As security threats evolve, new terms and definitions are coined every single day to name the latest security methodologies. SecDevOps is the latest in line, joining the likes of DevSecOps, Shift Left, and ASPM, among others.
Introduction: Growing Need for Security in Software Development
Security in software development is no longer an afterthought—it’s a necessity. With security threats becoming more sophisticated by the day, organizations now see themselves having to embed security measures from the outset to maintain a strong security posture.
Now the question is not whether security is needed, rather it is about the ‘where’ and ‘when’. SecDevOps and DevSecOps are concepts that essentially address those questions—when and where to embed security in DevOps.
What is SecDevOps?
In short, SecDevOps is a Security-first DevOps approach to software development. It is short for Security-Development-Operations, and very much aligns itself with the principles of Shift-Left Security.
According to this approach, ‘security’ is fundamental to software development and starts from the design phase—not during or after the coding phase, but before coding even starts. ‘Security’ here encompasses policies, compliance checks, and risk assessments that are put in place to assist devs do their thing while ensuring continuous security.
Key Principles of SecDevOps
- Security-first Mindset—security comes first; development is bound within the limits of security
- Pre-Development Risk Assessments—security risks are assessed before shipping code
- Strict Compliance from the Start—compliance checks are strictly adhered to from the beginning
- Security Tools & Testing at the Foundation—security testing is automated with tools from inception
While this approach may seem very strict and orthodox, it is particularly beneficial to organizations in highly regulated industries like finance, healthcare, and government, where compliance is critical.
Understanding the Key Differences Between SecDevOps vs DevSecOps
How does SecDevOps differ from DevSecOps?
I’ve tried to explain the differences between the two based on certain parameters integral to its philosophy.
Point of Implementation –
- DevSecOps urges ‘security’ to be implemented early on in the development cycle
- SecDevOps emphasizes ‘security’ to be implemented from the outset
Main Goal –
- DevSecOps: it is to balance speed and security
- SecDevOps: it is to ensure security at all costs
Best Suited for –
- DevSecOps: for fast-moving tech companies and agile environments where security is important
- SecDevOps: for highly regulated industries where security and compliance is non-negotiable
Flexibility and Adaptability –
- DevSecOps is more flexible and embeds security into a fast-paced DevOps workflow
- SecDevOps is more rigid and compliance-driven
Tabular Comparison: SecDevOps vs DevSecOps
| Factors | SecDevOps | DevSecOps |
|---|---|---|
|
Security Focus
|
Security-first approach; established before development begins |
Security integrated throughout the software development cycle
|
|
Implementation
|
Policies and compliances are established before writing code
|
Policies and compliances evolve alongside development and operations
|
|
Development Speed
|
Slows down development due to strict security planning
|
Slightly faster development with continuous security monitoring
|
|
Best For |
Highly regulated industries (finance, healthcare, government) |
Agile and DevOps-driven teams that need to ship fast while maintaining security |
While both approaches prioritize security, SecDevOps is more rigid and compliance-driven, whereas DevSecOps is flexible and adapts security into the fast-paced DevOps workflow.
Pros and Cons of SecDevOps vs. DevSecOps
Both SecDevOps and DevSecOps are effective in their approaches to security implementation, but they come with their own strengths and trade-offs. Let’s dig deep into this.
Pros and Cons of SecDevOps
Pros of SecDevOps
✅ Stronger security foundation
✅ Better compliance
✅ Reduced vulnerabilities at launch
Cons of SecDevOps:
❌ Slower development cycles
❌ Less flexibility
❌ Can create silos with security teams dictating terms
Pros and Cons of DevSecOps
Pros of DevSecOps:
✅ Faster development cycles comparatively
✅ Better collaboration
✅ More adaptable to Agile/CI/CD
Cons of DevSecOps:
❌ Higher risk of late-stage security issues
❌ Compliance challenges and delays thereof
❌ Dependent on automation
Which One Should You Choose? DevSecOps or SecDevOps?
The right choice depends on your team’s priorities, goals and the industry you are operating in.
✅ Choose SecDevOps if:
- Your organization operates in a highly regulated industry
- Security requirements are rigid, fixed and non-negotiable from the outset
- You can compromise on speed of innovation at the cost of security
✅ Choose DevSecOps if:
- You cannot compromise on speed of innovation at the cost of security
- Security requirements are more flexible and collaboration is ideal between security and dev teams
- You want to automate security throughout the development process
Implementing SecDevOps & DevSecOps With OpsMx
Regardless of whether you choose SevDevOps or DevSecOps, successfully embedding security into DevOps requires:
✅ Automation – Integrate security scanning, compliance checks, and risk assessments into CI/CD pipelines.
✅ Visibility – Gain comprehensive insights into the security risks across your application lifecycle.
✅ Collaboration – Ensure seamless communication between security, development, and operations.
This is where OpsMx Delivery Shield comes in. With Risk Prioritization, Remediation, and Compliance Automation, OpsMx helps organizations enforce security policies seamlessly while maintaining speed and agility in software delivery.
Conclusion
For most teams, a hybrid approach works best—starting with a strong security foundation (SecDevOps) while maintaining continuous security integration (DevSecOps) throughout their lifecycle.
- SecDevOps ensures security is deeply embedded from the outset, making it ideal for highly regulated industries where compliance is non-negotiable.
- DevSecOps integrates security throughout the development lifecycle, making it better suited for agile teams that need to balance speed and security.
If your industry demands strict compliance and security-first thinking, SecDevOps is the way to go. But if you need flexibility and fast development cycles without compromising security, DevSecOps is likely the better fit. Ultimately, the best approach is one that aligns with your security needs and development goals—ensuring that your software is secure by design!
About OpsMx
OpsMx is a leading innovator and thought leader in the Application Security space. Leading technology companies such as Google, Cisco, Western Union, among others rely on OpsMx to secure their application lifecycle.
OpsMx Delivery Shield offers Risk Prioritization, Remediation, and Compliance Automation—all with an integrated suite of open source Application Security tools to help you enforce security policies and achieve unified visibility.
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