Security in DevOps (DevSecOps): Integrating Security into the DevOps Pipeline

In recent years, automation technologies have changed the working environment to a great extent, particularly in organizational areas.

If we’re frank about DevOps services, then it’s certain that you can track a distinct improvement in professional culture with its implementation. Thanks to its advanced automated solutions, you can now see developers and operations managers working hand-in-hand to create and deploy better solutions and security to organizational workforces.

However, the workforce is extensive. Therefore, ample security, testing, and updates are needed to help keep the systems performing flawlessly. 

Let’s learn about it here. 

What Is the DevOps Pipeline?

DevOps is a collection of automated processes and tools that work in sets to deploy code for the production environment. 

By applying DevOps solutions, your developers and operations management professionals can work together to create unique configurations, testing, and more to integrate the solutions in the IT infrastructure to create a better solution. 

Here is what DevOps solutions can help you build:

• Continuous integration, otherwise known as automated integration

• Configuration 

• Automation testing 

• Validation

• Deployment 

• Reporting 

How to Integrate Security in the DevOps Pipeline?

It’s not difficult to integrate the DevOps pipeline in a way so that it gets to secure itself. Practices are to be implemented from the root to offer the DevOps Pipeline the right security to prevent breaches and other complications. Below are a few points that might lend you assistance in creating robust security for the DevOps pipeline.

• Let’s Go for a Top Down Security Approach 

With the top-down security approach, you are maintaining regulations with your DevOps pipeline which is the most important. Frankly speaking, the top-down security approach is basically a shift in the culture. It is where you prioritise the prevention of the safety of the pipeline. You make the safety-first approach as a statement in the DevOps pipeline as a culture. 

That said, you can work along and make arrangements to keep this culture maintained in proper ways by working with teams that are dedicated to put safety standards in all operations. It’s always important to work in the DevOps Pipeline with security-inclusive quality. It does create a positive culture and safeguard huge databases and resources. 

• Use Automation Where Possible

For something like DevOps, automation makes sense. When you have its power, then it’s better you use that power. 

DevOps pipeline is dependent largely on configurations, updates, and deployment. Automation can come in good use regarding these aspects. You do not have to worry about important updates or tweaks to your systems when you have automation. 

You see humans might take a long time to make the right update or to provide pepper security backup. 

However, automating these processes can help you stay relaxed about necessary configurations and updates so that you do not have to worry about security breaches or loopholes anymore. The automation process is going to take care of the updates in the right time so that your DevOps pipeline stays safe continuously. 

• Maintain Strict Security Rules

They say when you are working with security, maintaining strict policies matters. Here is where we want to work along and get the right solutions for your DevOps pipeline by creating the right security rules. 

This is where we need to understand how DevOps works. For example, if you do not use strict security policies and guidelines, then your developers might find working difficult. 

The reason for that is that DevOps pipeline operations can get extremely problematic and complex if it’s not simplified with a set of ground rules. Since your developers and operations management professionals are working together here, they might need extra aid in simplification. 

What if you create standard but strict security policies to help the work for your developers and operations managers be easy and simplified?

Here are the common security policies you need to maintain:

• Strongly defined security protocols

• Encryption keys

• Complex passwords 

• Cyphers 

• Authentication, monitoring, regulations, permissions

• Written Information Security Program or WISP

• Use Security as a Part of the Continuous Development Process

What this means simply is to consider security policies as a staple for development.

Hackers and other threats are lurking to hijack resources from the DevOps pipeline simply because a lot of people and data are included here. They are going to be alert and on the lookout for hacking or manipulating data all the time. 

Keeping strict security policies sounds like a good solution. However, it does not go deeper to all levels of the development process. One small loophole can give offenders a doorway to get in and manipulate all the data and the resources you have. 

Therefore, initiate security policies, updates, deployments, redeployments, configurations, and more as an integral process of the overall development. Integrate security as an unavoidable process in the development. Keep security reach every level of development so that you don’t miss securing a spot to prevent malicious activities effectively. 

How We Make Securing DevOps Pipeline Easy for You

All this information might get you a little overwhelmed. 

That’s okay because working with DevOps security protocols is not a cakewalk on the first day. 

Since large numbers of teams are included, and it also encompasses a huge workforce, you will need quality DevOps consultancy to help you do one simple thing: Eliminating those loopholes and ensuring things don’t turn in the direction you don’t want them to. 

We at Mindfire have been working with industry giants for a long time to create the best solutions you want to create for your DevOps security. Take the help of our DevOps consultancy services to ensure you deliver the right and contemporary security policies for development. 

Using automation is new to industries. It’s important we work together to work effectively with automation not only to make the best out of it but to understand it for its better applications in the future. 

We can help you with all of this.