Shain Singh, Principal Security Architect APCJ, F5, says understanding the unique challenges developers face is crucial in crafting security solutions.
Faced with the usual trade-off between convenience and security, developers often deploy insecure code into production.
And just like that, a vulnerability arises.
Developers grapple with issues of governance and visibility while managing assets across different environments, especially with the shift to cloud-based infrastructure.
Additionally, there is a prevalent lack of consistency in security controls, with security teams often operating independently – exposing gaps and vulnerabilities in security measures, which otherwise require visibility and uniformity for effective cybersecurity. Friction between development, operations and security owners means that while the technological solutions exist, developers are often being left out of the fold.
The complexity is further compounded by the differing requirements of industries and organisations, as well as the wide variation in stages of cloud adoption.
To combat this, organisations need to develop solutions leveraging automation to simplify the deployment of security controls and streamline cybersecurity practices.
One such approach gaining traction is the adoption of GitOps into app teams’ deployment environments.
By using GitOps, developers can define their desired state of infrastructure and applications in a Git repository, providing an auditable trail of changes, improving security and compliance.
This approach improves the overall efficiency of deployment processes by using automation with standardised workflows to enhance security and facilitates the seamless integration of security measures into the development workflow.
Reference implementations are very important for putting security solutions into practice – offering developers concrete examples and guidelines for setting up security measures.
A solution that provides a complete range of security options and settings developers can use to safeguard their applications from different risks is essential.
It is also essential for security and app teams to cooperate in order to integrate security seamlessly into the development processes.
Companies can play a huge role in making cybersecurity easier for developers by building capabilities and providing support for adopting security measures.
The human element is often overlooked but is a critical component in ensuring robust defences.
Continuing skill development and training is paramount, especially for security staff, as they need to understand the modern ways of developing and operating applications.
With many organisations adopting a hybrid cloud model, maintaining security measures across environments can be complex. There is an even greater need for consistency and standardisation of security and controls within a hybrid cloud model.
Additionally, some organisations are consolidating their cloud services to streamline operations and reduce complexity and cost. Consolidation efforts can inadvertently create security gaps if not carefully managed. Security teams and developers need to work closely together to ensure they consistently apply and maintain security measures throughout the consolidation process.
Understanding the unique challenges developers face is crucial in crafting solutions that prioritise security without sacrificing efficiency, and more broadly, contributing to a safer digital ecosystem.
