DevSecOps is all about integrating security throughout the software development lifecycle with the assistance of various people, stages, and technology. While implementing DevSecOps on the SDLC, enterprises, and companies experience continuous incorporation and notice a reduction in the cost of compliance, codes are analyzed, tested, delivered, and released appropriately.
Now more companies are adopting DevSecOps. So how can you implement DevSecOps on SDLC, and what does it mean for your business?
Stages Involved in Enabling DevSecOps on SDLC
DevSecOps allows the process of deploying security in an organization and makes them accountable. It is essential to have a methodology that needs to be embedded within the DevOps pipeline to help you in improving your security on your SDLC. Six stages need to be followed to enable DevSecOps in the SDLC:
Secure Local Development
The first stage is to implement a secure working environment. When you're developing an application, you usually use open source technologies. One such open-source technology is Docker, which automates the infrastructure and services deployment on local machines and is used by most major telcos in the U.S. for rapid deployment of new software.
Thus, Docker is of exceptional value in this phase. When you're using the ready to go Docker environment, make sure that you're using the most recent and updated version of this technology. No matter if you are using Docker or some other open-source technology, ensure that it is patched, up to date and free from vulnerabilities. Scan them for vulnerabilities, these things provide security at the initial level.
Security Analysis
When several people work on a piece of code, it often leads to vulnerabilities, mainly when you work remotely. In such circumstances, the security analysis is a must to do a thing. For example, the Git system is a good example that dramatically improves collaboration between code and team members. When a member of the team uploads shred pieces of code, it suggests that you allow automated testing for security within your code dependencies and core.
Secure Build and Threat Modeling
When making the development image or packages, ensure that your system has fulfilled the security standards. Like for instance, it uses HTTPS protocol, adequately secured, protected from attacks mitigation, and not accessible through the internet. In this, you can use tools such as Azure DevOps, Google Cloud Functions, and AWS CodeBuild.
Project managers and data engineers are responsible for threat modeling. It aims to detect and manage threats early in the SDLC before any harm is done and also plans for proper alleviations. Moreover, it helps to validate the architecture with the team and urges the development team to view the architecture from a privacy and security perspective.
Deployment and Promotion
While deploying in an environment, insert the environment variables by your CD/CI tool and keep them as a secret. Having proper encryption and management is highly recommended to boost your security protocols.
Infrastructure Security
Once the app is deployed, make sure that you have a Network Intrusion Detection System that helps in protecting your hosts. Tools like Wazuh might help you in this case.
Security Testing and QA
Remember, when your code gets into the production phase, it doesn't mean that it is entirely secure. Every day new vulnerabilities are discovered, but this cycle helps you and your team to test codes repeatedly against all the known vulnerabilities. It is the point where you have to check security. Security testing can be done both automatically and manually through the use of tools or a combination of both.
Importance of DevSecOps in Cyber World
The prime purpose of DevSecOps is to make everyone in the organization an ambassador for security. It is because security is an essential part of the working structure. An enterprise with complete security awareness helps in controlling upcoming threats outside the specific software development threats.
DevSecOps culture helps in protecting the businesses against any physical threats and phishing attacks. Meanwhile, it also pushes developers to keep security as their top priority. The easiest way of doing it is to provide security awareness training to the teams that might help them with writing secure code, learn how hackers launch an attack, use the necessary security tools and become more proficient while integrating security by design. Apart from this, the following points also signify the importance of DevSecOps in today's age:
- Reduces vulnerabilities present on the code
- Decreases vulnerabilities present on your IaC technologies
- Decreases downtime
- Lessens the number of ways to exploit your application
- Improves application availability, stability, and security
Challenges While Implementing DevSecOps
Well, as for now, you've understood the importance and deployment phases of DevSecOps. Let me clear one point that it is not easy to enforce DevSecOps. Organizations do come across several challenges while implementing it. Sometimes, these challenges are the biggest hurdle in achieving success. Following mentioned below are some of the prominent obstacles organizations come across.
Using Various Tools
Using several different tools might become a problem on your SDLC, mainly when your team is not used to work and relate with either DevOps or other security tasks. Enable only those tools that are familiar to your team members and add more when you feel the need, and you think that your team is prepared to handle it properly.
Getting Used to Methodology
It is entirely understood that groups require time to get used to the DevSecOps methodology, culture, and follow it to be prepared for your business demands. Always coach your teams and stay informed and updated with the latest technologies.
Looking for Perfection
Remember that not all the DevOps processes are perfect, but they become mature with time. Teams are always running behind perfection, which only leads to even more problems with even more dependencies.
To reimburse all the points, we can say that DevSecOps is a modern innovation that everyone should integrate to stay secured and achieve more success. SDLC is a process that comes up with the best security practices and helps you in integrating security check ups throughout the entire development cycle. In my opinion, every organization must now adopt the shift from DevOps to DevSecOps and comes up with teams that are more security conscious than before.
Farwa Sajjad is a blogger passionate about cybersecurity who likes to write about AI, Cybersecurity, Big Data, and internet privacy issues.