DevSecOps is a philosophy in the field of software engineering that aims to integrate security practices into the DevOps process. The term DevSecOps is a combination of three words: Development (Dev), Security (Sec), and Operations (Ops). This philosophy advocates for security being a shared responsibility across all teams involved in the software development lifecycle, rather than being the sole responsibility of a separate security team.
DevSecOps is often described as a part of a larger cultural shift in software development, where developers, operations staff, and security teams work collaboratively to ensure that security is considered at all stages of the software development process. This approach aims to reduce the risks associated with software development, while also improving the speed and efficiency of delivering secure software.
Definition of DevSecOps
DevSecOps is a culture, a movement, a philosophy. It is the notion of 'shifting security left' in the development process. This means that security checks and controls are implemented early in the development process, rather than being left as an afterthought or a final stage before deployment.
DevSecOps involves creating a 'Security as Code' culture with ongoing, flexible collaboration between release engineers and security teams. The goal is to make everyone accountable for security with the objective of implementing security decisions and actions at the same scale and speed as development and operations decisions and actions.
Key Principles of DevSecOps
The key principles of DevSecOps include collaboration, shared responsibility, and early integration of security in the software development lifecycle. These principles are aimed at minimizing the security vulnerabilities in software and improving the speed and efficiency of software development and deployment.
Collaboration is the cornerstone of DevSecOps. It involves all the teams - developers, operations, and security - working together from the initial stages of the project. Shared responsibility means that security is not just the job of the security team, but everyone involved in the project is responsible for it. Early integration of security means that security checks and controls are implemented right from the planning and design stages, rather than being left till the end.
DevSecOps vs. Traditional Security
In traditional security models, the security team is separate from the development and operations teams. Security checks are often performed after the software has been developed, and any vulnerabilities found at this stage can be costly and time-consuming to fix. This approach can also lead to conflicts between the security team and the other teams, as security issues can delay the release of the software.
In contrast, DevSecOps integrates security into the development and operations processes. This means that security checks are performed throughout the software development lifecycle, and any vulnerabilities can be identified and fixed early on. This approach also promotes collaboration and shared responsibility for security, reducing the potential for conflicts between teams.
History of DevSecOps
The concept of DevSecOps evolved from the DevOps movement, which itself was a response to the challenges of traditional software development practices. The term 'DevOps' was coined in 2009 by Patrick Debois, a Belgian IT consultant, who wanted to improve the collaboration and communication between developers (Dev) and IT operations (Ops).
As organizations started to adopt DevOps practices and saw the benefits of increased collaboration and faster deployment times, they also realized the need for integrating security into this process. This led to the emergence of DevSecOps, where security is 'shifted left' and becomes an integral part of the development and operations processes.
Evolution of DevSecOps
The evolution of DevSecOps has been driven by the increasing complexity of software and the growing threat of cyber attacks. As software becomes more complex, the potential for security vulnerabilities increases. At the same time, cyber attacks are becoming more sophisticated and damaging, making security a top priority for organizations.
The adoption of DevSecOps has also been facilitated by the rise of cloud computing and automated deployment tools. These technologies have made it easier to integrate security checks into the development and deployment processes, and to monitor and respond to security incidents in real time.
Use Cases of DevSecOps
DevSecOps can be used in any organization that develops software, regardless of its size or industry. It is particularly beneficial for organizations that need to develop and deploy software quickly, while also ensuring that it is secure. This includes tech startups, e-commerce companies, and organizations in regulated industries such as finance and healthcare.
One of the key use cases of DevSecOps is in continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. In a CI/CD pipeline, code changes are automatically tested and deployed to production. By integrating security checks into this pipeline, organizations can ensure that their software is secure at all stages of development and deployment.
Examples of DevSecOps
A classic example of DevSecOps in action is at the online retailer Etsy. Etsy's deployment pipeline includes automated security checks that are run every time a developer commits code. These checks include static code analysis, dynamic analysis, and dependency checking. If any of these checks fail, the code is not deployed, and the developer is notified so they can fix the issue.
Another example is Netflix, which uses a tool called Security Monkey to monitor its infrastructure and identify security issues. Security Monkey is part of Netflix's 'Simian Army', a suite of tools that it uses to test and improve the resilience of its infrastructure. By automating security checks and integrating them into its operations, Netflix is able to maintain a high level of security while also deploying changes quickly.
Conclusion
DevSecOps represents a significant shift in the way that organizations approach security. By integrating security into the development and operations processes, organizations can reduce the risks associated with software development and improve the speed and efficiency of delivering secure software.
While the adoption of DevSecOps requires a cultural shift and changes to existing processes, the benefits in terms of improved security and faster deployment times make it a worthwhile investment for many organizations. As the threat landscape continues to evolve, the principles of DevSecOps - collaboration, shared responsibility, and early integration of security - will become increasingly important.