DevSecOps refers to the implementation of security processes into a DevOps software delivery approach. Its foundation is a culture that empowers development and operations to share responsibility for building safe software through processes and tooling.
The DevSecOps model is characterized at a high level as including security objectives as early in the software development lifecycle as possible. While security is “everyone’s responsibility,” DevOps teams are uniquely placed at the intersection of development and operations, with the power to apply security in both breadth and depth.
What Is the Difference Between DevOps and DevSecOps?
The major distinction between DevOps and DevSecOps is that the former combines development, operations, and application delivery, whilst the latter combines all of these elements with security.
DevOps is concerned with technologies and procedures that enable developers and operations teams to collaborate to achieve common goals, whereas DevSecOps is concerned with practices that add security concerns to an existing DevOps pipeline.
Advantages of DevSecOps
DevSecOps may boost your product sales. The most important and apparent advantage of a DevSecOps strategy is that you will increase your overall security.
As previously said, you may detect vulnerabilities at an early point in your workflow, making them much easier to address. Because continuous monitoring is in place, it improves your threat-hunting capabilities. In business, the more secure a product is, the simpler it is to market.
The expense of correcting vulnerabilities is significantly reduced when they are discovered early in the SDLC process. The collaboration of many security teams increases accountability. This type of collaboration also makes it easier to develop rapid and effective security response mechanisms as well as more robust security design patterns.
DevSecOps also lessens the possibility of security bottlenecks. There is no need to postpone security testing until the development cycle is complete. These two factors contribute to faster product delivery.
Another area in which DevSecOps is critical is assuring compliance with industry-standard rules. Regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) require considerable caution while managing data. DevSecOps gives managers a comprehensive perspective of such procedures, resulting in a stronger foundation for simpler compliance.
How Do You Put DevSecOps Into Action?
DevSecOps is a combination of strategy, kit, training, and cultural revolution. As a result, there is no common roadmap for implementing DevSecOps, although the broad procedures listed below can get you started.
- Embrace continuous delivery. The first step is to implement the DevOps model’s continuous delivery and integration of development and operations teams if your firm has not already done so. By redesigning your delivery process to focus on smaller, more frequent release cycles, you provide the framework for the necessary operational improvements as you shift to DevSecOps.
- Align and incorporate security into the process of your DevOps team. Rather than attempting to integrate security and embed security specialists within DevOps teams, integrate security and embed security specialists inside DevOps teams. The objective is to include security solutions, such as automated security testing, into the development process as soon as possible.
- Invest in DevSecOps automation tools. Adding extra security activities and checkpoints will certainly slow down the development process, potentially causing frustration among your software development team. Maintaining as much automation as feasible will aid in maintaining good throughput and function.
- Implement tools for continuous security monitoring. When code is put on the market, the “Ops” component takes control, and applications must still be continually monitored to assure their security over time. When vulnerabilities are detected, the business must be prepared to implement a plan to address them.
- All personnel should get security training. Your development staff is unlikely to be familiar with security protocols, and training is essential even if they are not the first line of defense. When everyone is aware of security concepts and standards, DevSecOps works best.
- Keep in mind that security is ingrained in your culture. Security is more than a collection of tools and strategies; it is a state of mind. Set a good example, be open about expectations with your team, and reward them for embracing and applying DevSecOps concepts.
Conclusion
DevSecOps does more than just improve application security; it also front-loads factors like security risks and vulnerabilities so they are handled much earlier in the development cycle, reducing surprises later in the game.
Because DevSecOps mainly depends on automated security systems, its ultimate value comes from integrating security into the DevOps continuous development process, allowing the firm to adopt “continuous security.”
As security threats become increasingly sophisticated, DevSecOps provides a strong tactical technique for mitigating them, making security testing a crucial and visible role in the software development life cycle.
