application is retired and data is securely deleted or archived according to compliance requirements. Each of these stages serves a specific purpose, but secure operations is the critical phase following implementation that ensures ongoing security and operational integrity.