DevSecOps: The Importance of Considering Security from the Start

DevSecOps was designed to emphasize the importance of integrated security at all levels of application development. In other words, it aims to resolve the dilemma between DevOps teams, who want to release software quickly, and security teams, who prioritize security above all else.

Demonstrating alignment with the multifunctional needs of digital integrity within organizations, DevSecOps makes it clear that simply adding a security step at the end of the development cycle is not enough.

This is especially true when we’re talking about agile work methodologies—such as Agile and DevOps, among others.

Having this bottleneck between software production and security testing at the end of its execution has become impractical. As a result, DevSecOps has gained traction.

Let’s dive deeper into this, explore the details, explain what changes compared to DevOps, and highlight its importance in development!

Why is DevSecOps important?

The initial section already provided a good definition of the DevSecOps culture, didn’t it? It’s clear that its entire concept is based on building a faster, more economical, and more efficient implementation routine.

DevSecOps is an ever-evolving mindset, ensuring decisions that both counter and anticipate threats. Therefore, it’s an excellent tool for optimizing time during the development and release of software.

This practice offers several benefits for both security and company development:

Early Risk NotificationUndoubtedly, the main benefit.

It’s worth noting that the development cycles of this strategy can only continue after the code bases have been verified as properly secure.

Following this strategic approach prevents companies from suffering critical security breaches or problems much later, due to issues they could have detected early in the development pipeline.

Increased ProductivityBy automating a significant portion of security processes or standards, your DevSecOps teams will work with greater freedom and in less time.

This is a great way to reduce costs and make the most of the available workforce.

Security AutomationAs processes become more interconnected, the presence of automated security becomes more prominent, which is another crucial element in maintaining DevSecOps models and pipelines.

By automating security, you reduce the chances of error and ensure that security standards are upheld in a much stricter and more reliable manner.

What are the main differences between DevOps and DevSecOps?

Now that you’re fully aware of what DevSecOps is, it’s important to understand the difference between this set of best practices and DevOps.

For example, the addition of the IT security sector to the DevOps methodology expands the application life cycle that your company develops.

As previously mentioned, DevSecOps is simply a natural evolution of a process that, until recently, took months (or even years) to complete. Today, it takes just weeks or a few months to finish.

The result is clear: clinging to past mentalities while production evolves significantly is risky. Hence the addition of "Sec" to DevOps.

DevOps signifies one thing, but DevSecOps integrates three sectors for the more secure development of your software from the start.

How does DevSecOps implementation work?

For teams looking to integrate security concepts into their DevOps structure, this process can be seen as an upgrade.

This can be achieved by combining the right DevSecOps tools and processes. In this way, automation is implemented throughout the software delivery pipeline, eliminating errors and reducing attacks and downtime.

The DevSecOps culture includes several key components, including:

• Code Analysis: The main goal of this component is to deliver code in small segments to quickly identify vulnerabilities.
• Change Management: Anyone can submit changes, which are then evaluated for their quality, increasing the speed and efficiency of the project.
• Monitoring: Requires the team to be ready for audits at any time, promoting a constant state of compliance.
• Threat Investigation: Quickly scans and identifies potential threats in each code update, enabling fast responses.
• Vulnerability Assessment: Once new vulnerabilities are identified in code reviews, the speed at which they are addressed and corrected is assessed.
• Security Training: Software and IT engineers must be trained on development and operational guidelines.

Constant testing routines not only allow for more secure code but also prevent delays and unforeseen issues, distributing the work predictably and consistently throughout the project.

By using this process, organizations can better meet their deadlines, ensuring greater satisfaction for customers and end-users.

DevSecOps and the LGPD

There is no doubt about the importance of DevSecOps today. However, it's worth noting that automation and work conceptualization processes don't automatically guarantee compatibility with the LGPD (General Data Protection Law).

This is a step that can be part of the process, ensuring quick alignment with LGPD regulations.

After all, the team’s entire mindset will be focused on these necessary adaptations for the launch of your product.

Yet another reason to add the IT security team to the DevOps methodology. It’s an additional perspective for investing in opportunities that will add value to your solution.

Five Steps to Integrating DevSecOps

Interested in the benefits of DevSecOps? Wondering how to implement it within your company?

Here are the steps to help you integrate DevSecOps:

1. Integration of security and IT sectors: Protect all information without surprises at every stage of development.
2. Cross-referencing and data integration with the DevSecOps sector: All records should be analyzed and monitored by everyone, aiding in identifying priorities and analyzing potential vulnerabilities and opportunities.
3. Establish security controls in the source code: This ensures everyone can reuse the knowledge gained during the work process.
4. DevSecOps pipeline: Increased security testing should be part of the implementation pipeline, speeding up feedback and response times for necessary actions.
5. Expand testing: Don’t just focus on the "happy path" of your solution's logical flow, but also on other scenarios. This helps identify patterns that may be associated with security flaws.

By implementing these strategies, we achieve more diversified ways of working on software development. As a result, DevSecOps becomes an integrated, parallel process rather than an additional stage in agile work methodologies.

Your Company Needs DevSecOps

Recent times have highlighted the significant changes that security and IT sectors face. Movements like cloud systems, shared data storage, and dynamic applications have brought huge benefits to companies looking to grow using advanced applications and services.

However, even with the disruptive advancement of DevOps applications, there are still many cases of significant security and compliance gaps.

This is why the term DevSecOps is gaining traction in the software development lifecycle, making security more evident under the same "umbrella."

Cybercriminals, always looking for new ways to implement malware and other exploits, are also constantly updating their practices. They may insert malware into an application during the build process, which remains undetected until distribution, affecting the experience and security of thousands of customers.

The damage to the client’s system and your company's reputation can be incalculable and irreversible.

Bringing security to an equal footing with development and operations is essential for any organization involved in developing and distributing applications and software.

Although DevSecOps is not yet fully practiced, especially in Brazil, the approach is highly effective, particularly in a technological landscape that demands faster release cycles with increased security against evolving threats and continuous process integration.

Thus, we can confidently assert that DevSecOps is not just a positive concept but a necessary methodology.

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