DevSecOps is like adding a security guard to the team that builds and maintains software. In the old way of doing things, this security guard would only check for problems after the software was built, which often meant finding big issues late in the game. DevSecOps changes this by having the security guard join the team right from the start and throughout the whole process of making and looking after the software.
This means that instead of just one person or a separate team worrying about keeping the software safe, everyone involved in making the software also thinks about security. They add tests and checks that automatically look for security problems while they are still building the software. This way, if there's a problem, they can find and fix it quickly, without waiting until the end.
By doing security this way, the software they make is safer from the start, less likely to have big issues later, and better at keeping up with new security challenges. It's like having a team where everyone helps to keep things secure, rather than just relying on one person to check everything at the end.
In this article, we’ll outline DevSecOps best practices your organization should implement in 2024.
Shift left security
Shift left security is one of the major principles of DevSecOps. It means integrating security practices throughout the entire software development lifecycle. By using strategies such as Security as Code (SaC), security flaws can be identified at the design stage, allowing the developers to build a secure code from the beginning.
Automation
Security tasks like code analysis, vulnerability, and testing should be automated throughout the development process. This will help to identify vulnerabilities early, allowing for fast remediation, which will help to reduce the risk of security incidents.
Cloud-Native security
Cloud adoption is on the rise, and ensuring secure cloud-native environments should be a key focus for organizations in 2024. As the use of serverless architectures, containers, and microservices increases, companies should implement security strategies that are specific to these technologies. Your DevSecOps team should partner with cloud architects to make sure threat detection mechanisms, access controls, and proper configuration are in place.
Infrastructure as a code (IaC)
IaC means using configuration files to manage your IT infrastructure. It eliminates the need for developers and engineers to manually provision and manage operating systems, servers, storage, database connections, and any other infrastructure element. This helps to save time, allowing developers and engineers to focus on other crucial things.
Implement Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD)
You are already late if your organization has not been using CI/CD, and 2024 should be the year you start. CI/CD allows DevSecOps teams to build, test, and deploy code changes. This allows code changes to be delivered more frequently and reliably, without the risk of human error.
Threat intelligence and analytics
Cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated, and in 2024, threat intelligence and analytics should be supreme in ensuring a sturdy security posture. Your DevSecOps team should use advanced analytics tools and threat intelligence to detect and respond to evolving cyber threats. These tools will help to analyze anomalies, patterns, and threat indicators, helping your DevSecOps team to proactively identify threats and mitigate them.
Collaboration
In 2024, organizations should focus on fostering a security-focused culture. Collaboration is crucial for the success of DevSecOps teams. Promoting communication between development, operations, and security teams, can help to create a sense of shared responsibility for security.
Enforce access controls
There should be centrally defined policies that control access to applications, data, and other network assets throughout the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). This helps to reduce the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data and prevents lateral movement.
Endnote
Following these DevSecOps best practices can help organizations build secure applications. In addition, organizations should ensure that their DevSecOps teams have the right tools in place to make it easy to follow standard procedures.
