Companies in Australia Require an Improved Strategy for Integrating Security Throughout the Development Process

Software supply chain safety has become a critical concern for organisations in the digital age. To address this issue, modern DevSecOps practices are increasingly being adopted.

DevSecOps tools, such as GitLab, automate infrastructure and security workflows. With integrated Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD), version control, code review, and integration with HashiCorp Terraform and Vault, these tools streamline the software delivery pipeline. They also include AI-powered tools for automated vulnerability detection and prioritization, and in-toto for supply chain security, ensuring traceability and integrity.

Infrastructure guardrails are another key component of supply chain safety. These guardrails, which include standardized templates for deploying secure infrastructure components, enforce security measures such as encryption and logging. They also enable the enforcement of software governance rules like branch protection and dual approval.

Configuration as Code (CasC) tools play a crucial role in ensuring consistency and traceability. These tools allow for the management of configuration files with version control systems, making it easier to track changes and rollbacks.

Modern programming languages offer built-in security features. Enabling features like automated memory management and strict type-checking can prevent many potential security issues.

Toil reduction is another benefit of DevSecOps. This can be achieved via code generation and refactoring, as well as through the use of abstract security functions like security sidecar proxies that handle authentication and authorization.

Code scanning tools are essential for automatically detecting potential security vulnerabilities in the codebase. These tools can provide real-time alerts for potential security threats, enabling quick response and remediation.

DevSecOps tools can help organisations achieve compliance with industry standards and regulations by automating security checks and enforcing best practices. They can also integrate with existing development and operations tools, streamlining the security process.

Josh Lemos, the chief information security officer at GitLab, emphasises the importance of DevSecOps in enhancing software supply chain security. By embedding security controls into development pipelines, automating risk detection, improving collaboration, and enabling transparent, auditable deployment processes, DevSecOps tools are transforming the way software is developed and deployed.

In addition to the tools mentioned, DevSecOps also makes use of tools like SAST (Static Application Security Testing), DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing), and SCA (Software Composition Analysis). These tools help in identifying and mitigating security risks at various stages of the software development lifecycle.

In conclusion, DevSecOps is a game-changer in the realm of software supply chain safety. By automating security processes, reducing toil, and enabling real-time threat detection, DevSecOps is making software development and deployment more secure and efficient.