When deployed, DevSecOps introduces security practices early in the software development life cycle (SDLC). It also entails incorporating security teams into the software delivery cycle. DevSecOps changes the way that key functional teams think, work, and use technology. It also makes security a shared responsibility. Everyone participating in the SDLC must contribute to the DevOps CI/CD process’s security.
Contents
What Is DevSecOps?
DevSecOps was created to include security into the software development life cycle (SDLC) to enable DevOps teams to produce systems that are both rapid and secure. Early testing, triage, and risk mitigation incorporation into the CI/CD cycle reduce the need for expensive post-production fixes. Rather than “bolting on security” at the end of the software development life cycle (SDLC), “shifting left” places security testing in the hands of developers. This allows developers to address code security flaws in near real time.DevSecOpsincorporates the whole software development life cycle (SDLC), which includes planning and design, coding, building, testing, releasing, and real-time analytics.
DevOps is primarily concerned with a company’s culture and practices, as well as its technology and tools. All three make it easier for developers and IT operations teams to build, test, and distribute software in a way that is faster, more flexible, and iterative than traditional methods.
The Main Components of DevSecOps
The use of the DevSecOps approach successfully requires the following elements to be realized:
- Code Analysis. Code analysis is the process of looking at the source code of an application to see if it has any security flaws and to make sure that it follows industry standards for safe programming.
- Change Management. Change management solutions allow for the tracking, management, and reporting of changes that are connected to either the program itself or the needs for it. This eliminates the risk of introducing unintended security flaws into the system as a result of modifying the program.
- Threat Modelling. Before and after the deployment of the application, DevSecOps teams evaluate any potential security flaws that may have been introduced. They correct any bugs that have been brought to their attention and then release an updated version of the program.
- Security Training. Software developers and operational teams need to be trained on the most recent security rules as part of security training. During the process of making the app and putting it into use, the development and operations teams will be able to make their own security decisions.
DevSecOps vs. DevOps
The major focus of DevOps is to create collaboration between application development and testing teams throughout the application development and deployment lifecycle. The development and operations teams collaborate to implement key performance metrics and tools that are common to both. The goal of using a DevOps approach is to improve the frequency of application deployments while still guaranteeing the consistency and efficiency of the application. A DevOps engineer would think about how to disseminate updates to an application with the least amount of disturbance to the end user’s experience. DevOps organizations usually do not focus on avoiding security risks along the way since they are more concerned with boosting delivery speed. This might jeopardize both the application and the organization’s resources.
DevOps ultimately gave birth to DevSecOps when teams realized that the DevOps strategy did not effectively handle system security concerns. DevSecOps is a technique that arose from an endeavor to incorporate security management before all stages of the development cycle. This contrasts with the usual method of incorporating security into the design. Using this strategy, application security is introduced early in the build process, rather than toward the end of the development pipeline. A DevSecOps expert uses this revolutionary method to guarantee that programs are secure against cyberattacks before they are delivered to the client and stay secure even after they have been updated. DevSecOps is a DevOps plugin that encourages developers to design code with security in mind and tries to tackle security issues that DevOps does not presently handle. Understanding the distinction between DevOps and DevSecOps will help you decide which methodology is best for the types of projects that your company works on.
Why Is DevSecOps Important?
DevSecOps helps reduce the frequency of cyberattacks in today’s corporate environment. Applications in many sectors benefit from early and frequent security implementation.
- Government. Cyberattacks are targeting applications that handle sensitive data on behalf of the government. Malicious parties are less likely to exploit defects if programs are strengthened using a development process that prioritizes security first.
- Healthcare. DevSecOps has become the industry standard for designing healthcare apps. Businesses must follow HIPAA, so putting security first makes it less likely that personally identifiable information about patients will be leaked or used in a bad way.
- Finance. DevSecOps aids in development financing. Because the financial industry is a popular target for cyberattacks, development firms use DevSecOps to protect their clients’ critical data.
What Are the Benefits of DevSecOps?
