The definition and challenges of DevSecOps

Introduction

An automated, continuous delivery cycle is characterized by DevSecOps, a management approach combining application development, security, operations, and infrastructure as a code (IaaS). This article discusses DevSecOps and how it can help detect and fix vulnerabilities before they reach production.

Market Research Report projects a CAGR of 31.2% for the DevSecOps market by 2023, which will reach USD 5.9 billion.

As an afterthought, Application Security Testing is traditionally performed at the end of the development process.

A product must be pushed to the market as quickly as possible, at the right time.

During the IT product development cycle, “just ship it” has become a cliche. While shipping products as fast as possible can give companies an edge, one thing is subject to levity: security.

The purpose and importance of DevSecops

In DevSecOps, security is automated, monitored, and applied across all phases of software development, including planning, developing, building, testing, releasing, delivering, deploying, operating, and monitoring. Continuous integration, lower compliance costs, and faster software delivery are enabled by using security at every stage of software development.

DevSecOps assumes that every team member is responsible for security from the start, and that decisions must be made quickly and implemented without compromising security.

The process of testing application security has traditionally been performed at the end of the development process.

Within the next two years, cybercrime will result in $6 trillion in global damages, according to a study by Cybersecurity Ventures.

Is DevSecOps a solution to what problems?

There are many problems that DevSecOps solve, but security is usually introduced during the final stages of software development.

1. Speed

Incorporating DevSecOps into your application development and distribution process can make things safer and faster for your business.

2. Conscientious of security

Security flaws in software jeopardize customer information, which may lead to lawsuits and negative brand image for businesses. DevSecOps ensures that security is a norm rather than an afterthought, ensuring developers always develop securely.

3. Software improvements

The container environment can be secured to prevent vulnerabilities that can arise when security is introduced late in the development process. This adds value to the application throughout its lifecycle. If security is integrated with software development lifecycle tools at the beginning of development, for example, code analysis, digital signing, and registry image scanning can be performed to ensure code integrity, preventing costly problems later.

A DevSecOps approach has many advantages

The following are the benefits of incorporating DevSecOps strategy into your business model as we now know the problems that DevSecOps can help us with:

1. Trusted by more customers

When a product has constant security breaches, many, if not all, of its users will leave since they no longer trust a product with compromised security.

2. The culture of the workplace has been improved

The more everyone in an organization understands the core values of a company or a product, the easier it is for them to communicate about security.

3. Reduced costs

In addition to reducing cost, the DevSecOps flow enhances the speed of product delivery as security issues are identified and fixed early in the development process.

4. Focus on the whole picture

With integrated frameworks, DevSecOps pipelines and applications remain secure, ensuring that a complete defense is implemented throughout production.

DevSecOps methodology: what is it?

As the name implies, DevSecOps combines development, security, and operations into a single seamless, streamlined, and transparent process by integrating automated security processes into agile IT and DevOps frameworks. Speed of delivery and security code can be merged into one seamless, streamlined, and transparent process.

DevSecOps aims to change the way most organizations view code delivery speed and security.

How does DevSecOps work?

Security is essential, and neglecting it will only slow your progress. To ensure security is part of the DevSevOps process, these components must be taken into account:

1. Inventories of apps/APIs

It is important to inventory everything, but it does not make anything more secure. Getting close to the code, instrumenting every stack layer, and automating discovery, profiling, and continuous code monitoring across the portfolio is the pragmatic approach to API security. Some products work on the network, host, application, container, and API layers.

2. Security features for custom code

Software should be continuously monitored for vulnerabilities at all stages of development, testing, and operation. Code should be delivered regularly so that vulnerabilities are quickly detected and fixed.

DevOps practices are first introduced to security teams, and then they are incorporated into security, such as delivering security capabilities in small, frequent installments and automating security tasks as much as possible. The developer must also become aware of security standards, demands, threat awareness, and tools.

3. Security provided by open-source software

An effective security strategy should include a solution for tracking and reporting vulnerabilities and license violations in open source software (OSS).

