What Are The Best Practices To Build An Effective DevSecOps Strategy

An Effective DevSecOps Strategy = Unified Teams, Uncompromised Security.

As per IBM, a single security breach was detected in 207 days. Of all security breaches, 74% are caused by human error. The highest-ever data breach cost was $4.45 million in 2023. The average ransomware payout increased to $1,542,333 in 2023 from $812,380 in 2022. 

What do these stats show? The majority of entry doors for bad actors are ‘not-so-secure’ applications. Even after performing crucial security checks, enterprises often leave back doors for attackers to enter. Why is this?     

The core issue lies in the development process. In many software development methodologies, security checks are an afterthought. The application’s vulnerability is evaluated once it is built. This makes it difficult and time-consuming to address these security issues, and accurate vulnerability detection also becomes a tough job. What’s your take on addressing this security threat? I have witnessed many big players shift to DevSecOps, which supports three essential security pillars: People, Process, and Culture. DevSecOps is a culture emphasizing cohesive efforts among people within the organization to build a secure application. DevSecOps is not a substitute for agile; it co-exists with it. DevSecOps compliments Agile and helps organizations promote a culture of collaboration and maximize the benefits. To leverage maximum advantage, opting for an effective DevSecOps Strategy is a wise move. Let’s uncover how you can build an effective DevSecOps Strategy!!

What Is DevSecOps? 

DevSecOps is a synergy of Development, Security, and Operations. It is an extension of DevOps with security as an integral part of the software development life cycle. It should be considered a culture more than a lean methodology. It believes in including a security model as a preventive measure, not a reactive one. Instead of treating security as a protective layer on applications, DevSecOps focuses on the built-in security protocols. By proactively detecting loopholes and vulnerabilities early in the process, DevSecOps enhances remediation efforts and grants more secure software. 

Best Practices To Build An Effective DevSecOps Strategy

When drafting an effective DevSecOps strategy, it is crucial to consider the following aspects. These components jointly contribute to its success.  

1. Well-defined Goals 

While establishing goals concentrating on safety, fostering teamwork, and embracing a security mindset are important considerations. Once you have determined these objectives, they must be conveyed throught the organization. The team members involved in implementing the DevSecOps method must have a solid understanding of the goals and objectives, which will help them perform tasks that are in line with those goals. 

2. Cross-Functional Collaboration

DevSecOps is grounded on cross-functional collaboration across multiple departments. It emphasizes a culture focused on Joint responsibility for building secure and reliable software. The leader's role is pivotal in promoting this collaborative culture.     

3. Track Compliance 

Enterprises must adhere to all applicable regulatory frameworks. When framing the DevSecOps strategy, the enterprise must identify industry-specific compliances and compliance gaps within the enterprise. Once gaps are identified, steps must be taken to fill them. Moreover, in DevSecOps, automation is a game-changer in tracking compliance. It not only eases monitoring but, by adhering to compliance on time, eliminates the need to pay penalties.    

4. Train Your Team

Leaders should take steps to enhance developers' learning. Developers must possess the required certifications. This will aid them in accelerating their knowledge and will strengthen their adaptability towards emerging trends. Even when partnering with various DevSecOps service providers, enterprises should look for certified developers to achieve their goals.  

5. Employ Secure Coding 

Secure coding appears as an obvious factor in developing an application with a high degree of resistance to vulnerabilities. Developers must be experts in secure coding practice, which enhances security consciousness among developers and helps eliminate ambiguity. 

6. 24x7 Monitoring 

Keeping track of security practices is essential to validate that they operate as intended. This involves continuous monitoring of infrastructure and applications to identify security vulnerabilities firsthand. It also includes threat intelligence, log analysis, and real-time monitoring. If anything seems off, the alerts will be immediately sent out, and the team will be able to resolve the hurdles on time.  

7. Developer’s Involvement In Security Decisions 

Developers' involvement in creating security policies and processes will foster effortless collaboration among security and engineering teams. They will be able to ride their development journeys with a proper understanding of all these policies and processes. 

8. Toolchain Selection

It is significant to choose the right tool to embed security practices across the software development lifecycle effortlessly. The selected tools must be compatible with the tech stack your enterprise will choose. Moreover, the opted tool should also be aligned with the project requirements. For that purpose, shortlist the tools and thoroughly review their features and how they will serve your needs. 

Implement Effective DecSecOps Strategy Today!

An enterprise can establish the above best practices as metrics and can compare and contrast the actual achievement of these metrics. When you have an in-house expert team of DevSecOps consultants, it becomes easy for you to reach your destination with these best practices. When you don’t possess required pool of expertise you can opt for DevSecOps Consulting Services to navigate this journey.

Happy Clouding!