DevOps.com

  • Latest
    • Articles
    • Features
    • Most Read
    • News
    • News Releases
  • Topics
    • AI
    • Continuous Delivery
    • Continuous Testing
    • Cloud
    • Culture
    • DataOps
    • DevSecOps
    • Enterprise DevOps
    • Leadership Suite
    • DevOps Practice
    • ROELBOB
    • DevOps Toolbox
    • IT as Code
  • Videos/Podcasts
    • Techstrong.tv Podcast
    • Techstrong.tv - Twitch
    • DevOps Unbound
  • Webinars
    • Upcoming
    • On-Demand Webinars
  • Library
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • On-Demand Events
  • Sponsored Content
  • Related Sites
    • Techstrong Group
    • Container Journal
    • Security Boulevard
    • Techstrong Research
    • DevOps Chat
    • DevOps Dozen
    • DevOps TV
    • Techstrong TV
    • Techstrong.tv Podcast
    • Techstrong.tv - Twitch
  • Media Kit
  • About
  • Sponsor
  • AI
  • Cloud
  • Continuous Delivery
  • Continuous Testing
  • DataOps
  • DevSecOps
  • DevOps Onramp
  • Platform Engineering
  • Low-Code/No-Code
  • IT as Code
  • More
    • Application Performance Management/Monitoring
    • Culture
    • Enterprise DevOps
    • ROELBOB
Hot Topics
  • npm is Scam-Spam Cesspool ¦ Google in Microsoft Antitrust Thrust
  • 5 Key Performance Metrics to Track in 2023
  • Debunking Myths About Reliability
  • New Relic Bets on AI to Advance Observability
  • Vega Cloud Commits to Reducing Cloud Costs

Home » Blogs » DevSecOps » DevSecOps: 10 Best Practices to Embed Security into DevOps

DevSecOps: 10 Best Practices to Embed Security into DevOps

Avatar photoBy: Deepak Gupta on January 14, 2020 3 Comments

For companies that employ the agile approach, DevOps seems like a natural extension. Traditionally, enterprises started with integration, development and test automation early in the product lifecycle. Gradually, the agile delivery team took care of iterative development and monitoring practices that increase code quality.

Recent Posts By Deepak Gupta
  • Innovation With Software Architectural Excellence
  • Tips for a Successful DevSecOps Life Cycle
  • Leveraging AI in DevOps for Non-Linear Scaleup
Avatar photo More from Deepak Gupta
Related Posts
  • DevSecOps: 10 Best Practices to Embed Security into DevOps
  • Veracode Makes DevSecOps Transition Easier for Developers
  • From a Commodore 64 to DevSecOps
    Related Categories
  • Blogs
  • DevOps Culture
  • DevOps Practice
  • DevSecOps
    Related Topics
  • devops
  • devsecops
  • security
  • testing
Show more
Show less

Today, organizations work in unison to bridge the gap between development and operations (DevOps). They want to offer a faster market delivery with the least human interaction. 

TechStrong Con 2023Sponsorships Available

But what about security integrations? Is there a way to mitigate vulnerabilities early in the development lifecycle?

The answer is DevSecOps.

Exploring the Concept of DevSecOps

DevSecOps is short for development, security and operations. It brings together people, processes and technology to pursue a shared objective. 

The objective of DevSecOps is to implement security decisions on the same scale as development and operations and make everyone in the product lifecycle accountable for security. 

Why Should You Adopt DevSecOps?

People adopt DevSecOps because they are seeking:

  •  Modern alternative to traditional security engagement.
  • Transparent collaboration and workflows during development.
  • Security that’s built into the product, not applied at the final stage. 
  • Reduced expenses and faster delivery rate. 
  • Faster recovery speed in case a threat is detected.

Steps to a Typical DevSecOps Workflow

  1. A developer starts by writing code within a version control system.
  2. Any required change is committed to the version control system.
  3. Another developer analyzes the code to identify any security defect that may weaken code quality. 
  4. An environment is created to deploy and apply security configurations to the system.
  5. Next, a test automation suite is executed to evaluate the newly deployed application.
  6. After it passes the automation test, the application is deployed to a production environment.
  7. This new production environment is actively monitored for security threats. 

While there is no right way to transform organizational culture, below are a few components necessary to sustain a DevSecOps environment: 

Let Developers Get Security Right: Developers are responsible for security. Therefore, you must keep them on top of cybersecurity best practices through continuous training and learning activities. 

Promote an Open Culture: Openness in communication within the enterprise environment can drastically improve development and security. One way to keep information transparent is by using metrics and dashboards wherever possible. 

Get Experts on Board: It is extremely difficult to transition from DevOps to DevSecOps without the supervision of expert security professionals. Hire people who understand security within the development and operations environment and let them train your DevSecOps team for the big transition. 

Tempted to embed security into DevOps? How do you ensure that the best practices are followed? We have answers.

The Best Way to Implement the DevSecOps Process

Gather a single group of professionals (admins, developers, security engineers and testers) that are aware of your product from start to end. They should know your requirements and should be experts in deploying, monitoring and implementing new changes. 

