Unlocking the Power of DevSecOps: Lessons from Real-World Implementations

Written by: Farah Alam

3 min read

Mastering DevSecOps: Key Lessons and Best Practices for Success

As the world of software development continues to evolve, DevSecOps is becoming a critical component of successful IT strategies. A recent survey indicates that 36% of organizations now develop software using DevSecOps, up from 27% in 2020 [1][2]. But, the road to effective DevSecOps implementation can be filled with challenges.

At CloudBees and Oteemo, we've been part of and observed hundreds of DevSecOps journeys across various sectors. From these experiences, we've compiled seven key lessons to guide your DevSecOps implementation.

Lesson 1: Align on Goals and Present Challenges, Show Progress

The first step in a successful DevSecOps journey is to align on goals and clearly present the challenges. Use concrete metrics to demonstrate progress. Remember, what gets measured gets improved!

Lesson 2: Treat Your DevOps Pipelines as Products

Your CI/CD pipeline isn't just a tool; it's a product that requires constant care and improvement. This mindset shift can lead to better pipeline management and ultimately, better software delivery.

Lesson 3: Balance Innovation With Consistency and Governance

In DevSecOps, there's a need to strike a balance between innovation and standardization. While innovation keeps your strategies competitive, standardization streamlines processes and ensures consistency.

Lesson 4: Leverage Service Catalogs

Service catalogs simplify complex processes and improve efficiency. They provide a clear overview of available services, enabling teams to make informed decisions.

Lesson 5: Secure the Toolchain Through Careful Tooling Choices

Security is a cornerstone of DevSecOps. Ensuring the security of your toolchain is paramount. According to a report, 50% of apps are always vulnerable to attack at organizations that haven't adopted DevSecOps [3].

Lesson 6: Traceability, Certification, and Convergence

Successful DevSecOps requires traceability of processes, certification of tools and platforms, and convergence of various elements into a cohesive whole.

Lesson 7: Be Wary of Over-Engineered Custom Solutions

While custom solutions can be beneficial, over-engineering them can lead to unnecessary complexity. Keep solutions simple and efficient.

To achieve successful DevSecOps, organizations must have trustworthy pipelines and provide evidence of their efficiency and security [4]. With the DevSecOps market projected to grow at a CAGR of 22% between 2023 and 2032 [5], there's no better time to embark on your DevSecOps journey!

Unlock the full picture with our white paper, Best Practices from Real-World DevSecOps Implementations:

  • Detailed case studies: Dive deeper into success stories, challenges, and solutions.

  • Actionable insights: Get practical tips and best practices to guide your own journey.

  • Data-driven results: See metrics, benchmarks, and visualizations to offer data-driven insights into the benefits of implementing its recommendations, proving the ROI of DevSecOps adoption.

Secure your edge and ignite innovation. Download Whitepaper

References

  1. StrongDM

  2. InfoSec Institute

  3. Veritis

  4. GMI Insights

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