Why DevSecOps is crucial for tackling cloud security challenges

DevSecOps is a relatively new concept that is built on the foundations of DevOps. Where DevOps integrated development and operations in a continuous harmonized loop, DevSecOps goes a step further and adds the security element to the SDLC. Therefore, right from the start, security becomes an integral part of the cloud application saving vast amounts of lost time and resources resulting from a cyberattack. 

DevSecOps in cloud security becomes a key advantage to the mass adoption of cloud computing hence the need for this approach. Along with continuous development and deployment, security testing and monitoring become embedded in the process, thus making the cloud app secure right from its inception. 

A report from BigID titled ‘The State of Data Security in 2022’ found that, “More than 90% of organizations struggle with enforcing security policies around data [that they have in the cloud]”

In the previous approach of DevOps, vulnerabilities were not extracted and fixed at the development stage and only after release, work on monitoring and securing the app used to commence. However, with DevSecOps, this has changed dramatically resulting in much more secure applications on the cloud. 

DevSecOps principles are becoming a standard procedure for ensuring apps are secure in this contemporary development environment due to the advent of more sophisticated cybersecurity assaults and development teams’ transition to quicker, more frequent updates of applications.

So, what exactly is DevSecOps?

Development, security, and operations are the three terms that make DevSecOps. It is the implementation of security from the very beginning of the software development lifecycle. DevSecOps implementation should benefit any firm and serve as a cloud security tool if used correctly. In this article, we examine the precise ways in which DevSecOps aids in resolving cloud security issues.

If you are planning to build an app or software of your own, then knowing about the scope and benefits of DevSecOps can come in handy. So, read this article till the end to know everything about DevSecOps in cloud security.

Why is DevSecOps Crucial for Tackling Cloud Security Challenges?

While IT departments work to ensure a company’s network and IT infrastructure are secure, DevSecOps teams monitor product security throughout development and launch. They are in charge of, among other things, monitoring processes, gathering risk analyses, automating security measures, and incident management. DevSecOps assists enterprises in implementing effective cloud security risk management, thereby tackling cloud security challenges. 

The numerous benefits of DevSecOps for cloud security are as mentioned below:

Builds an Open and Transparent Environment 

The introduction of DevSecOps lays the groundwork for open communication between teams and business units. Tracking and monitoring complicated efforts like cloud migration and cloud security for example, and keeping all stakeholders engaged in the loop are no longer problems once DevSecOps forms the foundation of your development. 

However, it may be noted that it takes time to develop DevSecOps procedures and put them on track so they can address security issues while helping businesses become more resilient. But once it is in place, you don’t have to worry about cloud security issues.  

Provides Robust Security in a Cost and Time Effective Manner

Which is preferable: attempting to prevent a security issue from occurring or dealing with its aftermath? DevSecOps-enabled organizations attempt to stop potential threats before they have a substantial impact. By identifying and preventing events that can affect the internal IT environment, many businesses decrease their business vulnerabilities with DevSecOps. 

DevSecOps’ rapid, secure delivery minimizes the need to repeat a procedure to address security vulnerabilities thereby, saving time and money. It is more secure as unnecessary reviews and needless rebuilds are also removed from the integrated security code. This is both efficient and affordable.

They, thereby, also eliminate the dangers of losing customers and a good reputation. Businesses that run smoothly and securely can not only keep their current customers but also draw in new ones and continue to build brand trust.

Gathers All Data in a Single Data Storage

Teams can gather data from many sources and feed it back into the creative process using data management and the DevSecOps process suite, which enables them to make speedy enhancements to apps that are still in development. In short, DevSecOps implementation aids operation and technical teams in elaborating on the gathered data and turning it into actionable intelligence. 

The data insights flow under one roof with continuous enhancements, ultimately imposing smooth CI/CD, which further helps in saving significant time during product development.

Reimagines the Builds and Testing Approach

Automation is crucial for minimizing the impact of the human component. It helps the technical personnel to learn from one another and share their experience to improve team cohesion as a result of digital transformation and cloud migration. As a result, automatic compliance and container security checks are possible when a DevSecOps security toolkit is used or when development and operational methods are upgraded with security tools.

Other Benefits of DevSecOps for Your Organization

Apart from tackling the cloud security challenges, DevSecOps can also help your organization in other effective ways. Some of the other benefits of DevSecOps for your organization are:

Syncing with Business Continuity

Businesses that recognize the importance of maintaining close communication between their cyber security and business continuity professionals can benefit from DevOps cloud security solutions . They can reduce technology spending and streamline incident response and recovery procedures with DevSecOps in the cloud. DevSecOps ensures a stronger focus on dependable threat detection and response approaches as well as a clear explanation of the duties and responsibilities of each team member when combined with a well-defined BCP(business continuity plan).

Enhancing Customer Credibility 

Collaboration to create more secure systems is made easier when everyone in the organization is aware of the company’s security policy. This, in turn, helps foster consumer trust. Customers stop using a product if there are frequent security breaches because they cannot trust it.

Maintaining Cross-Team Ownership

Early in the development process, development teams and application security teams collaborate across groups thanks to DevSecOps. DevSecOps helps teams to establish a common ground early, resulting in cross-team buy-in and more effective team collaboration, as opposed to fragmented, disjointed operations that inhibit innovation and even lead to splits across business divisions.

