The significance of the supply chain in devsecops

Devsecops adds a “integrated security” strategy to the chain if devops streamlines software delivery so that operational issues are discovered during the development phase.

Devops has served as the standard development process for enterprise apps for a number of years. This strategy intended to coordinate operational excellence and application excellence across an app’s life cycle by bringing together individuals in charge of software development (dev) and those in charge of administering IT infrastructures (ops).

The primary issue at the time was the inadequacy of the offered applications compared to operational requirements. In order to accomplish the required objectives, the goal was to improve teamwork between the teams. 

The early stages of this strategy were challenging, nevertheless, because mentalities were deeply ingrained with weak relationships and siloed labor. Nevertheless, this approach has proven to be successful, in part because of the automation and transformation of processes.

Security is a New Game in the Software Supply Chain

Security has emerged as the weakest link in the software supply chain as devops has developed. Devsecops adds a “integrated security” strategy to the chain if devops streamlines software delivery so that operational issues are discovered during the development phase.

This is especially crucial because developers frequently rely on open-source or third-party services. Therefore, it is imperative to check and guarantee that whatever code is added to the chain conforms with the security criteria. The dangers in this situation must be recognized and controlled very early on in the process in order to address them as quickly as possible and thwart any potential incursion.

It would be naive to think that installing the appropriate tools, setting up automated safe supply chains, and hiring a security product manager will suffice.

The transition from devops to devsecops is quite difficult.

The phase of the devsecops supply chain strategy is when specific policies are implemented and when various software components are replaced. For instance, a secure software supply chain will enable apps to be rebuilt with patches for every operating system and framework without bothering developers in the event of a security issue. 

Last but not least, continuous delivery, which automates the creation of apps, provides a further dimension. At this stage of the software supply chain, security management primarily focuses on guaranteeing the security and conformance of the inputs (code, configurations, and third-party frameworks and services).

The trade-offs between functions and security policy, the strategy and the risk management strategies, as well as the risks, must first be understood, as many cisos and other security specialists might attest. Bugs and hackers are only one aspect of security. These attempts at understanding must be directed toward the goals of the developed software and its application in a devsecops environment. To begin with, it is crucial to assess each entity’s activity to make sure that all stakeholders match the new company requirements for devsecops.

It is crucial to start by looking at the full process that results in the creation of software, from the conception to the code, including the security, deployment, production, and use of said functionality. It is important to keep track of how long each of these activities takes and how long the gaps are between them. 

This lag describes the time that often passes between when responsibility is transferred from one team to another. By mapping the process, possible flaws and areas for improvement can be highlighted and the process can be made more efficient.

Additionally, this strategy guarantees improved teamwork and careful coordination of the management of the life cycle of a particular application. 

Only when this stage is finished will it be possible to incorporate a new element that is now crucial: security. Production can be accelerated through the chain’s use of better tools and procedures, but this also makes it feasible to integrate a real security plan that is codified in business policy and put into practice with additional checks.