DevSecOps vs Traditional DevOps: Key Differences

Want to ship code faster without compromising security? Here’s what you need to know about DevSecOps vs DevOps:

FeatureDevOpsDevSecOps
Security TimingEnd of cycleBuilt into every step
Team StructureDev + Ops onlyDev + Ops + Security
Testing FocusBasic checksContinuous security testing
Risk HandlingFix after issues occurPrevent issues before they happen
Cost ImpactHigher fix costs laterLower costs through early fixes

Key Benefits of DevSecOps:

  • Catches security issues early in development
  • Cuts fix costs by 60-80% vs post-release
  • Reduces breach risks (avg cost: $4.35M)
  • Speeds up security fixes from weeks to hours
  • Makes security everyone’s responsibility

Why Switch Now? IBM found fixing bugs in testing costs 15x more than catching them in design. Plus, with teams pushing code updates daily, security can’t be an afterthought.

Quick Start Guide:

  1. Add security checks to your CI/CD pipeline
  2. Start scanning code during development
  3. Train developers on security basics
  4. Use automation to maintain speed

Think of DevSecOps like building a house – instead of adding security at the end, you’re building it into every brick from the start. That’s how you ship better, safer code without slowing down.

Bottom Line: DevSecOps isn’t about choosing between speed and security – you get both. It’s growing 30.24% yearly for a reason.

What is DevOps?

DevOps breaks down the wall between development and operations teams. Instead of working separately, everyone works together on the software from start to finish.

The numbers speak for themselves: DORA’s 2019 State of DevOps report shows that top DevOps teams push code 208 times more often and 106 times faster than teams using traditional methods.

Main DevOps Elements

Here’s DevOps in action:

ElementWhat It DoesWhy It Matters
Continuous IntegrationMerges code changes frequentlyCatches bugs early
Continuous DeliveryAutomates testing and deploymentShips updates faster
Infrastructure as CodeManages servers through codeReduces setup errors
MonitoringTracks app performanceSpots issues quickly

How DevOps Works

The DevOps process looks like this:

StageTeam ActionsTools Used
PlanSet goals, define featuresJira, Trello
CodeWrite and review codeGit, GitHub
BuildCreate software packagesJenkins, CircleCI
TestCheck for bugsSelenium, JUnit
DeployRelease to serversDocker, Kubernetes
MonitorWatch performanceNagios, Datadog

"DevOps isn’t any single person’s job. It’s everyone’s job." – Robert Krohn, Head of Engineering, DevOps at Atlassian

Big names like Netflix, NASA, and Etsy use DevOps to ship updates multiple times per day. And they’re not alone – Atlassian’s 2020 survey found that 99% of companies say DevOps improved their work.

Here’s what makes DevOps different:

  • Teams collaborate instead of working in silos
  • Updates happen daily, not monthly
  • Automation does the heavy lifting
  • Issues get fixed immediately

This approach helps teams catch and fix problems BEFORE they reach users. But adding security to this mix? That’s where things get interesting.

Moving to DevSecOps

Security bugs are expensive. IBM found that fixing issues in testing costs 15x more than catching them in design. That’s why teams are putting security first in their development process.

Why Security Matters Now

Here’s what’s pushing teams toward DevSecOps:

FactorImpactCost
Late Bug Fixes6x more expensive during implementationHigher development costs
Security Skills Gap40% struggle to find security-trained DevOps staffDelayed projects
Developer Training70% lack proper security trainingMore vulnerabilities
Regular Audits84% of teams now run security checksAdded time investment

Early Security Testing

Teams use these tools to spot problems early:

Testing TypeWhen to UseWhat It Catches
SASTDuring codingCode-level bugs
DASTIn test environmentRuntime issues
Threat ModelingDesign phaseSystem vulnerabilities
LintersWhile codingBasic code flaws

"DevSecOps enables the business to realize both speed and security, allowing development teams to deliver better, more secure code faster." – Veracode DevSecOps Global Skills Survey Report

Here’s what teams do differently with DevSecOps:

  • Build security checks into CI/CD pipelines
  • Set up auto-scanning for vulnerabilities
  • Look for risks in third-party tools
  • Deal with security problems immediately
  • Get developers up to speed on security

The math is simple: catch bugs early, save money. When teams build security into every step, they avoid costly fixes down the road.

