The more you automate your tasks the faster you can get through them. Today, it’s all about making everything move like clockwork and lighting fast speed — one thing after another and so forth. And, if possible, without the need for human interaction.
DevOps security tools are a must-have for any company that seeks secure and agile application development release cycles. Why? Because they help you cut out the fat, and streamline your whole process.
What are DevOps security tools?
DevOps security tools are used to monitor the infrastructure and software for vulnerabilities. They are designed to detect any security breaches and provide a solution to them.
Security is an important aspect of DevOps — tools help in preventing any security issues that may arise due to the deployment of new applications or changes in the infrastructure. They also help in detecting if there is any malware or virus on the system, which can cause a data breach if not detected early.
The DevOps principle is a popular software development methodology that aims to speed up the process of software delivery and make it more cost-effective. Errors, problems, and security challenges that are identified late in a software’s lifecycle end up costing a company 10 to 15x more than if they were spotted early on. In many cases, due to release schedules a lot of apps are launched into the market with bugs — developers entering a “Tech Debt” with consumers, one where they promise to “eventually” patch up the bug or fix the error.
DevOps security tools are meant to work from the word “go”, right at the beginning of a product’s lifecycle. Right, from the design stage, when the inspiration hits. These types of security tools are used for continuous monitoring and detection of vulnerabilities in the code. These tools provide real-time data on the status of application security, which can be used to assess how secure an application is.
The functions of security DevOps tools
DevOps is the practice of operations and development engineers working together throughout the lifecycle of a product. It is about breaking down the barriers between development and operations to create high-quality, high-velocity software products.
Security DevOps tools are used to automate security tasks by making them easier to manage, track, and audit. They help organizations integrate security into their workflow so that it’s not just an afterthought or a manual process. Security DevOps tools can also help organizations with compliance requirements like GDPR, HIPAA, and ISO 27001 by providing auditing capabilities for regulatory compliance.
They are mainly used for the following processes:
Automation
95% of all your security challenges will be the fault of your staff — your coders, your administrative personnel, and even your CEO. Why? Because, in a nutshell, security is boring. Changing passwords, staying firm to a series of security guidelines, not latching on to the nearest open WiFi while on vacation, and curbing your creative output because you need to first check with a security team is tedious work. DevOps security tools can help you automate your whole platform and in many cases edit out the human factor. Bots, algorithms, and AI don’t really care if something is exciting or not, they are programmed to get the job, well, jobbed.
Tracking
Your platform is constantly changing. Your code database is always getting bigger. Your apps are more complex. Your system is more convoluted. Are you keeping track of all the changes? Are you editing out old codes? Are you streamlining your system? DevOps security tools take into account that your company is always on the cusp of a new change, and it tracks those changes. Not just yours, but those of your vendors — changes like new updates or patches your third-party codes desperately need.
Access
An investigation into some of the world’s biggest and most iconic tech companies revealed something startling — everyone had access to everything. Even the janitor, just because it was convenient and they “trusted him” had security access to extremely valuable and vulnerable departments. They could easily slip into development and tamper with the code database. And why is that? Well, because for most companies it’s easier that way. It’s important to control who has access to what and compartmentalize your departments as much as possible. Everyone needs to stay in their own lane.
Not only that but there’s the issue of backdoor access — did you know that most of your codes, those you either bought from a third-party supplier or downloaded from an open source are riddled with backdoor access spots? Coders put them there so they can access the code or app and perform checks on them, or fix issues when they arrive. In most cases, they are heavily protected, but every so often some malcontent spots one and manages to sneak into your system through them. DevOps tools help you control all those access points and in many cases put “alarms” and tripwires across their threshold. They allow you to have a 360-degree view of who or what is coming in through your gate.
Benefits of using security tools in DevOps
Security tools are a necessity in the DevOps world. They help to detect and prevent security breaches in the production environment. The benefits of using these types of critical tools include:
- Security teams can monitor their environments more efficiently. They can have a global as well as a personal POV of all that is happening in real-time — from the micro to the macro.
- They can identify threats and vulnerabilities before they cause damage.
- Security teams can also use these tools to understand how changes are impacting their environment and what trends to follow.
DevOps security tools are a must-have for any company that seeks secure and agile application development release cycles. In today’s fast-paced environment where the competition is always breathing down your neck, companies simply can’t disregard them. It allows them to protect their brand reputation as well as all their assets — intangible as well as tangibles.