The introduction of DevOps and its now widespread use has had an unexpected outcome: an increase in the likelihood of a security breach.
It is true that DevOps allows companies to create applications at a much faster rate, one of the things that has allowed this being the reduction in the level of ‘constraints’, these being present in the original coding environment, the Operational Department, but not in the new coding team; the Development Team.
Those constraints were there for a reason, and their loss has particular consequences when it come to security.
Integrating Security into the Development
With the number of ‘bad actors’ increasing every day, the fact is that no business can afford not to protect their online activities and applications from attack, the consequences of a major hack or data breach being far too damaging to contemplate.
Besides the coding being given to a different team, there has also been an increase in the use of Open Source code and third-party libraries and frameworks. Both of these increase the possibility of a security breach, so unless specific action is taken, big problems could occur.
It was plain that something had to be done!
Enter DevSecOps, the answer to development team’s security concerns
LifecycleDevSecOps has allowed for a huge step forwards in the area of software development. The main driver for this change being the way security practices have been integrated in the entire development lifecycle. This allows for seamless collaboration between development, security, and operations teams, which in turn create a culture of shared responsibility, everyone being on the same page when it comes to delivering secure and high-quality software.
This is a vital and much-needed step, organisations increasingly relying on digital solutions in their fast changing and competitive market places. Such a reliance demands a set of robust security measures, and luckily DevSecOps fully addresses this need.
It manages this by embedding security considerations into every stage of the software’s development, from the initial planning stages right through to deployment and testing. This helps reduce risks and vulnerabilities, all the while enhancing the overall security posture of their applications and infrastructure.
In this article, we will explore the core principles of DevSecOps, as well as its key components, how it is implemented and examine the best practices. We’ll also have a look at the tools and technologies needed to support its implementation and show how it differs from traditional DevOps methodologies.
Regardless of whether you’re a seasoned IT professional or are new to the field, this article will give you a view of what is ‘under the hood’ in the world of DevSecOps as well as its role in modern software development.
The Evolution of DevSecOps
From Waterfall to Agile: How and why it all started
The journey towards DevSecOps started when the traditional waterfall model of software development began to show weaknesses in the area of security. The traditional way of doing things was OK until the speed of development reached a certain point, at which the fact that security was often a low-priority issue, being ‘bolted on’ at the end of the development process, caused faults to creep in.
Even when organisations adopted agile methodologies and more collaborative and flexible approaches were brought in, the software development process still did not fully incorporate security measures. Security was often dealt with by separate teams who, by definition were not fully integrated into the development process.
The Rise of DevOps and DevSecOps
DevOps created an environment that bridged the gap between development and operations teams, allowing for improved collaboration, automation as well as introducing continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) in the software development lifecycle.
However, whilst DevOps improved speed and efficiency, it did not fully address the vital area of security. This led to the creation of DevSecOps, the next stage of the DevOps story.
Introducing Security into the Mix
DevSecOps was the much needed next step in the development process, emerging as a response to the increasing need for security to become an integral part of the process and not an afterthought. It achieves this by the by incorporating security practices throughout the entire software development lifecycle.
This approach also creates a culture where security is everyone’s responsibility, something everyone is aware of and takes into account. This allows organisations to deliver high-quality software at speed in the knowledge that security has been fully considered.
Challenges and Considerations – Balancing Speed and Security
One of the main challenges in implementing DevSecOps is achieving the right balance between development speed and security. Organisations have to find ways to integrate security procedures into the process without significantly slowing it down.
Strategies for balancing speed and security include:
- Using risk-based security testing to decide on critical issues
- Using automation where possible
- Ensuring security is considered very early in the development process
- Using parallel security testing systems, thus minimising pipeline delays
- Continuously refining and optimising the way security is built into the processes
By finding the best balance, organisations can maintain development speed while also ensuring robust security procedures are in place.
Skills Gap and Training Needs
As with any new approach, the issue of skills gaps and training requirements come to the fore. Introducing DevSecOps into the equation is no different, team members often lacking the necessary expertise in both development and security practices.
Such gaps need to be bridged as a part of any ongoing training and skill development schedules
Some way the skills gap can be addressed are:
- The provision of security training for developers and operations teams
- Providing cross-functional training to promote understanding between teams
- Buying in external expertise and consulting services
- Using a system of mentors to facilitate knowledge sharing
- Ensuring staff attend security-focused conferences and workshops
By investing in skill development, companies and organisations ensure that their workforce can effectively implement and maintain DevSecOps practices. One course designed to bridge the DevSecOps skills gap is one run by Framework Training, which is a prime example of how to bridge this particular gap.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, DevSecOps represents a fundamental shift in the manner that which the importance of security is built into the software development process. By integrating security practices in every stage of the application development lifecycle, DevSecOps allows organisations to deliver secure, high-quality software at speed, thus meeting the needs of today’s competitive business market place.