DevSecOps focuses on "shifting left" — incorporating security early in the development process — SecOps ensures a solid "shift right" strategy, where security remains a priority even after the application is in the hands of users.
When combined, DevSecOps and SecOps, deliver a comprehensive security strategy, integrating secure coding and automated security checks from the outset and reinforcing them with persistent monitoring and incident response. This creates a continuous loop of security improvement across the entire IT and development lifecycle.
How do DevSecOps and SecOps work together?
DevSecOps and SecOps are complementary practices that aim to embed security into different stages of the IT management process:
- DevSecOps: This is the practice of integrating security into the development process from the very beginning. It is an extension of DevOps where developers, operations, and security teams collaborate throughout the software development lifecycle. In DevSecOps, security checks —including software composition analysis, secrets scanning, and application security testing— are integrated into the coding, building, testing, and deployment phases.
- SecOps: While SecOps also aims to integrate security practices into the operations process, it places a greater emphasis on operational aspects such as network security, incident response, and security event management. SecOps focuses on maintaining and improving the security posture during the operation and maintenance phases of the software lifecycle.
When DevSecOps and SecOps work together, the result is a more holistic approach to security. DevSecOps ensures that secure coding practices, security automation, and early vulnerability detection are integrated early in the development process. Meanwhile, SecOps reinforces these practices by providing ongoing security monitoring, threat analysis, and incident response after the software has been deployed. This synergy creates a continuous loop of feedback and improvement for security practices across all stages of the IT infrastructure and software development lifecycle.
Comparison Table: DevSecOps vs. SecOps
Automation is a cornerstone of DevSecOps and SecOps
Automated security checks and compliance controls within the CI/CD pipeline reduce the manual overhead, speed up development, and ensure no new code update or deployment can bypass security protocols.
Conversely, SecOps leverages automation to continuously monitor the production environment. This continuous monitoring is crucial for ensuring that the operational infrastructure remains uncompromised and complies with regulatory standards. Automated compliance checks verify that the system adheres to policies and regulations, both internal and external, such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS.
With security integrated into the DevOps pipeline and continuous security operations, organizations can quickly adapt to new threats, patch vulnerabilities, and deploy changes with minimal downtime. These automated checks are essential not only for initial compliance but also for maintaining it. As regulations evolve, so do the automated checks, ensuring the organization remains on the right side of regulatory requirements.
Finally, in an automated environment, the data gathered from both the development and production phases can be analyzed to identify patterns, anticipate potential vulnerabilities, and refine security strategies. This process of continuous improvement is what keeps an organization's security practices not just current but ahead of the curve.
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