Enabling A Secure CI/CD Pipeline with DevSecOps

With time, Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery have become a highly significant part of the software development lifecycle. Considered an important aspect of DevOps, it has offered extensive speed and error-reducing capabilities to the QA experts as well as developers.  

While Continuous Integration allows developers to automatically test codes, continuous delivery simplifies the entire process of production to release with automation. However, the concern for the security aspect allowed developers and Quality Assurance service providers to integrate DevSecOps into the workflow. 

Sticking to the definition, DevSecOps is the practice of aligning security practices into the DevOps process shaping a more security-focused software development lifecycle. It was done on purpose to ensure security is not treated as a secondary system in DevOps.  

At times, it becomes a highly tedious job to identify any security vulnerabilities entering the SDLC and DevSecOps allows the developers to encourage security engagement as an important aspect of SDLC. As CI/CD comes naturally to the general DevOps, the DevSecOps opens door to security with continuous testing and code correctness verification complementing the agile process development. 

In this blog, we will aim at discussing the DevSecOps as a component for securing the CI/CD pipeline, along with all the important aspects of security associated with the DevSecOps pipeline and continuous security implementation. Let’s begin. 

Why DevSecOps? 

Security is a highly significant component of technology-driven livelihoods and therefore it becomes necessary to adopt security best practices at the earliest into the SDLC project management process. Especially, when security breaches have significantly affected the digital world, bearing loss with security breaches can lead to loss of customers as well as massive financial fallouts.  

Besides, no check on DevSecOps could make way for insecurities entering the product leading to expensive iterations. On the other hand, including DevSecOps in the development lifecycle allows for attaining the highest standards of security while allowing detection of unexpected issues.  

All in all, integrating DevSecOps adds to the business credibility of the product landing into the market and helps create better opportunities for sale. With that picture in mind, it can be inferred that DevSecOps is an important aspect of the continuous paradigm. Especially, when embedding security into the development lifecycle is an extremely significant practice, let us quickly jump on understanding how DevSecOps aligns with the CI/CD aspect of the SDLC lifecycle.  

The Collaboration Of DevSecOps With Continuous Integration & Continuous Delivery 

Security vulnerabilities are part of open-source software technology where importing is often done more than writing. Programmers usually spend a huge amount of time writing codes that are not scalable. However, DevSecOps allows you to get over scalability issues driving necessary continuity for securing software builds.  

Similarly, Continuous Delivery adds a lot of value to the continuous landscape allowing testers and developers with all the validation committed. From early warning signs to the monitoring of security issues that may appear in the pipeline, continuous delivery allows you to foster continuous security checks meeting all your scalability needs.  

Need To Know How DevSecOps Works? 

Read Here: Implementing DevSecOps: Everything You Need To Know 

The DevSecOps Pipeline 

The general idea that is followed with the DevOps pipeline is only restricted to planning, coding, building, testing, releasing, and deploying. However, the DevSecOps approach integrates security at DevOps testing solutions improving the overall structure of the application to overcome any security vulnerabilities. Here’s how security is integrated and checked at every phase of the DevOps: 

• Planning: When working on the planning part of the product development, business analysts, developers, and QAs work on security analysis. The analysis is executed with the purpose of determining all possible scenarios where security issues may occur. In short, the process focuses on how, where, and when part of the security check integrations. 

• Coding: During the coding phase, developers and QAs work on deploying the linting tools and Git controls in order to drive necessary security on the API keys and passwords. 

• Building: The building stage involves the use of SAST or Static Application testing tools to determine any flaws in the code. It is usually done before the deployment stage and needs careful application of tools based on the use of programming language.  

• Testing: At the test stage, DAST or Dynamic Application Security Testing tools are used to identify any errors that may hamper user authentication, authorization of use, SQL injection, or API-related task implementation. 

• Releasing: At this stage, the software testing companies usually make way for security analysis tools that can help with vulnerability scanning and penetration. These tools must be deployed just before releasing the application. 

• Deploying: when all the above-defined tests are completed under the given runtime, testers and developers work on securing the infra and take the build to production for deployment.  

Driving Continuous Security With Unit Tests  

The primary step of implementation of continuous security begins with unit tests centred at security. The security unit tests are equally important as other unit tests and therefore must be worked with thorough concern and dedication.  

Here’s how security tests are worked with the help of advanced security testing components: 

SAST 

The SAST code analyzers are made to identify any security vulnerabilities entering the newly written code or imports made from the libraries. Defined as Static Analysis Security Testing, it allows the integration of advanced testing tools that help complement the continuous delivery pipeline. Again, these tools are limited to the use of programming language and thus require QA testers to choose a scanner compatible with the programming language in use.  

Though SAST is an effective way to overcome security loopholes, it brings in very fair chances of triggering false positives. Most of the time, the false positives are likely to frustrate the team making them look over the broken pipeline notifications. However, it is important that a security testing company should acknowledge the false positives with justification and make necessary and timely adjustments in the pipeline to avoid any security issues entering the production stage. 

DAST  

DAST or Dynamic Application Security Testing works differently from the Static Analysis Security setup. DAST works by validating an application from outside imitating the possible actions of the attackers. Also, DAST scanners are not dependent on any specific programming language in use as they interact with the application from outside. However, finding the right balance between SAST and DAST could help Quality Assurance Companies to have early feedback on security issues that might hamper the end product.  

The Conclusion: DevSecOps As An Security Essential 

DevSecOps is a highly complex process that at times could bring friction between the Quality Assurance Service Providers and the Auditors working on an application. Therefore, it is necessary that deployment should only be done after careful processing of the infractions divided into relevant steps. This might require you to bring some outsourced QA services on board in order to skip the hassle of hiring an in-house team and ensure faster outcomes. 

More importantly, detecting vulnerability is the other half of the development process and DevSecOps gives power to the developers to work quickly on the detected issues. In a tech-driven world where security is an important concern for all, a self-proclaimed approach could limit the potential of upcoming technology. This is why most active tech brands are aiming to adopt an advanced approach to security while adopting new security strategies.  

Since security is no longer just a business priority, it has become more important than ever to integrate security into the continuous delivery pipeline. And with new approaches like DevSecOps, smart tools and practices could be brought into the light, lowering the risk of security vulnerabilities in the upcoming technology solutions.  

Good Luck! 

If you are aiming to drive increased consumer trust in your application or software solutions with advanced security practices, our experts at BugRaptors can bring you all the assistance you need.  

For more information, reach us through info@bugraptors.com