In this post, we will explain the meaning of DevSecOps and its role in software development.
We will also address:
- The difference between DevOps and DevSecOps.
- Benefits of DevSecOps.
- How to implement DevSecOps.
- DevSecOps in the cloud
Let’s begin!
What is DevSecOps?
DevSecOps (short for development, security, and operations) is an approach to software security and development. With DevSecOps, security is introduced early in the software development life cycle (SDLC), which allows teams to address security issues as fast as they would normally tackle issues with development.
Without DevSecOps, security issues are handled at the end of development cycles, and all the testing is done by a separate QA team.
DevSecOps creates an environment where security is a responsibility shared among development, operation, and security teams.
In fact, it’s expected that 90% of software development projects will be following DevSecOps practices by 2022.
DevSecOps vs DevOps
DevOps is a set of practices, tools, and philosophies that help increase the optimal productivity of software development cycles.
In organizations that adopted DevOps, development and operations teams that used to be siloed now work closely and share responsibilities with a goal to build, test, and deliver software in a faster way.
The main difference between DevSecOps and DevOps is that DevSecOps adds security practices to the overall idea of shared responsibility introduced by DevOps.
DevSecOps integrates security in every segment of the development cycle without compromising the speed.
Since DevOps is focused on increasing the speed of software development and deployment, and DevSecOps is geared towards both speed and security, DevSecOps can be seen as a natural extension that improves DevOps security benefits.
Why Is DevSecOps Important?
Here are three main reasons why DevSecOps is becoming a preferred security solution:
#1 Improved quality of code
With DevSecOps, teams review and test the code for security issues throughout the process. That way, each new problem is solved before it can cause damages.
#2 Faster software delivery
When teams identify and solve bugs and security issues as soon as they appear, it leads to faster product delivery.
#3 Cost reduction
Detecting and fixing errors and vulnerabilities in the early stages of development significantly reduces the operational cost of the project.
DevSecOps Implementation
Implementation of DevSecOps workflow starts with planning. Deciding when, where and how security checks will be done is key during this stage.
Organizations need to assess their old security practices and find ways to bridge the gap between the two methods.
Next, organizations should educate team members about cybersecurity and make DevSecOps part of their culture.
Each member should understand all the main security practices and their own role in the process of protecting the software, particularly against cyber security threats.
After that, it’s time for building and testing. Automated tools create a script and introduce a variety of features, and testing principles are introduced to the pipeline.
Introducing automated security tests will help maintain the speed of a DevSecOps cycle and integrate security checks into CI/CD pipeline.
DevSecOps Architecture
Key components of DevSecOps are:
- Application/API Inventory
- Custom code security and analysis
- Open source code security
- Threat investigation
- Runtime prevention
- Compliance monitoring
- Security training
Using managed services is a great way of integrating all of these features into your tech stacks.
DevSecOps and the Cloud
Cloud technologies such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and IBM Cloud are on the rise.
It is common for organizations that adopted DevOps to also migrate their activities to the cloud.
Although many teams are looking to switch to cloud computing, they may face difficulties in the process, and this is where DevSecOps kicks in:
Since DevSecOps is all about seamless introduction of security, it reduces risk during cloud migration by automating security control throughout the transition.
According to a survey on global security trends in the cloud, 45% of IT security professionals consider that using DevSecOps in the cloud would improve the security of their cloud environment.
With DevSecOps, there are factors that help achieve successful migration to the cloud. To make a smoother transition, teams should do code analysis throughout the process to maintain software health and avoid delays.
Also, automated testing – a key component of DevSecOps, and continuous investigation of threats will allow teams to switch to the cloud faster.
DevSecOps Security Tools
To implement DevSecOps with less friction, you can choose from a variety of application security testing tools (AST). Here are the four main categories of AST:
Static application security testing tools (SAST)
SAST tools are used to scan code and spot errors that might cause software issues and weaknesses.
Dynamic application security testing tools (DAST)
DAST tools interact with software the way a hacker would and pinpoint weaknesses with high accuracy.
Interactive application security testing tools (IAST)
The role of IAST tools is to analyze runtime of web applications and spot vulnerabilities.
Software composition analysis tools (SCA)
SCA tools are used to detect vulnerabilities and license risks in open source and other third-party components.
Teams can also get their security processes facilitated by using some of the free DevSecOps tools available as open-source.
Ready to Implement DevSecOps?
If you are ready to take your security to the next level, CONTACT US today. Let Demakis Technologies and one of our team members assist you in your efforts to improve the tech infrastructure, processes, and services of your business.