In recent years, traditional methods of application development have quickly become outdated, especially in terms of application security. The rise in software vulnerabilities and coding errors has highlighted the need for developers to integrate security throughout the entire software development lifecycle. Security checks that used to be conducted at the end of the development process now pose challenges for security and development teams, often slowing down the go-to-market efforts.
Today, a new approach known as security as code (SaC) is emerging as a crucial component in implementing DevSecOps methodology. While DevOps emphasizes collaboration between developers and IT operations teams, DevSecOps takes it a step further by incorporating security teams into the mix. With security as code, automatic security checks, tests, and controls are integrated throughout the software development lifecycle. The main aim is to identify and mitigate application security threats without causing delays in development or creating bottlenecks. This approach ensures security is prioritized at every phase of development, from inception to deployment, in a concept known as shift-left security.
By shifting security left, teams can identify security flaws earlier in the development cycle, allowing them to address issues promptly. Security as code encompasses various components that run automatically in the continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipeline. These components include access control to restrict unauthorized access, policy management to define security practices, vulnerability scanning to detect weaknesses in code, and security testing to identify flaws that could compromise the software and its data.
While cybersecurity teams primarily handle security as code, developers and operations teams are also vital participants in this process. DevSecOps and security as code enable these three teams to collaborate effectively under a unified approach. Security as code is closely related to infrastructure as code (IaC), which automates the management of infrastructure components like databases, servers, and storage.
Implementing security as code involves a combination of tools, processes, and technologies rather than a single tool. These tools include static and dynamic application security testing, software bills of materials to track code dependencies, vulnerability scanners, and access control mechanisms. Despite its benefits, security as code presents some challenges, such as initial high costs, redefining management roles, addressing corporate culture adjustment, and potential development delays during implementation.
The benefits of security as code are numerous, including early identification and resolution of security issues, enhanced collaboration among teams, implementation of effective security configurations, automation of development processes, compliance with security standards, and improved post-release maintenance. By following best practices like establishing a project team, developing a project plan, selecting appropriate tools, and ensuring compliance with standards, organizations can make security as code adoption successful. Regular progress meetings and post-deployment maintenance activities also help in maintaining application security. Overall, security as code is a proactive approach that enhances application security and aligns software development with organization policies and standards.