Also Read: How DevOps is charting a new model for cloud development

DevSecOps Strategies that can Revolutionize Cloud Security

The DevOps cloud security teams must work closely with other teams and keep an eye on the quality of the code throughout the application lifecycle for a successful cloud DevSecOps implementation. Here, we discuss the six core DevSecOps in cloud implementation strategies that could revolutionize cloud security and cloud security tools at your company:

Code Analysis

Most organizations must be adaptable enough to modify their software several times to meet changing market demands. Older security models are not well suited to rapid delivery cycles, even though agile teams have acclimated to this trend. They consequently harm your company’s expanding software products and agile release cycles. 

By adopting an agile strategy for security operations, your teams will be able to produce code in brief, regular releases and ensure efficient cloud security risk management. By implementing cloud solutions for DevSecOps, you can make sure that you can swiftly scan for vulnerabilities and incorporate code analysis into the quality control process.

Automation of the Testing Process 

Automated testing is, without a doubt, one of DevSecOps principles or top practices. It might be viewed as the main impetus behind cloud DevSecOps. Automated tests streamline the testing process by repeating tests, logging outcomes, and providing the team with feedback much more quickly. Automating tests across the entire development process may increase overall efficiency by removing coding errors. The overall cloud migration procedure can be streamlined; as a result, making it simpler to move more of your resources to the cloud.

Change Management

The change management process is crucial when putting your DecSecOps cloud computing strategy into practice. By equipping your developers with the knowledge and resources they need to recognize dangers and stop them before they become serious problems, you can improve the effectiveness of change management. Additionally, give developers 24-hour approval windows so they can submit suggestions for mission-critical security measures at any time.

Compliance Tracking 

Huge volumes of data are managed using cloud-based technologies. In such circumstances, it could be difficult to comply with stringent security laws like HIPAA, GDPR, and SOC 2. Adopting cloud DevSecOps could alter this situation and reduce any additional load brought on by regulatory audits. Every time new codes are developed or modified, development teams may gather proof of compliance in real time. This would help the company be ready for any unusual circumstances.

Vulnerability Management

Identifying, looking into, and fixing any dangers or vulnerabilities that surface with every new code delivery is crucial to DevOps security. Schedule regular periodic security scans in addition to publishing and running vulnerability checks to assist in finding new bugs or vulnerabilities.

Employee Training

It is important to provide security-specific training to engineers. This might be accomplished by sending them to cloud-focused conferences or investing in security certification programs. Industry gatherings like DEF CON and Black Hat, as well as MOOCs from MIT and Harvard Extension School, may be useful.

DevSecOps Best Practices

The following best practices can be used when implementing the strategy to maximize the advantages of DevSecOps for cloud solutions.

Never Stop Learning 

Every top IT manager should take advantage of the superior deployment techniques offered by evolving technology. The capacity to quickly pick up new skills and investigate cutting-edge substitutes for antiquated tools drives corporate expansion and elevates operations. To establish your customer preferences and apply these acquired lessons in the future, you can choose to create industry- or region-specific success stories.

Be Particular about Policy & Governance

For DevOps environments to accomplish holistic security, communications and governance are essential. They are primary DevSecOps requirements. Develop open, understandable cybersecurity procedures and regulations that developers and other members of the team can readily adopt. This will help teams create code that satisfies security requirements.

Move Forward with Agility and Alignment

The achievement of your company and the DevSecOps pipeline directly depends on how quickly and efficiently your designers and engineers operate cloud security solutions. It could take a long time to add desirable features and ensure that it is secure. Keep in mind that security shouldn’t be the last milestone to be addressed but should instead be a crucial component of every stage of the development lifecycle.

Control, Monitor, and Audit Access with Privileged Access Management

Enforcing the least privileged access rights will lessen the likelihood that external or internal attackers may escalate privileged user permissions or exploit flawed code. In actuality, this entails denying end-user computers administrator privileges, storing privileged account credentials securely, and requiring a quick check-out procedure.

How can Appinventiv Help Your Business with DevSecOps?

At Appinventiv, with our suite of cutting-edge DevOps services, we support you throughout the entire software development process. We take care of your business at every stage, starting with the analysis of your present business processes and continuing with round-the-clock support following deployment. Customers pick us because we can increase cost-effectiveness, business agility, and efficiency.

With nearly ten years of experience in the field, we, as a leading provider of cybersecurity consulting services have managed numerous challenging projects. Our professionals take great care to fully understand your goals for the project and stop at nothing but the best to achieve your DevSecOps requirements.

Our managed cloud services approach uses the best CI/CD methods, tools, and techniques to hasten the software delivery process. Contact our cloud security experts now. They will assist you in performing a full technological audit, locating the best DevOps and DevSecOps solution, determining the appropriate DevOps tools and methodology, and more. They will make a thorough roadmap, make the most of the current infrastructure, and get ongoing assistance for seamless application development with DevSecOps in cloud security.

FAQs

Q. What are the advantages of DevSecOps for an organization?

A. There are several advantages of DevOps security for an organization, some of the primary ones being:

• Greater security
• Cost savings 
• Increase in delivery rates
• Better monitoring
• Better transparency

Q. What is the role of DevSecOps in cloud security?

A. The goal of SecDevOps or DevOps security is to avoid deploying applications with vulnerabilities by ensuring that your security posture, countermeasures, and methods are included as soon as possible in the application development cycle. That is the fundamental role of DevSecOps solution or SecDevOps in cloud security.

Q. What is the difference between DevSecOps and DevOps?

A. Although DevSecOps emerged from DevOps, the two methodologies have different objectives. While DevSecOps focuses on security, DevOps is more concerned with efficiency. DevSecOps security expands on DevOps to address cloud vulnerabilities.

THE AUTHOR

Sudeep Srivastava

Co-Founder and Director