What is DevSecOps and How is it Different from Traditional DevOps?
DevSecOps can be titled as the advanced version of the DevOps process with additional integrated security practices. Security teams and release engineers make collaboration and create a "Security as Code" culture with the help of DevSecOps. It is all about creating new innovative solutions for complex software development processes to bring better outcomes. The role of DevOps and DevSecOps are similar though.
Traditional, older security models have limitations and DevSecOps is the natural and highly essential response on the modern continuous delivery pipeline. The main motto behind DevSecOps is to create a safe and quick environment where delivery is smooth and seamless by bridging the gaps between IT and security. Here, with DevSecOps, communication is transparent, responsibilities are shared and all teams work cohesively during all the phases of the delivery process to offer the finest outcome at the end.
How to implement DevSecOps in the cloud?
We will discuss how to successfully implement and maintain DevSecOps in your organization in details.
Two goals must be achieved with DevSecOps: Speed of Delivery and Secure Code. These two goals are merged into one streamlined process. Now, within the agile framework, security testing is done in iterations while keeping in mind not to slow down delivery cycles. When any security concerns happen, they are dealt on the spot rather than after a threat or compromise has occurred.
Benefits of a DevSecOps Approach
One of the main issues of the delivery process is secure code and it can be achieved by using the power of agile methodologies as a team. Here, security protocols are the part of the development process and not just a layer on top and it allows DevOps and security professionals to work in harmony to achieve the goal.
A study was conducted and the 2017 EMA report states two important benefits of security operations (SecOps): superior ROI in existing security infrastructure and improved operational efficiencies across IT and security.
Furthermore, with DevSecOps, you can also use cloud services fully. If you are using Amazon Web Services cloud, you can enjoy all the benefits of preventive and detective security controls of the AWS model. Cloud services are used by more and more organizations to keep smooth and seamless functioning of operations and you can prevent costly downtime's by allowing AWS to perform security efforts.
Some other advantages of DevSecOps are:
Security teams have greater speed and agility.
Superior communication among teams
You can quickly respond to changes and needs required
You can improve the quality assurance testing
You can identify code vulnerabilities earlier and fix them
DevSecOps vs. DevOps
When traditional security models are vulnerable and cannot keep up when multiple software updates happen in a day, DevSecOps and DevOps both are very critical. DevSecOps can help to make more robust security models to traditional DevOps practices. Into all stages of software design and development, DevOps can ensure security measures.
It brings a more clear understanding, trust and transparency of probable risks and more clever responses to them. It is an advanced approach where security measures are put into practice from the start and penetration tests to identify potential security tests are applied throughout the development cycle. Developers, now, are more concerned and motivated to deliver highly secured code.
With DevSecOps, automated testing is performed throughout the development cycle and hence, security is the main concern here. With security testing to automated processes and regular threat assessment, you can have a more seamless and smooth software development life cycle.
Here are six important components of a DevSecOps approach:
Code analysis
First of all, to identify vulnerabilities, code is delivered in small chunks.
Change Management
Anyone from the team can submit changes and the rest of the team will determine whether the change is good or not. It improves the speed and efficiency of operations.
Compliance Monitoring
Organizations must be ready for an audit at any given point of time to comply with all necessary regulations by the authority or industry.
Threat investigation
At every code update, you will identify possible emerging threats and responded to those threats quickly.
Vulnerability assessment
You will be able to identify new vulnerabilities with code analysis and how to respond and patch them.
Security training
IT engineers and software developers will be trained to set routines.
Wrapping Up
You need to hurry as the concept of DevSecOps is highly functional and becoming popular across the globe to make the operations quick and efficient. It is the right time to merge your security goals with DevOps to achieve the best outcomes.