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DevSecOps: The Guide to Faster, Safer, and Secure Application Development
Software development, like any other business process, can be improved with automation. One of the most painful aspects of software development is understanding security requirements and implementing security safeguards manually. Security has always been a bottleneck when it comes to DevOps implementation given that the teams would often write barely acceptable code to optimize for speed. DevSecOps is a new term that refers to the combination of development, security, and operations activities as a part of a single development pipeline where developers use tools such as source code reviews, automated testing, and configuration management to secure applications and networks. With this guide, we will introduce you to DevSecOps, discuss how it can help you, and how it can benefit your organization.
Introducing DevSecOps: What It Is?
DevSecOps is a new term that describes the intersection of development, security, and operations. The goal of DevSecOps is to hold each stakeholder responsible for security, with the goal of adopting security choices and actions at the same scale and rate as development and operations, allowing developers to bake security features into the app at the nascent stage of the software development life cycle(SDLC). DevSecOps is a logical and necessary evolution in the way developers think about security. The traditional approach to security involved multiple teams working in isolation. Think of a company's infrastructure as a complex puzzle that needs to be figured out. Teams would include developers, infrastructure engineers, security auditors, and perhaps a security architect. The various pieces would be examined in great detail, and the team must work together to come up with a plan. And at the end of the day, all the puzzles must come together to complete the puzzle which adds a lot of friction to the entire process. In the age of developers using CI/CD principles as guidelines for efficient software development, it is apparent how the traditional approach to security simply cannot be used given the rapid release development cycles. The DevSecOps process involves the following processes:
- Continuous Integration(CI) and Continuous Deployment(CD)
- Microservices Application Architecture Pattern
- Infrastructure as Code(IaC)
- Common Weakness Enumeration
- Threat Modeling
- Automated Security Testing
- Security Event Management
The Difference Between DevOps and DevSecOps
DevOps and DevSecOps have very similar meanings, given DevSecOs is just a natural successor to DevOps. DevOps is the practice of collaboration between application development teams to automate their workflow, throughout the development and deployment process. On the other hand, DevSecOps is the practice of securely automating the development process, given the lack of focus on security in the DevOps model. As development teams realized that the DevOps methodology didn't adequately handle security concerns given the rapid pace of development and deployment, DevOps evolved into DevSecOps. DevSecOps employs techniques like common weakness enumeration(CWE) to improve the quality of code and tighten security in the CI/CD phase. Automation of security testing ensures that each new build is safe and security vulnerabilities from the previous version are not carried forward to the next version. DevOps teams frequently sacrifice code quality and data security in order to optimize for speed. This often results in products that are riddled with vulnerabilities, such as privileged access management credentials being integrated right in the application, which can be avoided with enough testing. DevSecOps is an amazing solution to combat this.
Benefits Associated With an Effective DevSecOps Strategy
The DevSecOps principles clearly state the importance of the security-first and always-on approach. Such development practices ensure security at a fundamental level right from the start which is carried over to the next builds and releases in the software development life cycle. Some benefits that can be attributed to a successful DevSecOps implementation are:
- Dependable Security Practices
- Support for Continuous Compliance
- Cost Reductions
- Effective Collaboration Between Teams
How Does DevSecOps Work?
DevSecOps is an umbrella term that refers to a group of software tools used in the security and DevOps sectors. It includes all of the software used for application security, from network security to data security. Developing an application requires the installation of software throughout the entire development process, from inception to deployment. In order to reduce the risk of future vulnerabilities, organizations must consider implementing DevSecOps as part of their security stack. The DevSecOps methodology involves creating an automated inventory of your software stack to understand the different applications and APIs being utilized in the process. Continuous screening of the software being developed by the means of automated tests like static application security testing (SAST), dynamic application security testing (DAST), and interactive application security testing (IAST) ensures that any vulnerabilities can be recognized and fixed rapidly.
How Atidan Technologies Can Help You With Your DevSecOps Strategy
Atidan specializes in helping your business realize its true potential with the help of the latest technologies to make sure that you come out ahead. With decades of experience and a tremendously powerful platform, our goal is to help you realize the full potential of today's cutting-edge technologies. With a presence in over 14 countries, We have software engineers that can help you maximize the value generated by your technology investments and bring new efficiencies to your business. Our team of developers, architects, and specialists bring a diverse array of technology frameworks and a rock-solid approach to ensure your application works seamlessly. With access to Atidan’s premium staffing services, you can even hire exceptional DevOps engineers for your business. In addition, Atidan’s expert consultants will work actively with your business process managers, IT staff, and executive leadership to identify your requirements and help you reach your business goals. Planning and executing an ideal DevSecOps implementation strategy can be made easy with the help of Atidan.