Putting DevSecOps into practice can result in several positive outcomes.
- Early Detection of Software Vulnerabilities
Throughout the whole of the software development process, teams’ primary attention is on security measures. They do not wait until the program is finished before doing checks; rather, they undertake checks at each step. Software development teams now can uncover security flaws at earlier stages, which reduces both the cost and the amount of time required to address problems. When the app is finished, users will have less issues and feel safer because of this.
- Shortening the Time to Market
Software development teams now can automate security testing, which helps cut down on mistakes caused by humans. In addition to this, it prevents the process of security evaluation from becoming a bottleneck in the development process.
- Maintaining Regulatory Compliance
DevSecOps is a methodology that helps software development teams comply with regulatory obligations by using industry-standard security procedures and tools. They determine the criteria for data protection and system security inside the system.
- Establishing a Security-AwareCulture
When designing an application, software teams have a heightened awareness of the most effective security methods. They are more proactive about looking for possible security flaws in the code, modules, or other technologies used to build the application.
- Securely CreatingNew Features
The flexibility of the development, operations, and security teams’ ability to work together is fostered by the DevSecOpsapproaches. They use the same tools and have the same knowledge of software security, which enables them to automate the evaluation and reporting processes. Everyone is trying to think of ways to give customers more value while keeping a high level of security.
Also read: Which Security Measures Are Proving To Be the Best During Development?
Best Practices in DevSecOps
The following things make it easier to implement DevSecOps and are also important parts of the process.
- Secure Coding
Secure coding is required for the creation of more secure software. The lack of secure coding practices may raise the possibility of software security vulnerabilities, such as data leaks. Your engineers must be able to do this task, even if it takes extra time and resources. Coding standards aid developing teams in creating more understandable code.
- Automation
Both DevOps and DevSecOps emphasize automation. Security automation is required for a CI/CD system to be able to keep up with code delivery. This is particularly true in large organizations where programmers often submit code.
Automating security testing demands mental effort. The misuse of automated technology has the potential to cause harm. Static Application Security Testing (SAST) technologies are used to identify possible vulnerabilities early in the development process. For the safety of the things your company sells, it is important to use the right security automation technology.
- Shift Left
Testing with a left shift entails building security into programs from the start rather than adding it at the end. This allows you to discover possible faults and find solutions to them faster. When problems are found early, they are less expensive to rectify. It’s an interesting routine, but there are some difficulties. The left shift may create issues with DevOps operations. Shifting left is a long-term best practice that is suggested while using DevSecOps.
Developing a DevSecOps Culture
The importance of culture in DevSecOps programs cannot be overstated. Because manual security measures may hinder development, they are often postponed until the testing stage of the software development life cycle (SDLC). When the main goal of the development team is to get the product out on time, security concerns may get in the way.
You must enlist the support of both the development and operations teams for DevSecOps. If done effectively, security may enable DevOps to be successful. DevSecOps saves time and money by detecting and removing vulnerabilities early on.
Security experts are present at both the team and management levels in the most effective DevSecOps programs. This strategy ensures that all teams have access to the resources they need to do their jobs and that management supports the security champions on those teams.
DevSecOps Implementation Challenges
Implementing DevSecOpscan be a challenging task.To begin, consider the people and culture. DevOps team members may need to be retrained on the most recent security technology and best practices. Your teams need to understand that they are responsible for the security, usability, features, and functions of the software.
Another problem you may have is incorporating security tools into your DevOps workflow. If DevSecOps technologies are more automated and integrated, it will take less time to train people and change the way businesses work.
There are many scenarios when automating the security procedures, you’ve been employing for years isn’t the best approach. Why? Your development environment has changed. Most of the software available today is open source. Traditional security tools are incapable of accurately detecting problems in open-source software.
Modern cloud-native apps are run in containers that can be spun up quickly. Traditional security solutions designed for use in production environments, such as “cloud security” technologies, are incapable of conducting an acceptable risk assessment of containerized programs.
