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What is DevSecOps?

DevSecOps is an acronym for ‘Development’, ‘Security’, and ‘Operations’, and it is a product of the latest reforms in software development, particularly an evolution from DevOps. Why? Because security was always an afterthought in DevOps. Having realized the importance of security, the industry is (still) slowly moving towards a development model in which ‘security’ is a central theme.

DevSecOps, incorporates security measures early in the application development lifecycle—from coding all the way through to deployment and monitoring. Prioritizing security from early development stages is the foundational principle of this DevSecOps model.

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What is the Goal of DevSecOps?

The goal of DevSecOps is to remove the burden placed exclusively on the security team by making ‘security posture’ a shared responsibility between all teams — development, operations, and security. This approach not only guarantees continuous detection and remediation of vulnerabilities, but also breaks down silos and fosters collaboration, preventing security from being a bottleneck. Some of the key goals of DevSecOps are:

Preventing vulnerabilities by integrating security into software development.

Automating security testing to minimize human error and speed up delivery.

Maintaining compliance with security policies across SDLC.

Ensuring rapid recovery from incidents through continuous monitoring and threat detection mechanisms

What is the role of Application Security Posture Management (ASPM) in DevSecOps?

When implemented correctly, an ASPM program can help both Dev and Sec teams:  

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Dev Teams

Developers can address security issues early on, during the ‘code’ or ‘build’ stage. This prevents vulnerabilities from impacting production deployments, reducing time spent on manual security checks with realtime actionable insights.

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Security Teams

SecOps professionals can have realtime visibility into the security posture with a centralized DevSecOps dashboard. This helps them maintain governance, manage risks, and automate policy enforcement with bare-minimum intervention.

Why are DevSecOps Practices Important?

Widening of the threat landscape means businesses are more prone to suffering from security breaches or attacks that are damaging to brand reputation. Purely from a preventive standpoint, early security considerations play a crucial role in end-to-end DevOps security. Besides, making security an afterthought in software development often leads to costly fixes and delayed software releases, neither of which is desirable.

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Reduced Vulnerabilities

Adopting security early in the SDLC helps with early detection of security vulnerabilities and fixing of security gaps.

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Regulatory Compliance

Embedding policy checks within software delivery helps maintain compliance with regulatory standards like FedRAMP, NIST, OWASP, etc.

With DevSecOps, software is secure by design rather than relying on patches or remediation effort after detecting vulnerabilities in production.

Ready to Implement DevSecOps?

OpsMx Delivery Shield adds ‘security’ to your existing DevOps workflows. Boost your software pipeline with Application Security Posture Management (ASPM), automated compliance, and continuous security monitoring.

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How Does DevSecOps Work?

DevSecOps works by integrating security controls into existing DevOps workflows. This includes performing security tests during development, automating policy checks during deployment, and real-time monitoring during ongoing operations (post deployment). The CI/CD pipeline in DevOps plays a crucial role in binding this whole process together.

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Application Security Testing

Integrating application security tests like SAST, DAST, SCA, Image/ Binary scanning, Secrets scanning, etc., with the CI/CD pipeline ensures tests are automated, and results are correlated from different tools to identify both vulnerabilities in code and gaps in the software supply chain.

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Real-Time Monitoring

DevSecOps continuously monitors applications for threats and vulnerabilities post deployment. SecOps (Security Operations) teams receive real-time feedback and insights to promptly address risks and flag any downtime or service degradation.

What are the Components of DevSecOps?

DevSecOps is built on a range of interconnected components that help in building, delivering, and securing software applications.

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Automated CI/CD Pipelines

A fully automated CI/CD pipeline ensures that code is continuously tested, deployed, and security checks are embedded within each stage of software delivery. This helps maintain release velocity and enforce security controls.

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Compliance Management

Automated compliance checks ensure applications meet industry standards, such as FedRAMP or OWASP. This approach ensures agile development without the risk of regulatory issues or slowing delivery.

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Vulnerability Management

Vulnerability management includes identifying, ranking, and fixing weaknesses throughout development. By automating these steps, teams can address vulnerabilities early, reducing the risk of late-stage issues.

Benefits of DevSecOps

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Early Detection of Vulnerabilities

Integrating security early helps detect vulnerabilities quickly, minimizing risks and improving code quality.

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Reduced Security Incidents

Continuous monitoring and testing lower the chances of breaches or unexpected security incidents.

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Enhanced Compliance

Automated compliance checks ensure adherence to standards like FedRAMP, NIST, and OWASP without slowing development.