4. Automated processes

DevSecOps initiatives are successful when automation is used. It allows security measures to be integrated into the development process while ensuring the development team does not become burdened with security. To deliver secure software without stifling innovation and development workflows, security testing and analysis can be integrated into CI/CD pipelines.

5. Analyzing

Ideally, security tests should take place throughout the entire development process, not just at the end of the product development process. Aside from static application security testing (SAST), dynamic application security testing (DAST), and less common but equally essential techniques such as penetration testing, red teaming, and threat modeling, effective testing regimens are also available.

Due to their hacker-centric approach, these latter approaches are valuable because they provide an insight into code without disrupting production.

Challenges facing DevSecOps

In order for a security plan to be effective, it must be composed of People, Processes, and Technology.

The DevSecOps approach is no different. In order to implement this strategy successfully, it requires better collaboration between Development, Security, and Operations. However, in most cases, a rift between the DevSecOps security team and the development team occurs during implementation.

The following challenges often arise as businesses try to adopt DevSecOps:

1. Challenge for the people

Creating a cohesive team of DevOps and Ops is already challenging; adding a third team of security, which is known for working in silos, adds further complexity.

2. Challenges associated with process

A product that is fast, secure, and high quality is defined by DevSecOps tools. As a result, security has become a hurdle in the product development process.

3. Challenges associated with technology

DevSecOps success depends heavily on the integration of security testing tools into the continuous integration/continuous delivery pipeline. For DevSecOps to succeed, it will need to shift to the left, use tools to cover all security tests, automate as much as possible without touching anything, and use AI capabilities.

It is almost impossible for a threat to penetrate an application with DevSecOps, which breaks down the traditional and siloed mindset of a project manager.

Practices for DevSecOps

In order to learn more about DevSecOps, here are a few best practices every business should consider as they embark on their DevSecOps journey:

1. Secure the system on a regular basis

As 78% of security vulnerabilities in software result from indirect dependencies, it is important to check all software dependencies frequently. The chances of a security vulnerability increase when these dependencies become obsolete after a while.

2. Dashboards are useful for security

Security dashboards provide insights from the available data, making it easier to identify attempts to breach security. 63% of businesses lack an effective way to track threats, and dashboards can help here. A dashboard makes it easy to create automatic alerts and responses in real-time when a threat is imminent.

3. Regular security training should be provided to developers

In attempting to create feature-rich software, developers often overlook the security implications of the code, which makes the product extremely vulnerable. Regular security training for developers is crucial to instilling a culture of security first in product development.

Developing security into DevOps

In a speedy DevOps environment, security must be automated and tightly integrated with the CI/CD pipeline. DevSecOps tools serve two purposes. By detecting and correcting security vulnerabilities through comprehensive security testing, the first goal is to reduce development risk while maintaining velocity. In addition, the program aims to assist security teams in monitoring development project security without manual review and approval.

1. Checkmarks

Application security testing (AppSec) is an essential part of DevSecOps, and Checkmarx leads the field. Businesses manage containers, IaC, custom code, and open-source components with Checkmarx Application Security Testing (AST), which provides integrated security for the entire software development lifecycle.

2. QubeSonar

With SonarQube, you can analyze static code for free and open-source, adding features to the free version that make it more operational.

3. Secured by Invicti

Invicti provides administrators with an accurate picture of vulnerabilities and remediation efforts by scanning over 800,000 web applications across 115 countries using dynamic and interactive scanning. Invicti prioritizes automation of security testing to create long-term SDLC processes for scaling operations.

4. Innyk

In addition to documentation for using its CLI and API, the cybersecurity vendor offers options for deployment and integration with existing CI/CD pipelines. Prospective customers can try Snyk for free or choose from three commercial plans: Teams, Businesses, or Enterprises.

5. Security by Aqua

The Aqua Platform contains a growing list of critical cybersecurity functions, including Kubernetes, dynamic threat analysis, serverless security, virtual machine, and container security.