The Need for Resilience, Adaptability, and Proactive Security Measures—The Need for DevSecOps

There’s too much focus from Product Teams on releasing new features without taking the time to monitor security, code quality, and code rot.

In the race to bring innovative products to market, the focus often falls on feature development, leaving security considerations in the shadows. It's a predicament that has led to a surge in cyber threats and cyber criminals exploiting vulnerabilities that could have been addressed with a proactive approach.

DevSecOps advocates for a holistic approach that seamlessly integrates security with development and operations. According to the ISC2 2023 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, the global cybersecurity workforce deficit has reached four million personnel, a 12.6% rise from 2022.

The consequences of overlooking security are too great to be ignored, making DevSecOps a non-negotiable skill for everybody in the industry. Today, we'll talk about why you should start investing in developing your DevSecOps skills in the years to come. Let's go!

Table of Contents

1. DevOps is the defacto way to deliver apps
2. The ineffectiveness of point-in-time security
3. Cloud (Native) + DevSecOps Career Combination
4. Skills vs. Tools
5. Endless Demand for DevSecOps Skills
6. Supercharging DevSecOps with Policy-as-Code and Detection Engineering
7. DevSecOps is an investment in the future

DevOps is the defacto way to deliver apps

While the industry's never-ending chase for agility and efficiency has led to the widespread adoption of DevOps as the default method for application delivery, it's important to recognize that speed should never come at the expense of security. DevOps emphasizes collaboration between development and operations. It has become the backbone for organizations seeking to accelerate software delivery and streamline workflows. Unfortunately, security was unintentionally sacrificed for faster continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD).

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DevSecOps guarantees that security is not an inconvenience but an enabler within the DevOps framework. It connects the need for speed with the necessity to secure products against evolving threats. By seamlessly integrating security guidelines into the DevOps pipeline, DevSecOps not only strengthens the digital infrastructure but also enhances the overall quality and reliability of software.

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The ineffectiveness of point-in-time security

Traditional, point-in-time security models are no longer enough. These models, usually specified by regular assessments and reactive measures, are not equipped to address the dynamic and evolving nature of today's cyber threats.

Traditional models rely on occasional audits and reactive patching, and they fall short compared to continuous development and delivery practices. The need for a change becomes more obvious: security cannot be an afterthought or a periodic event; it must be seamlessly integrated into the very fabric of the entire development lifecycle.

Rather than treating security as a checkpoint, DevSecOps advocates for its integration from the beginning of development. By making security a fundamental aspect of every stage – from coding and testing to deployment and beyond – DevSecOps enables a proactive, resilient security posture. This approach not only identifies vulnerabilities early in the process but also allows for rapid remediation to ensure that security is not a cause for delay but instead results for a faster product release.

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Cloud (Native) + DevSecOps Career Combination

Organizations are increasingly adopting cloud-native architectures to unlock scalability, flexibility, and efficiency in their operations. At the same time, the need for strong security practices has increased the relevance of DevSecOps.

Cloud-native development simplifies the development and delivery of apps that effectively take advantage of cloud resources, while DevSecOps guarantees that security is not jeopardized in this dynamic landscape. Professionals equipped with this dual skill set not only contribute to the agility and scalability of software delivery but also play an important role in protecting applications against emerging cyber threats. 

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Skills vs. Tools

When implementing DevSecOps, the conversation is often about the tools that promise to strengthen security measures within the development pipeline. While these tools are undoubtedly effective when automating processes, it's important to recognize that they are not a perfect solution. Understanding the delicate balance between skills and tools is important for cultivating a robust and effective DevSecOps strategy.

A tool-centric approach usually falls short because it's missing skilled professionals who can interpret results, make strategic decisions, and implement complex security measures. The limitations of tool-centric approaches become evident when faced with the complexity of evolving threats and the need for adaptive, context-aware decision-making.

Emphasizing the constant need for skilled professionals in DevSecOps is not a dismissal of tools but a recognition of their place within a broader skill set. It is the security professionals who can navigate the intricacies of security, interpret tool outputs, and implement holistic strategies that truly fortify digital infrastructures.

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Endless Demand for DevSecOps Skills

Acknowledging the ongoing relevance of human skills in handling complex security challenges is not just a recognition of the present but a forward-looking acknowledgment. 

In an era where cyber threats continually evolve, the ability of professionals to adapt, learn, and strategize remains unmatched. Organizations should recognize that investing in individuals with DevSecOps skills is an investment in resilience to ensure that security measures not only keep pace with current threats but remain agile and effective in the face of the unknown challenges that lie ahead. 

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Supercharging DevSecOps with Policy-as-Code and Detection Engineering

Policy-as-Code represents a transformation in how security policies are implemented within the development lifecycle. By translating security policies into code, organizations can automate policy enforcement and compliance checks to guarantee that security measures are seamlessly integrated products that will be deployed. This approach not only enhances efficiency but also provides a level of consistency and traceability that is essential in complex, dynamic environments. Policy-as-Code empowers DevSecOps teams to enforce security policies at scale, reduce the risk of misconfigurations, and ensure that security is not a bottleneck in the rapid delivery of software.

Instead of relying solely on reactive measures, Detection Engineering involves designing and implementing mechanisms to actively detect anomalous activities and potential security incidents. By taking advantage of threat intelligence, anomaly detection, and continuous monitoring, organizations can shift from a reactive to a proactive security posture. Detection Engineering aligns seamlessly with the principles of DevSecOps by integrating security measures early in the development process, making sure that potential threats are identified and addressed before they escalate.

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DevSecOps is an investment in the future

The motivations for exploring DevSecOps are just as diverse as they are compelling—ranging from the need to overcome the pitfalls of point-in-time security to the strategic advantage of fusing cloud-native expertise with security practices.

‍AppSecEngineer is at the forefront of this transformation. We support security professionals through our world-class library of security resources for DevSecOps. Our courses are designed to help you implement security and automation at every stage of the SDLC without disrupting the time and cost of development. We also offer relevant training for AWS Security, Offensive Security, Container Security, and more!

Let me leave you with this: DevSecOps is not just a trend—it's a fundamental shift in how technology professionals approach security in the digital age.