DevSecOps is DevOps’ bigger, better, and bolder sibling. Where DevOps managed to save time and money for development and operations teams, DevSecOps goes one-step further by integrating additional, tighter measures of security from the ideation process. This makes for far more secure and safer software and applications. With DevSecOps, companies get additional layers of security that were not possible with DevOps, where security is treated as an afterthought.

Company budget spends on public cloud is expected to grow by 23% in 2021, according to a study by Gartner. A secured version of DevOps is a much more viable option for companies looking to keep the time and money savings while having embedded security.

Why should companies choose DevSecOps over DevOps? Security is why. We explore the reason why DevSecOps trumps in the DevSecOps vs DevOps debate, and the answer to the question includes security.

Keeping the source code safe

According to a 2021 GitLab survey, 72% of security teams in DevSecOps rated their in-house security measures as being optimized for security. Optimal DevSecOps integration places security at the forefront, allowing for continuously monitored and secured CI/CD. In a highly secure coding and development environment like this, DevSecOps constantly checks for threats and vulnerabilities in the source code.

Security risks in branched trees

In branching, when source codes are cloned, DevSecOps allows strict regulatory measures to ensure that the version control process is completely secure. Branching techniques, where different versions of the same source code are created, could pose a security threat because there are several users on the same revision control software, and many open parts to branches, and parent and child iterations.

DevSecOps to Maximize AWS Security

How to secure version control trees

DevSecOps regulate how long version control may hold onto cloned source codes by employing retention policies. This allows stringent measures to be put in place to ensure full security for the origins of the code. In addition to version control via retention policies, securing the source code also includes continuous monitoring and securing of sensitive assets on the GIT repository.

DevSecOps allows for the creation of branching strategies and defining ownership of said branches from the get-go. While there is not usually any need to regulate branching further, DevSecOps takes care of any threats, just in case.

Next, it makes sense that unused, and therefore open, branches should be automatically deleted to minimize the security risk they pose – DevSecOps has a process in place for that as well.

Protecting artifacts

Processes that are applied to source code repositories can create artifacts. Not to be confused with Indiana Jones’s artifacts, but just as important! Binary packages aka artifacts are stored in storehouses called repositories. Just like with source codes, artifacts require a high level of security to ensure that all data is safe and cannot be tampered with, when it may need to be called upon in the future.

Processes and artifacts create releases. These do not offer upload access to personnel, but only to build processes within DevSecOps instead, for that added layer of security. Older releases and artifacts are periodically archived, to allow for accessibility while giving room to current development projects.

Safer deployment of software

Software development is an entire ecosystem where different sections are assigned to various parts of the development, security, and operations teams. These neighborhoods come together as a whole to become a DevSecOps environment. Operating on their own, individual teams are managed on sub networks, unique to each team. Each neighborhood needs its own neighborhood watch, which comes in the form of network protocols and access to permissions. 

Safer neighborhoods for all DevSecOps teams 

To ensure the seamless, and safe, journey of releases to the next environment, approval requests are granted (or revoked) by the managers of the teams. Deployment processes that were a stand-in are quickly shut down after the entire software has been deployed, in a bid to keep entry and access to threats at a minimum. 

Walls made of fire, and other fun safety measures

Popular security and access measures like firewalls and VPNs are enabled 24/7 to ensure continuous monitoring and securing of the environment and development life cycle team perimeters. DevOps uses a perimeter-based model, where apps are not built with many security features, Forbes notes.

Because DevSecOps, unlike DevOps, includes security from the beginning, security software integration is carefully planned out and employed. Each software development life cycle has its own unique security needs, and DevSecOps will come up with the best security software implementation plan.

Access to programming is provided with a separate set of credentials. Overall usage needs to be tracked to ensure the safety of the code and data.

Finally, it goes without saying that all passwords and keys need to be changed on a frequent basis – ideally monthly. Unlike regular software usage, software development is an extremely sensitive and crucial element in deployment, so to ward off the hackers and malicious cybersecurity threats, stringent measures need to be put in place.

Aspire Systems assists companies in their overall software development by incorporating DevSecOps as a vital aspect.

Abstract 

In this DevSecOps blog post, we explore the many reasons that DevSecOps is better than DevOps when it comes to security. DevOps was software’s best breakthrough with its rapid software development life cycle that also saved companies time and money. However, DevOps approached security as a last step, and didn’t include it as part of the overall software development process. 

With DevSecOps, companies reap all the DevOps benefits, while also enjoying an additional layer of security. This security isn’t a standalone afterthought, but integrated into the software development process from the get-go. From securing source codes, to bolstering deployment security best practices, DevSecOps is the security solution that tech companies have been waiting for. 

In this blog, we go over the integrated safety features that DevSecOps employs from source codes, to regulations on cloning, and even limited access protocols.

 

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