Organizations today find themselves pulled by two needs - speed and security. While a competitive market is demanding faster developments and more frequent releases, the recent Log4J vulnerability has created a heightened awareness of the threats and vulnerabilities that can be exploited. This is one of the many reasons why organizations need more robust DevSecOps strategies.
DevSecOps is a methodology that brings these elements together so businesses can innovate rapidly without sacrificing security.This is the first blog in a two-part series that takes a closer look at DevSecOps. It’s based on a whitepaper released by CloudBees, “DevSecOps: Speed and Security, Together at Last”, which you can click here to download. This blog focuses on why we need DevSecOps. The second article in this series (which can be viewed by clicking here), will cover how DevSecOps can be implemented. Keep reading to learn more.
What Is DevSecOps?
DevSecOps is an approach that makes security everyone’s responsibility, automating functions and removing barriers so organizations can achieve security at speed. Why does DevOps not simply incorporate security as a part of the development lifecycle?
Ideally it should, but due to the lasting impact of legacy procedures and siloed structures, security is sometimes left behind. Adopting a DevSecOps model involves consciously shifting the mindset—embedding security throughout the development process and making it clear to all teams that security will be a key component of the organization’s CI/CD processes.
As organizations mature in their DevOps journeys, practicing security tends to become second nature, and they may drop the “Sec” from DevSecOps.
Why Does DevSecOps Matter?
1. Security at Scale
Many organizations initially assume that implementing security throughout will slow them down. The reality is just the opposite. When teams put developments into motion faster, the need to collaborate and standardize workflows also increases. They gain more visibility, are able to exercise additional governance, and can ultimately reduce variation and risk.
2. Respond Rapidly
DevSecOps doesn’t assume threats will stop. Instead, its aim is to make sure your organization is equipped to identify vulnerabilities early and respond to threats effectively when they happen.
3. Bolster Defences
By making smaller changes more quickly and frequently, it becomes easier to check for, identify, and fix flaws. Incremental updates also mean it’s more difficult for hackers to identify and exploit vulnerabilities.
The Bottom Line
In 2017, hackers found a vulnerability in Equifax’s dispute portal. They used this to gain access and then steal the personal identifying information (including social insurance numbers) of more than 140 million people in the US, Canada, and other countries. Total costs associated with this breach, including fees to resolve complaints, are expected to exceed $600 million, making it one of the most expensive data breaches in history.
At the end of the day, prioritizing security throughout the development process is about more than simply safeguarding customer or user data. It’s also about protecting your organization.
iTMethods Helps You Make The Most of Enterprise DevOps
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- Overcome Resource Complexity and Challenges: Spend more time on your core business and rely on experts for your DevOps initiatives. We offer a turnkey toolchain-as-a-service as well as DevOps-as-a-service to be an extension of your DevOps team.
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