DevSecOps: A Logical Approach to Building Robust Software

In the process of software development, a lack of logic in DevSecOps practices can result in negative consequences for organizations

Jonny Steiner, Product marketing manager at Digital.ai

October 16, 2024

5 Min Read
A woman using a keyboard holding a phone with a lock symbol superimposed
Getty images

In life, we strive for logic and consistency. That is why it is so frustrating when characters in films who are set up to be especially skilled act without logic at all. In Ridley Scott’s Alien sequel “Prometheus”, a starship full of highly trained scientists/astronauts land on an alien planet they know nothing about and then proceed to act antithetically to their training. They remove their helmets because the air is “breathable” and interact with, even touching, the alien lifeforms. Then when crew members are infected there are no quarantine procedures in place. 

Illogical decisions in film often lead to catastrophic outcomes. In the process of software development, a lack of logic in DevSecOps practices can result in negative consequences for organizations.  A logical approach must be prioritized to integrate continuous testing and application security, ensuring that all elements of the development process work in harmony. These practices and capabilities help businesses reduce the risk of costly errors, enhance security and ultimately achieve long-term success.

Organizations Under Immense Pressure from Competing Demands

The tension between speed and security is a constant challenge in software development. As organizations face pressure to deliver new features and updates quickly to meet market demands, this can lead to shortcuts that compromise security. On the other hand, prioritizing security can slow down the development process and delay time-to-market.

Related:AI Risk Mitigation: The Role of Testing

One recent, hard-to-ignore example that wreaked global havoc:

  • In 2024, a faulty sensor configuration update to Crowdstrike caused an outage that impacted millions of Windows systems at organizations relying on their cybersecurity solution.  Because so many core systems in society rely on Crowdstrike, the outage caused widespread disruption across critical sectors like airlines, airports, hotels, banks, hospitals, manufacturing, retail and more.

  • The total financial impact on revenues and profit for companies impacted is well into billions of dollars, not including reputational damage and productivity losses.

The incredible irony here is that an error in software designed to stop cybersecurity attacks ended up mimicking one, raising concerns about the security of cloud-based cybersecurity solutions and more broadly, our interconnected, critical infrastructure:

“An outage is no longer about an inability to send an email or access files but about the right to receive medical care or travel freely. Everything from our food supply to our energy systems depends upon secure and resilient digital technologies,” was the conclusion of a Georgia University analysis of the Crowdstrike outage.

Related:Is AI the Answer to Achieving the 4-Day Week?

Are Software Meltdown Scenarios Avoidable?

The Crowdstrike outage is a harsh reminder of how interconnected our digital infrastructure is and how devastating the consequences of security failures are. These incidents highlight the need for proactive and integrated approaches to security. DevSecOps provides a solution by shifting security processes from a reactive approach to a more proactive mindset.

The approach integrates security into the entire software development lifecycle to ensure that systems are efficient and resilient to threats. It fosters collaboration between development, security and operations teams and makes organizational security a shared responsibility. Logical thinking is a cornerstone of this practice, enabling teams to identify potential vulnerabilities, design secure systems, implement appropriate security controls and make informed decisions about security investments.

Specifically, continuous testing and application security are essential components that allow organizations to identify security vulnerabilities early in the development process by implementing automated tests. Static application security testing (SAST) analyzes source code for potential flaws, while dynamic application security testing (DAST) identifies vulnerabilities that may not be detectable through static analysis. This combined approach helps to ensure that software is built with security in mind from the outset.

A logical approach to DevSecOps helps organizations achieve both speed and security by:

  • Focusing on the most critical security risks first to help organizations balance speed and security without compromising the overall security posture.

  • Implementing automated security testing tools to help identify and address security vulnerabilities quickly, without slowing down the development process.

  • Integrating security practices early in the development lifecycle helps prevent security issues from arising, reducing the need for costly mitigation later.

  • Regularly reviewing and improving security practices helps organizations stay ahead of emerging threats and ensures that their security measures remain effective.

The best practices for implementing a logical DevSecOps process include:

  • Foster a culture of security awareness and responsibility throughout the organization.

  • Develop and communicate clear security policies that are aligned with the organization's risk profile.

  • Create a continuous delivery pipeline that integrates security practices throughout the development lifecycle.

  • Leverage automated tools for security testing, vulnerability scanning and configuration management.

  • Ensure that development and operations teams receive ongoing security training to stay up to date on best practices.

  • Regularly assess the organization's security posture to identify and address weaknesses.

  • Continuously monitor for security threats and respond promptly to incidents.

The Cornerstone of Security is Logic

As illogical decisions in films lead to disastrous consequences, a lack of logic in software development practices can result in severe security breaches, financial loss and reputational damage. Prioritizing a logical approach by integrating continuous testing and application security from the outset ensures that all elements of the development process work in harmony.

The consequences of neglecting security in favor of speed can be devastating. A logical DevSecOps process, rooted in collaboration, automation and a commitment to security as code, provides a framework for building secure and reliable software.

About the Author

Jonny Steiner

Product marketing manager at Digital.ai, Digital.ai

Jonny Steiner has a strong track record in software innovation with more than 10 years’ experience working across several multinational SaaS software companies. Jonny joined Experitest in 2016 as the company was establishing itself as one of the leading providers of continuous testing worldwide. During his tenure at Experitest and later Digital.ai, he has enabled technology-driven enterprises to accelerate digital transformation with AI-powered DevOps Platforms.His deep knowledge of the testing industry has been gained from working with customers and understanding their challenges as they mature their testing processes. He holds a BA in English Literature from Yeshiva University in New York.

Keep up with the ever-evolving AI landscape
Unlock exclusive AI content by subscribing to our newsletter!!

You May Also Like