Top DevSecOps Tools for a Secure CI/CD Pipeline

Imagine a high-speed train hurtling down the tracks. It gets you to your destination quickly, but what if the tracks aren't inspected regularly? A small crack could lead to a catastrophic derailment. Your CI/CD pipeline is much the same. It's built for speed and efficiency, delivering software at an incredible pace. 

But without security baked in, you're risking a "derailment" – a security breach that can have devastating consequences. 

That's where DevSecOps and the right DevSecOps tools come in. They're the track inspectors, ensuring your software delivery train reaches its destination safely and securely.

At CloudBees, we understand the critical role of a robust and secure CI/CD pipeline. Our platform is designed to empower organizations to build, test, and deploy software rapidly and reliably. And a key part of that reliability is security. This article will explore the top DevSecOps tools that can help you strengthen your CI/CD pipeline, ensuring both speed and security.

What is a DevSecOps Tool?

A DevSecOps tool is any software solution that integrates security into the software development lifecycle (SDLC), particularly within CI/CD workflows. These tools automate security checks, identify vulnerabilities early, and provide continuous monitoring to prevent threats from reaching production. By shifting security left — incorporating it from the initial stages of development rather than treating it as an afterthought — DevSecOps tools help teams catch issues before they become costly problems.

Effective DevSecOps tools streamline collaboration between development, security, and operations teams, ensuring that security doesn’t slow down releases. They cover a range of functions, including static and dynamic code analysis, dependency scanning, container security, and runtime protection. When properly integrated into a CI/CD pipeline, they enhance security posture without compromising agility or efficiency.

For a deeper dive into how DevSecOps simplifies security, check out DevSecOps Made Easy: Part 1 - Choose Your Tool. Additionally, learn how four essential DevSecOps tools can help teams reduce complexity and build a future-ready security strategy.

The 4 Components of DevSecOps

While the exact components of DevSecOps can vary based on an organization’s structure and priorities, most DevSecOps strategies are built around four core principles:

1. Culture

A successful DevSecOps implementation starts with culture. Traditionally, security was seen as a separate function, handled by dedicated teams after development was complete. DevSecOps breaks down these silos, fostering collaboration between development, security, and operations teams from the beginning. 

The goal is to create a security-first mindset, where developers are empowered to take ownership of security as they write and commit code, security teams act as enablers rather than blockers, and operations teams work to maintain secure, scalable infrastructure. Encouraging cross-team communication and security education helps organizations embed security as a shared responsibility rather than an afterthought.

2. Automation

Security must keep pace with modern software delivery speeds, and manual security processes simply can’t scale. Automation is a fundamental principle of DevSecOps, ensuring that security checks are integrated directly into the CI/CD pipeline without slowing down development. 

Automated static and dynamic security testing, dependency scanning, compliance checks, and infrastructure-as-code (IaC) security scans help identify vulnerabilities early and prevent insecure code from reaching production. Tools like CloudBees’ CI/CD solutions help teams implement security automation while maintaining fast, efficient software delivery. Learn more about CI/CD tools here.

3. Measurement

Security is only as strong as an organization’s ability to measure its effectiveness. DevSecOps emphasizes tracking key security metrics, such as vulnerability detection rates, mean time to remediation (MTTR), code coverage, compliance adherence, and security debt. 

By continuously monitoring these metrics, teams can identify weak points, optimize security processes, and ensure that security improvements align with business goals. Security measurement also helps in demonstrating compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements, reducing risk and improving stakeholder confidence.

4. Sharing

DevSecOps thrives on open communication and knowledge sharing. Security insights, threat intelligence, and best practices should be accessible to all teams, ensuring that security knowledge isn’t confined to a single department. 

Regular security training, post-mortems, documentation, and collaborative discussions help teams stay informed about emerging threats and improve response times. When security becomes a shared responsibility, organizations can proactively address risks and build a more resilient security posture.

By focusing on culture, automation, measurement, and sharing, organizations can embed security into their CI/CD pipelines without sacrificing speed or efficiency. For a deeper dive into how to implement these principles effectively, check out this guide on DevSecOps best practices.

Top DevSecOps Tools: Building a Secure CI/CD Pipeline

Now, let's dive into some of the top DevSecOps tools that can help you build a secure CI/CD pipeline:

1. Static Application Security Testing (SAST) Tools:

SAST tools go beyond just analyzing source code—they assess the entire application structure, including dependencies and configuration files, to identify potential security vulnerabilities early in the development process. They "shift left" by catching issues before they make it into production. Examples include SonarQube, Checkmarx, and Fortify.

2. Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) Tools:

DAST tools test running applications to identify vulnerabilities that may not be apparent in the source code. They simulate real-world attacks to uncover weaknesses. Examples include OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite, and Veracode.

3. Software Composition Analysis (SCA) Tools:

SCA tools analyze open-source components used in your applications to identify known vulnerabilities. They help you manage the risks associated with using third-party libraries. Examples include Snyk, Black Duck, and WhiteSource.

4. Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Security Tools:

As infrastructure is increasingly defined as code, IaC security tools help ensure that your infrastructure configurations are secure. They scan IaC templates for potential misconfigurations and security vulnerabilities. Examples include Terraform, AWS Cloudformation, and Spacelift.

5. Container Security Tools:

Container security tools protect containerized applications by scanning images for vulnerabilities, enforcing security policies, and monitoring container runtime behavior. Examples include Aqua Security, Twistlock, and Anchore Engine.

6. Secrets Management Tools:

Secrets management tools securely store and manage sensitive information, such as API keys, passwords, and certificates, preventing them from being hardcoded into code or exposed in configuration files. Examples include HashiCorp Vault, AWS Secrets Manager, and Azure Key Vault.

7. Vulnerability Scanning Tools:

Vulnerability scanning tools scan systems and applications for known vulnerabilities. They provide a comprehensive view of your security posture and help you prioritize remediation efforts. Examples include Nessus, OpenVAS, and Nexpose.

8. Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) Tools:

SOAR tools automate security tasks, such as incident response, vulnerability management, and threat intelligence gathering. They help streamline security operations and improve efficiency. Examples include Splunk Phantom, Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR, and IBM Resilient.

9. API Security Tools:

API security tools protect APIs from various threats, such as injection attacks, authentication bypasses, and data breaches. They help ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of APIs. Examples include 42Crunch, Noname Security, and Salt Security.

10. Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) Tools:

For organizations leveraging cloud infrastructure, CSPM tools help ensure that cloud environments are configured securely and comply with industry best practices and regulations. They provide visibility into cloud security posture and help automate remediation efforts. Examples include Cloudability, Dome9, and Evident.io.

Is Jenkins a DevSecOps Tool?

Jenkins is one of the most widely used CI/CD automation servers, helping development teams build, test, and deploy software at scale. But is Jenkins itself a DevSecOps tool? Not exactly—but it plays a pivotal role in a DevSecOps strategy.

At its core, Jenkins is not a dedicated security solution, but it provides the foundation for integrating security seamlessly into CI/CD workflows. Think of it as the orchestrator: it doesn’t perform security tasks itself, but it coordinates the execution of security tools, ensuring vulnerabilities are caught early without slowing down development. With the right plugins and integrations, Jenkins can enforce security policies, automate security testing, and provide visibility into potential risks—all without disrupting developer workflows.

For example, Jenkins can integrate with:

• Static Application Security Testing (SAST) tools like SonarQube and Checkmarx to scan source code for vulnerabilities before deployment.

• Software Composition Analysis (SCA) tools like WhiteSource and OWASP Dependency-Check to identify risks in open-source dependencies.

• Container Security Tools like Aqua Security and Snyk to ensure containers are free from misconfigurations or vulnerabilities.

By embedding these security checks into Jenkins pipelines, teams can automatically enforce security best practices as part of their CI/CD process. This aligns perfectly with the shift left philosophy — catching issues at the development stage rather than after deployment when fixes become more expensive and disruptive.

At CloudBees, we understand that security needs to be built into every stage of the software delivery process. That’s why we provide enterprise-grade Jenkins solutions that help teams scale DevSecOps practices without adding complexity. For more insights on securing your CI/CD pipelines, check out our guide on DevSecOps tools and how to make DevSecOps easy with the right tools.

While Jenkins isn’t a standalone DevSecOps tool, it’s an essential piece of a secure CI/CD pipeline. With the right integrations, it enables teams to deliver fast, secure, and high-quality software—without sacrificing speed for security.

DevSecOps vs. DevOps Tools: What's the Difference?

While DevOps tools focus on automating and streamlining software delivery, DevSecOps tools integrate security into these processes. DevOps emphasizes speed and collaboration, whereas DevSecOps ensures security is embedded without disrupting efficiency.

Example: Jenkins is a popular DevOps tool for automation, but when combined with security plugins like SonarQube or Snyk, it becomes part of a DevSecOps ecosystem.

Read more about CI/CD security best practices here.

Connecting DevSecOps to the CloudBees Platform

CloudBees provides a robust platform for continuous delivery and is a natural fit for integrating these DevSecOps tools. Our platform allows you to orchestrate your entire CI/CD pipeline, including the security checks performed by the tools mentioned above. By integrating these tools into your CloudBees workflows, you can automate security testing, enforce security policies, and gain real-time visibility into your security posture. 

Build Secure Software Faster with CloudBees and Integrated DevSecOps Tools

Integrating DevSecOps tools into CI/CD pipelines is no longer optional, it’s essential. Security must be a proactive, continuous process rather than a reactive step after deployment. By leveraging tools like CloudBees CI/CD, SonarQube, Snyk, and Aqua Security, teams can enhance security without sacrificing speed.

At CloudBees, we believe security and efficiency go hand in hand. By embedding security into DevOps workflows, organizations can innovate confidently, knowing their software is built on a secure foundation.

Ready to strengthen your DevSecOps strategy? Book a demo to learn more.