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Greater Agility

Consistent security checks allow teams to adapt quickly without compromising safety.

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Continuous Feedback Loops

Real-time feedback supports ongoing improvements, faster resolutions, and secure releases.

Best Practices of DevSecOps

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Automate Security Testing

Automating security tests like SAST, DAST, and SCA within CI/CD pipelines allows teams to catch vulnerabilities early and frequently without manual intervention.

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Implement Secure Coding Practices

Train developers on secure coding practices to ensure code is written with security in mind, reducing the risk of introducing vulnerabilities.

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Enforce Security Policies with Automation

Enforce security policies to ensure that both the application code and supply chain infrastructure are compliant with industry regulations.

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Continuous Improvement Through Metrics

Track and measure security performance across the DevSecOps pipeline, using metrics like mean time to remediation (MTTR) to improve AppSec posture.

Security in SDLC and Agile Development

Both the traditional software development lifecycle (SDLC) and Agile development viewed security as an afterthought. Security teams would enter the process just before deployment, rather than sitting at the planning table. The challenges with this were:

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Late-Stage Security Implementation

Introducing security late in the development process (typically just before deployment) was a reason for significant security bottlenecks. For example, identifying vulnerabilities at the end of the cycle would require significant rework, which would in turn delay releases and increase costs. In the absence of continuous testing, coding flaws or misconfigurations would go undetected for far too long.

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High Remediation Costs

Late discovery of vulnerabilities and security gaps in the development cycle means re-work — leading to unplanned use of resources and time-delays in releases. On the other hand, failing to detect issues even late in the process means operational downtime and hefty penalties for compliance failures.

DevSecOps Vs DevOps

With SDLC and Agile development, most challenges were a result of a lack of ‘automation’ or ‘security’. DevOps solved it to a certain extent with increased emphasis on ‘automation’. While ‘security’ was no longer an afterthought like it was earlier, it wasn’t particularly a priority either. DevOps teams valued speed, stability, and efficiency in software delivery more than they valued security. The introduction of DevSecOps has now brought security into the fold, too.

aspect devops devsecops
focus Focus predominantly on speed and efficiency of software delivery Focus is equally distributed between speed, efficiency and security.
security approach Security is an afterthought — handled after development is complete Security emphasis is throughout the software development lifecycle
collaboration Primarily between development and operations teams Emphasis equally among development, security, and operations teams
automation Focuses on automating development, testing, and deployment In addition, it automates also security testing and policy enforcement
risk management Risks are managed after development, often leading to delayed releases and increased costs Risks are proactively managed throughout development, reducing late-stage vulnerabilities
compliance Compliance checks may occur after code development, leading to security bottlenecks Compliance is integrated into the pipeline, ensuring adherence to regulations without slowing down delivery
vulnerability detection Vulnerabilities are often discovered late in the process, requiring significant rework Vulnerabilities are identified early through tools like SAST, DAST, and ASPM
agility and speed Achieves speed by streamlining development and operations workflows Maintains agility while ensuring security at every stage, preventing bottlenecks later
cultural shift Focuses on breaking down silos between development and operations Extends this cultural shift to include security as a shared responsibility among all teams
post-deployment monitoring Focus is mainly on performance and uptime In addition, includes security monitoring to detect vulnerabilities

DevSecOps Architecture Diagram

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List of useful DevSecOps Tools and Technologies and their purpose

Successful implementation of DevSecOps hinges on the choice of tools and how well they match your needs. Below is a list of key DevSecOps practices and their respective tools. At OpsMx, we believe in the power of open source, so the tools listed below are predominantly open source security/DevSecOps tools:

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Static Application Security Testing (SAST) Tools

SAST tools scan the source code for known vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and coding flaws. SAST tools perform code analysis, automated scanning, compliance, and standards enforcement. Some popular open-source SAST tools are SonarQube, Bandit, Snyk, etc.

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Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Security Tools

IaC security tools monitor cloud environments for misconfigurations and security flaws by enforcing security policies. These tools perform automated security checks, detect infrastructure drift, and monitor compliance. Some popular open source IaC security tools are Kubescape, Checkov, Terrascan, and tfsc.

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Secret Scanning and Management Tools

Secret scanning and secret management tools prevent sensitive information like API keys, tokens, and passwords from being hardcoded into the source code. They consistently scan the source code for accidentally exposed secrets to ensure secure storage and management. Some open-source tools for secret scanning and secret management are HashiCorp Vault, TruffleHog, Detect Secrets, and Conjur.