How DevSecOps Differs from DevOps

DevSecOps isn’t just DevOps with extra security tacked on. It’s a complete shift in how teams handle security from start to finish.

Here’s what changes when you move from DevOps to DevSecOps:

Security Setup Changes

DevOps SecurityDevSecOps Security
Security checks at end of cycleSecurity built into every stage
Basic vulnerability scanningContinuous security monitoring
Manual security reviewsAutomated security testing
Security as final stepSecurity from day one

Team Setup Changes

AreaDevOps TeamsDevSecOps Teams
Team StructureDev + Ops onlyDev + Ops + Security
Security RoleSeparate security teamSecurity experts embedded
ResponsibilitySecurity = security team’s jobSecurity = everyone’s job
Skills NeededBasic security knowledgeDeep security expertise

Tools and Tech Changes

DevSecOps needs specific security tools at every stage:

Tool TypePurposeWhen Used
SIEM SystemsMonitor security eventsThroughout pipeline
Code ScannersFind code vulnerabilitiesDuring development
Compliance ToolsCheck security standardsBefore deployment
IaC SecuritySecure infrastructure codeDuring setup

The bottom line? DevSecOps bakes security into:

  • Writing code
  • Running tests
  • Deploying updates
  • Team discussions
  • Daily tasks

Instead of bolting security on at the end, DevSecOps teams make it part of every single step. They use more advanced tools, build deeper security skills, and work as ONE team – not separate groups throwing work over the wall.

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What You Need to Change

Moving to DevSecOps means a complete shift in your teams’ operations. Here’s what that looks like:

Team Mindset Changes

Teams need to stop thinking "security slows us down" and start thinking "security makes us better." It’s that simple.

Here’s what needs to change in your teams:

Old WayNew WayMaking It Happen
"Security is IT’s problem""Security is MY problem"Daily security training
"Fix bugs after launch""Catch bugs before code ships"Auto-scan code daily
"Ship fast, patch later""Ship secure code fast"Add security to each step
"Wait for security team""Handle security ourselves"Give teams security tools

"DevSecOps isn’t just about mixing DevOps and Security teams or adding new tools. It’s about changing how your whole organization thinks about security." – Vishal Garg

Work Method Changes

Your teams need to bake security into every step:

StepBeforeNow
PlanningSecurity lastSecurity first
CodingBasic checksDeep scans
TestingManual onlyAuto-tests
DeploymentFinal checks24/7 monitoring

Here’s a wake-up call: For every 100 developers, there’s only 1 security engineer. That’s why EVERYONE needs security skills.

Tech Tool Changes

Here’s what GSA IT uses at each stage:

StageTools You Need
PlanningJIRA, Slack, Trello
CodingAnsible, GitHub, Jenkins
TestingJenkins, Selenium, CircleCI
DeploymentAnsible, Terraform, CloudFormation
MonitoringClamAV, CloudWatch, Nessus, OSSEC

60% of companies get hit by data breaches. These tools help stop that:

  • Scan code as you write
  • Test security automatically
  • Watch systems 24/7
  • Keep code history safe

The key? Make security checks automatic. Build them into your daily work. That’s how you win.

Pros and Cons

Here’s what you need to know about DevSecOps – both good and bad:

Benefits of DevSecOps

BenefitImpactResults
Lower CostsFix bugs during development60-80% cheaper than post-release fixes
SpeedAuto-scans catch problemsFix time drops from weeks to hours
Code QualitySecurity checks built into process30% more API security testing
Risk ControlSpot threats earlyHelps avoid $4.35M average breach cost
Better TeamsDevs get security training40% boost in security ownership

"If I can have the developers fix something right away, it’s cheaper and easier than waiting hours and days [to fix] something." – Dale Gardner, Senior Research Director at Gartner

Common Problems

ProblemCauseSolution
Skills GapTeams don’t know security basicsRegular training
Tool OverloadDisconnected security toolsPick integrated tools
Team ResistanceExtra security work feels like a burdenShow bottom-line benefits
False PositivesTools flag safe code as riskyAdjust scan rules
Speed IssuesSecurity steps slow down workAdd automation

The numbers tell the story:

  • Data breaches might hit $10.5 trillion by 2025
  • Just 30% of teams check API security
  • Teams take 2-3 months to get used to DevSecOps

Here’s the smart way to start: Pick ONE team. ONE project. ONE tool. Then build from there. Don’t try to change your whole process overnight.

