“By developing security as code, we will strive to create awesome products and services, provide insights directly to developers, and generally favor iteration over trying to always come up with the best answer before a deployment. We will operate like developers to make security and compliance available to be consumed as services. We will unlock and unblock new paths to help others see their ideas become a reality.” — DevSecOps Manifesto
By 2022, 90% of businesses will say they are following DevSecOps practices, up from 40% in 2019. An acronym for development, security, and operations, it’s an approach to managing technology within your business that infuses security throughout the organization and makes it the responsibility of every team member, all while adhering to high standards. Essentially, everyone is accountable for operations and activities.
What Is DevSecOps?
DevSecOps is basically DevOps plus enhanced security. This happens right from the start, with attention to safety throughout the process, from the initial code to the final release.
DevSecOps is about changing mindsets and defining responsibility, all with the goal of achieving stronger security. This is true from selecting the right tools for your projects to devising frameworks to test products.
Sounds like a buzzword? It isn’t! This is a set of practices and defined tools for achieving higher-quality software that is free of vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, your organization will continue to focus on continuous integration and delivery, all while feeling rest assured that you are safe and compliant.
There is also a focus on speedy and efficient development and delivery, as, of course, is the case with DevOps. The goal is to close the gaps, prioritizing this along with security.
DevSecOps vs. DevOps
DevOps, of course, is a set of practices that has the goal of improving efficiency and prioritizing continuous delivery throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC). This ensures the rapid progress of the project, leading to a faster turnaround.
DevSecOps, meanwhile, incorporates all the features of DevOps, while adding the important element of security into the mix. As we’ve discussed, the “enhanced” approach makes security the responsibility of every team member. To that end, security practices begin early on, with attention to this vital feature incorporated into every phase of the project.
While DevOps does involve security, it’s underscored in the DevSecOps process. This is the very reason why the latter subcategory was created — to put security at the forefront of development.
DevSecOps vs. Agile
There are many overlapping features and goals between DevSecOps and Agile. That’s probably to be expected, given that DevOps and Agile share a number of aspects, too.
First, they both attempt to eliminate silos and deliver software efficiently. They also foster shared responsibility and prioritize teamwork. This is all toward the goal of changing your organizational culture overall.
In fact, DevSecOps and Agile can function side by side. That’s because Agile is a mindset, while both DevOps and DevSecOps are approaches. Moreover, while Agile focuses on collaboration and always has the end user and continuous improvement in mind, DevSecOps puts security at the forefront. That’s not to say either approach ignores the alternative elements — they simply have different focal points.
5 Benefits of DevSecOps
1. Security Is Enhanced
Of course, security is central to the entire idea of DevSecOps — it’s baked into the very fabric of the process and the concept that led to the creation of this approach. With cybercrimes and attacks on the rise, it’s no wonder that development teams are looking for a way to improve their security procedures.
Security is pivotal from the very early stages of the software development process. You will be able to identify vulnerabilities and problems at the beginning before they escalate and interfere with your products and delivery. You can also recover from issues more easily and quickly.
2. Your Organization Can Operate at a More Rapid Speed
Speed is another vital element of the DevSecOps process. This is foundational to DevOps, and it carries over to its related approach. Achieving efficiency in the development cycle means that you will reach the market faster, thus staying ahead of the competition.
Remember that security is the priority, but through this process, you will be able to resolve issues more quickly. You will have tools that enable automation, addressing problems at a rapid speed. And if you’re an organization that’s looking to grow and expand, efficiency is absolutely vital
3. You Will Achieve Wider Coverage
Armed with tools that enable automation, you will also achieve wider coverage, with thorough test cases that can spot errors and defects you would have otherwise missed. This, combined with speed and agility, means there will ultimately be fewer vulnerabilities — and better outcomes.
4. Your Products Will Be More Compliant
Security and compliance are interrelated, and your product and entire organization must have both qualities. With DevSecOps, you will be able to achieve compliance. When security is entrusted to the entire team, after all, there will be more eyes on the product and more professionals who understand the constraints in which you are operating.
5. The Practices Apply to a Wide Range of Industries
From healthcare to manufacturing, finance to sales, DevSecOps can be widely applied to a multitude of industries. That’s because practically every industry incorporates software and demands strong security, no matter what the project. Given the sensitive data that is associated with so many fields, that’s no surprise — and DevSecOps can help bridge the gaps.
DevSecOps represents a new era of software development, one that will mean safer products — and safer consumers. You will enhance your products, not to mention your practices, and achieve greater loyalty. In the end, what better outcome is there?
If you enjoyed this, be sure to check out our other DevOps articles.
