DevSecOps is a methodology that integrates shift-left security early in the development, build, and deployment stages, an approach which amplifies feedback for all participants in the software development lifecycle by embedding security tools and processes directly into DevOps pipelines. The goal is to enhance security without compromising the agility and speed of application delivery.
Simply put, DevSecOps brings security into the core of the DevOps process, ensuring that it is no longer an afterthought, but a critical component of every stage in the software development lifecycle.
Read more about it: DevOps Transformation Services.
| S. No. | Aspect | DevSecOps |
| 1 | Focus | Integrates security in all phases of DevOps. |
| 2 | Security | Integrated from the start (shift-left). |
| 3 | Automation | Automates security checks along with CI/CD. |
| 4 | Continuous monitoring | Continuous security monitoring. |
| 5 | Responsibility | Security is a shared responsibility of all the teams. |
With the increasing dominance of AI in software development, security and compliance considerations are at greater risk of being overlooked during coding. As AI-generated code becomes more prevalent, the chances of vulnerabilities slipping through increase, especially when relying on third-party libraries and open-source components, which may already contain known security flaws. Without leveraging global vulnerability databases and thorough security checks, these risks can go undetected, amplifying potential threats.
Moreover, the absence of a comprehensive software catalog means there is no clear understanding of the security impacts of the components being used. This lack of oversight creates significant vulnerabilities, as potential security issues are not addressed during coding. As an example, we all know the challenges faced with Log4j when organizations spend weeks, if not months, to clear the vulnerabilities related to Log4j.
Similar security gaps persist in this phase too, as security and infrastructure engineers may fail to detect runtime and interactive security issues, because of the lack of continuous Investigation for Security vulnerabilities or verification of environment configurations. Furthermore, security checks are often not integrated into the deployment process, leaving containers unscanned and vulnerable. The lack of quality gates allows security issues to escape into production, increasing the risk of data breaches or system compromises once the software is in use. This reactive approach to security leaves organizations exposed to threats that could have been mitigated earlier in the process.
Executing only penetration tests is ineffective because they are often conducted too late in the application development lifecycle, typically just before production deployment. This timing can lead to missed vulnerabilities due to resource & time constraints as well as inadequate network segmentation.
Consequently, critical security issues may remain undetected until they cause significant harm. To ensure strong security, it is crucial to integrate continuous security practices throughout the development process instead of relying solely on end-stage penetration testing.
Fortunately, there are well established processes and even tools to address these risks.
SAST is a method for looking at source code to identify security vulnerabilities before the code gets compiled. It happens early in the software development process (SDLC) and does not need a functioning application. This lets developers spot and fix vulnerabilities without causing issues with builds or sending them to the final release.
Important steps for running SAST well are:
Read more about it: Qualitest Implements Shift-Left Cyber Security for Leading Medical Devices Company.
Read more about it: Global Consumer Goods Company Achieves Pan-enterprise DevOps Transformation.
It includes three phases: Development, Build, and Deploy.
In the Development phase, tools like IDE plugins, LLM code scans, and code review enhancers are used to improve code quality and security. Semantic code analysis, API security, secret scanning, and source code protection policies help prevent vulnerabilities early on.
During Build phase, static code analysis, static application security testing (SAST), software composition analysis, and compliance as code ensure secure, compliant applications. Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and certificate management are also critical.
In the Deploy phase, dynamic application security testing (DAST), container security, Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST), and extended application security address dynamic threats. Continuous verification of NFRs, Config as Code (CAC), and penetration testing further strengthen security. Additional measures like configuration drift detection, secrets leak detection, cloud security posture management, and web application/API protection ensure the system remains secure throughout deployment.
ASPM involves evaluating, managing, and improving the security of custom applications to ensure they meet security standards, resist threats, and stay compliant.
ASPM involves SAST, DAST, software composition analysis (SCA), and penetration testing tools that help in assessing, monitoring, and managing the security of applications.
IDE plugins that detect SAST and SCA identify vulnerabilities early in the coding process, allowing for real-time scanning of code and third-party dependencies. Integrated into the CI/CD pipeline, these scans automatically detect vulnerabilities and compliance issues in real-time.
IDE scans catch security flaws and risky components as they are written, enabling developers to address issues early in both proprietary and open-source code, reducing vulnerabilities in production, ensuring secure, high-quality software, and supporting faster, safer releases.
Build and Deploy stages: Policy scans such as SAST, SCA, DAST, IAST and Penetration testing ensure thorough security validation during Build and Deployment. These centrally managed scans provide a comprehensive security check, identifying vulnerabilities in both the code and runtime environment.
By consolidating testing and reporting, this process delivers valuable insights for security teams and auditors, ensuring compliance with security policies while mitigating risks before the application reaches production.
Qualishield is a modular dynamic security testing solution that integrates custom testing scripts throughout the entire product development lifecycle, from design to production, while fully aligning with the client’s processes and technology stack.
The Qualishield product can send requests across targets based on specific modules, resulting in zero false positives, and enabling rapid scanning across several hosts, including networks, web applications, and APIs.
Qualishield is an advanced security testing solution that extends the capabilities of traditional Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST). Unlike standard DAST tools, Qualishield provides broader security coverage, integrating seamlessly within the DevSecOps pipeline to enable continuous and automated security testing throughout the SDLC.
Qualishield ensures that vulnerabilities are proactively detected and remediated, delivering an advanced security framework beyond what traditional DAST solutions can achieve.
Generative AI is a branch of AI that creates original content like text, images, audio, and code by learning from large datasets, driving advancements in content creation, virtual assistance, customer service, and even medical research. This helps transform productivity and creativity across industries.
Read more about it: https://www.qualitestgroup.com/insights/blog/what-is-generative-ai/.
Qualishield SAST.AI is designed to analyze source code generated by GenAI, identifying vulnerabilities, copyright violations, and potential sensitive information disclosures. It provides an advanced, automated security testing framework that seamlessly integrates within the CI/CD pipeline. It enables organizations to execute tailored security scans using intelligent payloads, ensuring comprehensive protection across multiple resources, deployments, and environments.
There is a range of AI-driven tools that significantly enhance development and DevOps practices, streamlining workflows and boosting productivity. However, these tools also introduce security risks like those seen with other AI-generated code, underscoring the need for vigilant code review and security assessments.
Read more about it: Sweeping DevSecOps/Agile Transformation Improves Release Velocity for a Healthcare Leader.
Embedding security early in the DevOps pipeline is essential. Integrating security throughout development, build, and deployment helps organizations reduce risks and fix vulnerabilities proactively. Tools like Qualishield enable seamless security testing, ensuring faster releases without sacrificing protection. DevSecOps makes security a shared responsibility, improving collaboration, code quality, and scalability. This proactive approach strengthens defenses against modern threats while supporting agile digital transformation.
Shri is a seasoned technologist with a right blend of technology and has led several DevOps transformation initiatives. He is a vivid DevOps practitioner and an evangelist. He has held several application development leadership roles throughout his 25+ years of experience working with varied fortune 500 companies through a technology transformation journey.
Shri leads the Global DevSecOps practice at Qualitest. He is responsible for delivering assessments, consulting, transformation engagements and security offerings related to DevSecOps for our clients.
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Daya is a Cyber Security expert with over 17 years of experience in conducting security assessments, implementing security best practices, DevSecOps, penetration testing and red teaming. He has held several leadership roles on implementing cyber security best practices covering both application and infrastructure security.
Daya leads the Cyber Security practice at Qualitest. He is responsible for delivering cyber security assessments, penetration testing, threat modeling, consulting, and DevSecOps Due diligence for our clients.
Connect with Dayasagar on LinkedIn
