Shift and lift is related to moving to the cloud.

In this article, we'll walk you through the top DevSecOps practices to implement security in from the start. From threat modeling to security testing, we'll show you proven ways to shift security left. Yes, it will take some work. But with the right approach, you can build more secure software without compromising speed or innovation. 

Integrating security into your SDLC early on is critical. Conducting threat modeling during design helps developers think like attackers and discover vulnerabilities proactively. You can then create abuse cases to address threats and decide on mitigation strategies. 

Secure coding practices should be mandated, with static analysis tools used to catch vulnerabilities. Developers need to be trained in secure coding in their languages and frameworks. They should also review each other's code to see issues. 

Regular security testing is a must. Dynamic analysis tools, penetration testing, and bug bounty programs can all be used to identify vulnerabilities that slip through. Issues found should be prioritized and patched based on severity. 

A strong security culture where everyone feels responsible for security leads to the most effective DevSecOps. Security teams should coach and mentor developers. Security metrics, like the meantime to remediate vulnerabilities, motivate teams to improve. 

You can build security into your SDLC with the right tools and processes and a collaborative culture focused on security. But DevSecOps is a journey, not a destination. Continuous improvement and learning are vital to reducing risk and building secure systems. 

Top 5 DevSecOps Practices for Building Secure Software 

To build secure software, you must prioritize security through the entire SDLC. Here are five DevSecOps practices you should integrate into your development process: 

Establish coding standards emphasizing security, like validating all input, sanitizing data, and using the principle of least privilege. Enforce these standards through code reviews and static analysis tools. 

 

3. Security Testing 

Security testing, like penetration testing, helps uncover vulnerabilities in your software—test for issues like SQL injections, cross-site scripting, and insecure direct object references. Fix flaws before deployment. 

 

4. Vulnerability Management 

Monitor for new vulnerabilities in libraries and frameworks you use. Have a process to update or patch to reverse risks quickly. Stay on top of Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) and have a plan to address any that affect your software. 

 

5. Promote a Security Culture 

Foster a culture where everyone prioritizes security, from developers to product managers to executives. Educate your teams on secure coding practices and the latest threats. Make security champions available to answer questions and provide guidance. Building secure software is a team effort, so get everyone on board! 

 

With these essential DevSecOps practices, you'll be well on your way to integrating security into your SDLC and shipping more secure software to your customers. Keep practicing and improving to ensure you build security from the start. 

 

Understanding the Pillars of DevSecOps 

Continuous Integration 

Continuous integration means consistently merging new code into your main branch as it's developed. DevSecOps integrates security tests and scans directly into the CI pipeline. This allows vulnerabilities to be caught and fixed quickly before the code is deployed. Security tests at this stage may include SAST (static application security testing), DAST (dynamic application security testing), and container scanning. 

Continuous Delivery 

Continuous delivery builds on CI by ensuring that code can be released to production anytime. With DevSecOps, security checks are performed for every build, and only code that passes all checks can be promoted to the next stage of the pipeline. This integrates security into the entire development lifecycle and helps avoid vulnerabilities in production. 

Security Automation 

DevSecOps relies heavily on automation to scale security processes. Manual security testing and review quickly become bottlenecks as development velocity increases. Automated security testing, auto-remediation of vulnerabilities, auto-generation of compliance reports, and auto-deployment of security tools are examples of how security automation enables DevSecOps. 

Security Monitoring 

Constant monitoring is required to detect vulnerabilities or active attacks in real time. DevSecOps uses security monitoring tools to analyze logs, network traffic, and system activities for anomalies. When issues are detected, the DevSecOps team is alerted to promptly address them. Monitoring is not limited to production systems but also tracks the security of development and test environments. 

You made it to the end! Hopefully, you now understand some of the top DevSecOps practices that can help integrate security into your software development lifecycle.  

By focusing on secure coding standards, threat modeling, security testing, vulnerability management, and instilling a security-focused culture, your organization will be well on its way to developing more secure software.  

Don't wait; get started implementing some of these practices today. Your customers and your future self will thank you! Remember, security is everyone's responsibility.  

Do you need help implementing DevSecOps? Contact us to see how Integrant can strengthen your DevSecOps practices.