It’s no secret that software and technology are changing rapidly. The days of traditional security practices are over, and DevSecOps has taken center stage.
But what is DevSecOps? Are your best practices still good enough to help your organization achieve optimal results? And if not, how can you adapt?
Here are some DevSecOps best practices you need to follow.
Why is DevSecOps Needed?
To understand why DevSecOps is needed, it’s essential to understand the traditional software development process.
In this process, security is typically an afterthought. Developers are focused on getting their applications ready for launch as quickly as possible, and security teams are often left playing catch-up.
It can lead to several problems, including:
- Security vulnerabilities that go undetected until it’s too late.
- Applications that are not adequately secured, leaving your organization exposed to attack.
- Delays in getting applications to market.
- Inefficient use of resources.
DevSecOps is designed to address these issues by bringing security into the development process from the beginning. This way, security is not an afterthought; it’s a priority.
What are DevSecOps Best Practices to Follow?
Now that you understand the significance of DevSecOps, it’s time to take a closer look at some of the best practices you need to follow.
Integrate Security into the Development Process
The first step in achieving DevSecOps success is integrating security into the development process.
It means making security a priority from the beginning and ensuring that everyone involved in the development process – including developers, QA testers, and operations staff – is aware of and follows security best practices.
Automate Security Testing
To keep up with the speed of software development, it’s crucial to automate as much of your security testing as possible.
It includes automating vulnerability scanning and penetration testing and automating the application deployment process. Automated testing can help you identify and fix security vulnerabilities quickly and efficiently.
Use Security Tools and Resources
To be successful with DevSecOps, you need to use the latest security tools and resources. This includes using automated scanning tools, penetration testing tools, and secure development frameworks.
It’s also essential to have a strong security awareness program so that everyone involved in the development process is aware of the latest security threats and how to protect against them.
Collaborate with Other Teams
To be successful with DevSecOps, it’s crucial to collaborate with other teams within your organization. This includes working closely with your QA, management, and marketing teams to ensure that they know security best practices and that your development process is aligned with organizational goals.
Automate Compliance Testing
The importance of automating compliance testing cannot be overstated. When compliance issues arise, not only does it slow down the development process, it can also lead to costly fines and penalties.
Automating compliance testing can help you ensure that your applications are compliant with industry regulations and requirements.
Train Your Team
To be successful with DevSecOps, training your team on the latest security best practices is essential. This includes training developers on how to write secure code, QA testers on how to test for security vulnerabilities, and operations staff to deploy applications securely.
Use a Secure Development Framework
To ensure that your applications are properly secured, it’s important to use a secure development framework. This includes using frameworks such as the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) Top 10, which lists the most common security vulnerabilities.
Establish Policies and Procedures
To ensure that security is a priority throughout the development process, it’s essential to establish policies and procedures for DevSecOps. This includes setting guidelines for how security should be integrated into the development process and establishing rules for deploying and managing applications.
Perform Risk Assessments
During a 2018 survey, 17 percent of respondents stated that identifying vulnerabilities was the most pressure-filled security responsibility for them.
To identify and mitigate security risks, it’s essential to perform risk assessments regularly. This includes assessing the security of your applications, networks, and systems, as well as evaluating your organization’s vulnerability to cyberattacks.
Partner with a Managed Security Service Provider
It’s important to partner with a managed security service provider (MSSP) that understands the challenges of integrating security into the development process.
Managed security service providers can help you establish policies and procedures for DevSecOps and assist you in choosing tools and resources that are compatible with your organization’s current infrastructure.
By leveraging an MSSP’s expertise, you can help ensure that your applications are properly secured against cyber threats.
Now that you have the answers to questions such as, “What is DevSecOps?”, “Why is it important?” and “What are the DevSecOps best practices to follow?”, you are better equipped to look at ways to incorporate this into your organization.
Using the above DevSecOps best practices will help strengthen your applications against security vulnerabilities.