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Application Security Posture Management (ASPM)

ASPM tools provide real-time visibility into the security posture and integrate with other security tools to assist with vulnerability management and risk prioritization. There are no popular open-source tools for ASPM. But you can consider using OpsMx, which leverages the power of other open source tools.

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Vulnerability Management Tools

Vulnerability management tools identify, prioritize, and mitigate vulnerabilities across the entire application lifecycle. They help with triage and prioritization, ensuring quick remediation of critical vulnerabilities. Some open-source vulnerability management tools are OpenVAS, Clair, and Nessus Essentials.

Guidelines and Trends in DevSecOps

As DevSecOps continues to grow in popularity, more and more organizations are realizing the importance of security. Below are some key guidelines and trends shaping the future of DevSecOps and ensuring security practices remain effective and adaptive to emerging threats.

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Application Security Posture Management (ASPM)

ASPM is turning into a cornerstone for modern DevSecOps practices amid growing complexity of techstacks. ASPM platforms provide comprehensive visibility into an application’s security posture, help prioritize vulnerabilities and automate policy enforcement to stay ahead of threats. 

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Developer Productivity

Developers are routinely overburdened and overwhelmed by alerts and vulnerabilities that need addressing. In order to improve efficiency and productivity, the use of developer-friendly tools and optimized security workflows is becoming necessary in enterprise DevSecOps teams. 

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Focus on Vulnerability Prioritization

Focus on risk-based vulnerability management is gaining traction as a result of increasing cyber threats. Security teams are addressing the most critical issues first by prioritizing vulnerabilities based on severity, criticality, and business impact, leading to efficient usage of resources.

Challenges in Adopting DevSecOps

While DevSecOps brings numerous benefits to improving the speed and security of software delivery, organizations tend to face significant challenges adopting and implementing them.

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Cultural Resistance to Change

Teams typically operate independently. Bringing cross-functional teams together to solve problems may encounter stiff resistance and friction. Organizations must understand that inculcating a shared responsibility for security is a gradual process.

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Tool Overload and Integration

Introducing multiple security tools into the development process can lead to complexity. Organizations must meticulously plan the integration of tools to fit in seamlessly without disrupting existing workflows.

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False Positives and Alert Fatigue

A byproduct of automating security workflows is the excessive alerts generated, many of which are false positives. This can cause alert fatigue, overwhelm teams with alerts, and result in missed alerts.