Steps to Switch to DevSecOps

Here’s how to move your team to DevSecOps without breaking everything:

Check and Plan

First, you need to know where you stand:

Area to CheckWhat to Look ForAction Steps
Security GapsMissing tests, weak spotsRun OWASP analysis
Current ToolsTool coverage, integration pointsList tools to add/replace
Team SkillsSecurity knowledge levelsPlan training needs
CI/CD PipelineSecurity test pointsMark spots for new checks

Set Up Tools

You’ll need these core tools:

Tool TypePurposeMust-Have Features
SASTCode scanningIDE integration
DASTRuntime testingAuto-scan triggers
SCAComponent checksDependency tracking
CI ToolsBuild pipelineSecurity gates

Here’s what to do:

  • Put security tests in your CI pipeline
  • Start scanning code when developers commit
  • Add checks for dependencies
  • Set up tests to run automatically

Train Teams

Get your teams up to speed:

Training AreaFocusTime Frame
Basic SecurityOWASP Top 10, secure codingWeek 1-2
ToolsNew security tools, scan resultsWeek 3-4
ProcessSecurity in daily workWeek 5-6

Want to make this work? Start small:

  • Pick ONE team
  • Focus on ONE project
  • Add ONE security check
  • Build from there

Here’s a fact that shows why this matters: DevSecOps will grow from $1.91 billion (2020) to $15.9 billion by 2027. That’s a 30.24% growth each year.

Bottom line: Take it step by step. Small wins add up to big changes.

Conclusion

DevSecOps takes DevOps to the next level by putting security first. Here’s what sets it apart:

AreaDevOpsDevSecOps
Security TimingEnd of cycleFrom start
Team FocusDev + OpsDev + Ops + Security
TestingAfter codeDuring coding
Risk ManagementReact to issuesPrevent issues

This shift changes how teams build software. Here’s what Vinh Lam, Senior Technical Program Manager at OPSWAT, says about it:

"DevOps emphasizes collaboration between development and operations teams to streamline the software development lifecycle, while DevSecOps integrates security throughout the entire process."

Want to make DevSecOps work? Focus on these key points:

  • Build security checks into your CI/CD pipeline
  • Make security part of your daily coding
  • Get your teams talking and working together
  • Use automation to keep your speed up

Here’s the thing: DevSecOps isn’t about putting on the brakes. It’s about baking security into everything you do – while keeping your development speed HIGH.

The takeaway? DevSecOps helps teams ship better, safer code faster. It’s not just another buzzword – it’s the new standard for building modern software.

FAQs

Why DevSecOps is better than DevOps?

DevSecOps beats DevOps in one key way: it bakes security into every step of development. Here’s how they stack up:

AspectDevOpsDevSecOps
Security FocusAdded at the endBuilt-in from start
Risk ManagementFix issues after they occurStop issues before they happen
Development SpeedFast releasesFast + secure releases
Cost ImpactHigher fix costsLower fix costs
Team StructureDev + Ops teamsDev + Ops + Security teams

"DevOps improves the speed and efficiency of the software development lifecycle to build and deliver software faster and with better quality. DevSecOps focuses on reducing the risk of vulnerabilities in software by integrating security early in the development process." – Jinal Desai, Author

Think of it this way: DevOps is like building a house FAST, then adding locks and alarms at the end. DevSecOps? It’s building security into every brick you lay.

Here’s what makes DevSecOps different:

  • Security checks happen at EVERY step
  • Fixing issues early costs WAY less
  • Security teams work alongside developers from day one
  • Tests run on autopilot during development

Bottom line: DevSecOps doesn’t make you choose between speed and security – you get both. It’s like having a security expert on your team instead of hiring one to check your work after it’s done.

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