The practice of shifting security left in software development is gaining prominence due to the rise of DevOps, which aims to streamline the process of bringing software projects from concept to production. This proactive approach to secure development helps organizations mitigate the risks of cyber attacks and system outages caused by malicious actors or accidental errors. As a result, shifting security left has become an integral part of modern software development.
Virtualization technology has played a significant role in transforming software development practices, and DevSecOps is no exception. Enterprises are now moving security practices and accountability further to the left in the software development lifecycle (SDLC). This shift is made possible by equipping developers with the tools and knowledge to detect and prevent potential risks and threats at the early stages of the CI/CD workflow. Innovations like Corellium are instrumental in helping security teams scale their expertise and free up time to focus on complex security concerns. Virtualization empowers DevSecOps teams to continuously and easily test for potential vulnerabilities in a safe and secure environment.
By leveraging Corellium’s virtual mobile and IoT devices, security issues can be identified during the development phase. Virtualization enables developers to quickly set up isolated environments for testing software before its release into production. This approach allows for security testing at the early stages of development and throughout the process, ensuring that security vulnerabilities are identified and addressed before they become major issues. Moreover, addressing these vulnerabilities early on saves developers the time and effort required to fix issues discovered in advanced stages of the development cycle.
One of the key benefits of shifting security left is the reduction in costs and the ability to meet delivery deadlines. Research indicates that fixing an issue discovered late in the SDLC can be up to 100 times more expensive than fixing it early on. Historically, software development did not prioritize security within the SDLC, as most attacks required physical access to the terminal running the application. However, with the adoption of new software development methodologies, security was often an afterthought, with testing taking place after application release. This left potential vulnerabilities exposed to attackers for weeks or even months.
To address this issue, most companies have implemented pre-release security testing to mitigate the number of vulnerabilities released in their applications. However, this process can be time-consuming and carries unpredictable outcomes. Security tests may uncover a few vulnerabilities that can be swiftly fixed, or they may uncover dozens or even hundreds of issues. Depending on the severity of the vulnerability, fixing it may require significant changes or even replacements of underlying components. Implementing fixes also necessitates retesting for application requirements and security, further delaying the release cycle and potentially missing deadlines.
Fortunately, virtualization technology offers a solution. By using dedicated virtualization tools to build reports and share findings, teams can receive quicker feedback, increasing the overall speed of development and deployment. Updates and patches can be implemented within tighter turnaround times, facilitating faster and more secure releases.
Virtualization also enhances individual and teamwork efficiency by offering flexibility in provisioning and managing multiple environments. The hypervisor technology deployed for Arm processor-based hardware enables the creation of virtual versions of various device hardware, such as phones and IoT devices, for limitless research and development applications. Virtual machines can be quickly set up and scaled up without the time, costs, and risks associated with procuring and shipping physical devices.
Through virtualization, developer, security, and testing teams can collaborate more effectively, thanks to simplified snapshot, restore, and cloning functionality. This closer cooperation eliminates friction, creates a more secure development environment, and enhances overall software quality.
In conclusion, virtualization technology plays a crucial role in enabling DevSecOps practices. It facilitates increased security from the early stages of development, shorter development cycles, reduced costs, and improved agility. Any team looking to leverage DevSecOps and ensure the secure and efficient development and testing of mobile and IoT applications should consider incorporating virtualization into their workflows.