FAQs: Pain Points and Solutions Related to DevSecOps

What is ‘Shift-left security,’ and why is it important in DevSecOps?
Shift-left security means prioritizing security at the beginning of development instead of waiting until later stages. By identifying vulnerabilities and security gaps earlier, teams save time and reduce costs. This proactive approach fits well with DevSecOps because it ensures security without slowing down development, ultimately creating stronger, safer software faster.
How does DevSecOps ensure compliance with security regulations?
DevSecOps integrates security checks directly into the development pipeline, ensuring that code is continuously tested against security standards and regulations like NIST, GDPR, or HIPAA. When compared to manual processes, automated tools and processes flag issues efficiently and effectively, so teams can address them before release. This ongoing, built-in monitoring not only helps meet compliance requirements but also makes audits smoother and reduces the risk of hefty fines/ penalties due to non-compliance.
How do I secure my CI/CD pipeline?
Securing your CI/CD pipeline involves embedding security controls at every stage. Start with automated code scanning and dependency checks during the coding stage, then implement authentication and authorization (RBAC) to limit who can modify code or configurations. Then embed security tests in each CI/CD phase, including vulnerability scans and policy compliance checks. Finally, implement continuous monitoring to detect anomalies or threats in real-time. This layered approach strengthens your pipeline’s security end-to-end.
How do I manage vulnerabilities in third-party libraries and open-source components?
Vulnerabilities in open source and third-party components is not uncommon. You must be open to the possibility and take appropriate steps. Use dependency scanning tools to identify known vulnerabilities and keep libraries updated. Implement a policy to regularly review component updates and patches, prioritizing high-risk vulnerabilities. Additionally, monitor your software bill of materials (SBOM) for better visibility and traceability, helping your team quickly address any issues that arise in your open-source dependencies.
Can DevSecOps be applied to cloud environments?
Yes, DevSecOps works well in cloud environments. By embedding security checks directly into cloud workflows, you can ensure that applications are secure as they’re developed and deployed. Identity and access management, vulnerability scanning, and compliance checks can be automated in cloud environments. Cloud service providers also offer security tools that integrate with DevSecOps, making it easier to monitor, manage, and respond to threats in real-time.
How does DevSecOps help reduce costs?
DevSecOps helps reduce costs by catching security issues early in the development lifecycle, when it’s easier and cheaper to fix. By automating security checks and embedding them into CI/CD pipelines, you can avoid expensive last-minute fixes and downtime. Continuous monitoring is another emphasis of DevSecOps which minimizes the financial impact of downtime/ misconfigurations/ breaches.
How do I foster collaboration between development, security, and operations teams?
Shared culture and open communication between development, security, and operations teams is the way to foster collaboration between them. Encourage regular cross-functional meetings to discuss goals and challenges, promoting transparency. Use collaboration tools that allow for real-time updates and feedback on security practices. Training and workshops can help team members understand each other’s roles better.
How can I automate compliance and security audits with DevSecOps?
You can automate compliance and security audits in DevSecOps by integrating automated tools into your CI/CD pipeline. Start by using compliance-as-code frameworks to define and enforce policies. Implement automated testing tools that check for compliance with security standards during builds. Continuous monitoring tools can track changes and generate audit reports in real-time. Finally, make use of dashboards to visualize compliance status, allowing for quick identification of any issues that need attention.
How does DevSecOps handle the challenge of real-time threat detection and response?
By incorporating various continuous monitoring tools DevSecOps handles real-time threat detection and implements response measures. These tools analyze logs, user behavior, and network traffic to identify anomalies quickly. Automated alerting systems notify teams of potential threats, enabling rapid response. Additionally, integrating threat intelligence feeds helps keep the teams informed about emerging threats, allowing for proactive measures.
How can DevSecOps practices help in mitigating supply chain attacks?
By implementing security measures at every stage of the CI/CD pipeline DevSecOps practices help mitigate supply chain attacks. Start with comprehensive dependency management, using tools to scan and monitor third-party libraries for vulnerabilities. Incorporate security checks into CI/CD workflows, ensuring that code is validated before deployment. Additionally, maintaining an up-to-date software bill of materials (SBOM) provides visibility into all components used, allowing teams to respond quickly to any identified risks.
What’s the best way to incorporate security into Continuous Delivery (CD) pipelines without adding delays?
The key to incorporating security into Continuous Delivery (CD) pipelines without causing delays is to focus on automation and early integration of security tests. Implement automated security testing tools that run alongside regular tests, ensuring vulnerabilities are identified quickly. Adopt a “shift-left” approach, where security checks are included during the coding phase. Use infrastructure as code (IaC) practices to automate security configurations. Finally, foster a culture of security awareness among developers to encourage proactive security practices, enabling rapid, secure deployments without sacrificing speed.

How OpsMx Can Support Your DevSecOps Implementation

OpsMx helps enterprises with DevSecOps implementation, AppSec posture management, and secure software delivery to address critical security challenges in modern software development.

OpsMx Delivery Shield

For teams that already have an active DevOps ecosystem and are looking to integrate security modules, OpsMx Delivery Shield adds Application Security Posture Management (ASPM), unified visibility, compliance automation, and security policy enforcement to your existing application lifecycle. By leveraging your existing tools and processes, OpsMx provides a practical solution to accelerate and fortify software delivery.

SECURITY ADD-ONS

  • Application Lifecycle Visibility
  • Security Posture Evaluation
  • Compliance Monitoring
  • Policy Enforcement
  • Open Source Risk Assessment
  • Software Delivery Bill of Materials
  • Vulnerability Management

OpsMx Secure Open Continuous Delivery

For teams just getting started in their DevOps journey and looking to build it up with security in mind, OpsMx Secure Open CD is the industry’s first software delivery and deployment solution specifically designed for software supply chain security. It combines a comprehensive GitOps multi-cloud platform with DevSecOps capabilities to automatically enforce policies and audit security compliance at the time of deployment.

DEVOPS + SECURITY

  • Central DevSecOps Dashboard
  • Multicloud and K8s deployments
  • Automate Approvals
  • Scalable Enterprise GitOps
  • Governance and Audit Reports
  • Delivery Intelligence
  • Automated Verification & Rollback
  • Application Lifecycle Visibility
  • Security Posture Evaluation
  • Compliance Monitoring
  • Policy Enforcement
  • Open Source Risk Assessment
  • Software Delivery Bill of Materials
  • Vulnerability Management

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