Incorporating security into DevOps – what does it take?

Enterprise IT infrastructures are nowhere as simple as they used to be. A field that once relied primarily on on-premise hardware and software has now evolved to include IoT devices and multiple clouds. From a closed perimeter that was usually internally controlled and private networks have developed into external internet circuits and a plethora of public clouds, to accommodate users and devices from all over the globe.

An open environment nurtures communication and accessibility, but it also creates major risks for cybersecurity. To put those risks aside, IT companies need to make security a priority in every aspect of the development and operations (DevOps) life cycle. To do so, it is not enough to just acquire the right tools and technologies. Integrating security into DevOps also requires a significant change in business philosophy.

Having to make these changes is not easy, but doing so from the beginning prevents issues that can slow down development, increase costs and push back application delivery. And the consequences can be even more severe if the application gets released with a significant security vulnerability: compliance issues, reputation damage and potential liability for customer damage.

Bringing security and DevOps together

By employing a DevSecOps (development, security and operations) approach, companies are able to root security deep down into their development process from the very first second. But change does not start with tools and technologies. It begins with a change in company culture and practices. Making security a priority for your organization fills in infrastructure gaps, improves skill sets and paves the way for DevSecOps implementation.

With a DevSecOps mindset, the emphasis is put on speed, efficiency and, of course, security, at every step of the development process. This means development team will begin to incorporate security into every stage of the design, build and testing process, to minimize risks and maximize efficiency.

This cultural transformation requires a more collaborative approach and puts the emphasis on automation to reduce integration time. By automating baseline tasks, such as vulnerability scanning, stack code analysis and digital certificate management, development time is significantly reduced, and engineers will have time to focus on more important assignments.

What can organizations do?

To capitalize on the benefits of DevSecOps, companies need to create an ideal framework that provides the following:

• Great market responsiveness: IT companies need to develop an operating model that integrates technology, business and operations into a business-within-the-business domain.

• Customer centricity: to leverage the full potential of DevOps approaches, businesses need to focus on not only meeting, but exceeding customer expectations. By developing an environment that focuses on tackling every step of the customer journey, organizations can anticipate trends and deliver on them before the competition does.

• Insights: data sits at the core of everything now, so being able to take data and turn it into actionable insights allows businesses to gain a deeper understanding of what consumers actually want and improve time-to-market. This way, it is possible to predict the outcomes of a business decision before making it and accurately anticipate its success.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes