What Is DevSecOps?
DevSecOps stands for Development, Security, and Operations. It is a way of working that adds security to every step of the DevOps process, starting with coding and testing and continuing through deployment and maintenance.
Instead of waiting until the end to check for security, DevSecOps encourages everyone, including developers, security engineers, and operations, to share responsibility. This way, teams can find and fix problems earlier.
Why DevSecOps Matters
Traditional development added security checks late, causing costly fixes and release delays.
DevSecOps changes this by moving security checks earlier in the process. Automated security scans and continuous monitoring are added to the CI/CD pipeline from the start.
With this approach, teams can:
- Detect vulnerabilities earlier
- Reduce risk of breaches.
- Release secure software without slowing down delivery.
- Improve compliance with security standards.
- Build trust between development, security, and business stakeholders.
How DevSecOps Works ?
- Adding of security tools: Integrate security tools like SAST, DAST, and SCA into the CI/CD pipeline to scan code automatically
- Automation: Security testing and policy enforcement run automatically whenever developers add new code or make changes to the repository
- Collaboration: Developers, operations, and security teams share visibility and collaborate to fix security issues
- Continuous feedback : Findings from production and runtime environments are fed back into development for ongoing improvement
Example of DevSecOps in Action
A team using GitHub and Jenkins connects security tools such as SAST and SCA to their build pipeline.
When a developer commits code, the tools automatically scan for vulnerabilities.
If a security issue is detected, a ticket is created automatically in Jira and assiged to the responsible developer.
This automated feedback loop ensures secure code without slowing down the development process.
Benefits of DevSecOps
- Catch vulnerabilities earlier and reduce the cost of security remediation
- Automates repetitive security checks.
- Improve collaboration between teams.
- Increase confidence in code quality and compliance.
- Enable safer software delivery.
Related Terms
- DevOps
- ASPM (Application Security Posture Management)
- SAST (Static Application Security Testing)
- SCA (Software Composition Analysis)
- CI/CD Pipeline
FAQ: DevSecOps
1. How is DevSecOps different from DevOps?
DevOps focuses on speed and collaboration between development and operations.
DevSecOps embeds security in every DevOps process, ensuring every code follows security best practice and is tested for vulnerabilities before release.
2. What tools are used in DevSecOps?
Common tools include SAST (static application security testing), DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing, SCA (Software Component Analysis) to scan dependencies, API security scanner, IaC Scanners, or a more comprehensive security platform that integrate various security tools in one place, like Plexicus ASPM.
3. Does DevSecOps slow down development?
No. Automation keeps the process fast while improving software security.
4. Why is DevSecOps important for compliance?
It applies secure coding best practices and helps meet compliance frameworks like ISO 270001, SOC 2, and GDPR.