Once you have your team ready, here’s what you need to do next.

Plan

Planning is crucial. Do not just stick to feature descriptions. Instead, go for detailed user stories that include:

  • Functional and nonfunctional requirements (e.g., security and performance).
  • UI and UX designs.
  • Acceptance test criteria.
  • Threat models.

Develop

Start by evaluating your existing practices. Choose the best resources to build a development model in coherence with security guidelines. 

Build

Automated build tools can do a lot more than compile codes. Use them to conduct test-driven development, enforce quality standards and ensure that the best security practices are implemented through static code analysis. 

Test

When it comes to a DevSecOps environment, test automation is not limited to UI-focused Selenium tests. Optimally, your security practice should include the following:

  • Unit testing.
  • Front-end testing.
  • Back-end testing.
  • API testing.
  • Database testing.
  • Passive security testing.

Secure

Because development, operations and security go hand in hand, only a few issues are left unattended toward the end of the development process. 

When vulnerabilities are identified, there is a better chance of determining if they are potential exploitations or false positives. 

Deploy

Automated provisioning and deployments can be utilized to accelerate product delivery and add consistency in the development process. Using an infrastructure-as-code tool, one can audit properties across the IT infrastructure and enforce secure configurations in a system. 

Operate

Routine maintenance and upgrades should be an indispensable component of your operations team. Leverage infrastructure-as-code tools to patch zero-day vulnerabilities and apply updates to the entire organization’s infrastructure. 

Monitor

A continuous monitoring plan should be in action to generate real-time stats of how your system is performing. In case any exploitation is recorded, it can be addressed immediately. 

Scale

Traditional data-center operations cannot entirely replace a compromised environment. Today’s ability to scale infrastructure through virtualization and the cloud, while addressing the demands of modern-day IT user base, should go a long way. 

Adapt

When it is about sustaining an agile practice, continuous improvement is key. This is also true for DevSecOps practices, as you improve and adapt throughout the software development lifecycle.

Conclusion

DevOps isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon. It is the new phase of developing, releasing and updating products in a software lifecycle. 

That’s why high time security professionals let go of the traditional security stack and embrace security solutions at the speed of DevOps.

— Deepak Gupta

Filed Under: Blogs, DevOps Culture, DevOps Practice, DevSecOps Tagged With: devops, devsecops, security, testing

« Perfect Sense Open Sources Gyro to Automate Cloud Provisioning
Why Is QA so Important in Executing a DevOps Implementation Strategy? »

Techstrong TV – Live

Click full-screen to enable volume control
Watch latest episodes and shows

Upcoming Webinars

https://webinars.devops.com/overcoming-business-challenges-with-automation-of-sap-processes
Tuesday, April 4, 2023 - 11:00 am EDT
Key Strategies for a Secure and Productive Hybrid Workforce
Tuesday, April 4, 2023 - 1:00 pm EDT
Using Value Stream Automation Patterns and Analytics to Accelerate DevOps
Thursday, April 6, 2023 - 1:00 pm EDT

Sponsored Content

The Google Cloud DevOps Awards: Apply Now!

January 10, 2023 | Brenna Washington

Codenotary Extends Dynamic SBOM Reach to Serverless Computing Platforms

December 9, 2022 | Mike Vizard

Why a Low-Code Platform Should Have Pro-Code Capabilities

March 24, 2021 | Andrew Manby

AWS Well-Architected Framework Elevates Agility

December 17, 2020 | JT Giri

Practical Approaches to Long-Term Cloud-Native Security

December 5, 2019 | Chris Tozzi

Latest from DevOps.com

npm is Scam-Spam Cesspool ¦ Google in Microsoft Antitrust Thrust
March 31, 2023 | Richi Jennings
5 Key Performance Metrics to Track in 2023
March 31, 2023 | Sarah Guthals
Debunking Myths About Reliability
March 31, 2023 | Kit Merker
New Relic Bets on AI to Advance Observability
March 30, 2023 | Mike Vizard
Vega Cloud Commits to Reducing Cloud Costs
March 30, 2023 | Mike Vizard

TSTV Podcast

On-Demand Webinars

DevOps.com Webinar ReplaysDevOps.com Webinar Replays

GET THE TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK

Most Read on DevOps.com

Don’t Make Big Tech’s Mistakes: Build Leaner IT Teams Instead
March 27, 2023 | Olivier Maes
How to Supercharge Your Engineering Teams
March 27, 2023 | Sean Knapp
Five Great DevOps Job Opportunities
March 27, 2023 | Mike Vizard
The Power of Observability: Performance and Reliability
March 29, 2023 | Javier Antich
Cloud Management Issues Are Coming to a Head
March 29, 2023 | Mike Vizard
  • Home
  • About DevOps.com
  • Meet our Authors
  • Write for DevOps.com
  • Media Kit
  • Sponsor Info
  • Copyright
  • TOS
  • Privacy Policy

Powered by Techstrong Group, Inc.

© 2023 ·Techstrong Group, Inc.All rights reserved.