In Pega Constellation, configuring a Content Security Policy (CSP) is not just a best practice — it’s critical. The Constellation UI is entirely client-side and heavily depends on browser rendering. Without well-defined CSP rules, you risk exposing the application to security, compliance, and performance issues.

Why CSP Matters in Constellation

• Mitigates Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): CSP strictly controls which scripts, styles, fonts, and frames the browser can load. This prevents attackers from injecting unauthorized JavaScript into the Constellation UI.
• Safe Integration with Third-Party Services: Constellation applications often call APIs, load analytics, or fetch fonts and other assets. With CSP, only explicitly whitelisted domains are allowed — everything else is blocked by default.
• Zero Trust for the Browser: Since the UI runs on the browser, CSP ensures it doesn’t “trust everything.” Only approved sources are executed, minimizing exposure to malicious code.
• Prevents Accidental Risks: Even if a developer mistakenly references an unsafe script or external domain, CSP steps in and blocks it, reducing the chance of small oversights becoming large vulnerabilities.
• Protects Customizations: When organizations add custom React components in Constellation, CSP guarantees that only safe, approved code runs, safeguarding the application’s integrity.
• Early Warning System (Report-Only Mode): CSP can be enabled in report-only mode first. This allows teams to monitor potential violations and fine-tune policies before enforcing them, avoiding unexpected disruptions.
• Performance Benefits: By blocking unknown or untrusted scripts, CSP reduces the risk of unnecessary code execution or malicious slowdowns.

⚠️ Risks Without Proper CSP

• Increased exposure to data theft, session hijacking, or malicious redirects
• Greater risk of failing security audits or violating compliance standards

Configuring CSP in Pega Constellation is more than a security checkbox. It is a safeguard that ensures your applications run safely, integrate reliably, and remain compliant in today’s zero-trust digital ecosystem.