DevOps stands as a pivotal methodology aimed at enhancing business value and agility by facilitating swift, high-quality service delivery. It thrives on the rapid, iterative nature of IT service deployment. Initially conceived to emphasize the integration of security into the software delivery lifecycle, the term DevSecOps emerged. However, amidst the relentless onslaught of attacks targeting the software supply chain, the question arises: Can even the most streamlined DevOps pipelines uphold the delicate balance between speed and security?
Traditionally, the notion of the “software supply chain” has encompassed the tools and procedures employed for constructing and deploying software applications. Yet, with the ascent of infrastructure-as-code (IaC), this concept now extends to encompass the mechanisms for building and deploying IT infrastructure.
Meeting Regulatory Requirements and Minimizing Risks
Recent years have witnessed a surge in software supply chain attacks, exemplified by incidents like SUNBURST, HTTP/2 Rapid Reset, and breaches linked to the MOVEit vulnerability. Such attacks have skyrocketed by a staggering 742% since 2020. Consequently, there’s a mounting apprehension regarding supply chain security within the DevOps framework. This has often resulted in a hodgepodge of tools, exacerbating rather than mitigating security challenges.
A pivotal development amplifying the focus on software supply chain security was President Biden’s 2021 Executive Order 14028, mandating the provision of Software Bill of Materials (SBOMs) as a baseline requirement for software utilized by the U.S. federal government. Similarly, the FDA has stipulated that all medical devices running software must generate and uphold SBOMs. Such governmental and industrial imperatives are likely to expand in the foreseeable future.
These examples underscore the pressing need for organizations operating at the pace of DevOps to not only meet regulatory mandates but also proactively mitigate business risks. The question then becomes not whether DevOps remains feasible in the prevailing security landscape, but rather what additional requirements must be incorporated to bolster ongoing DevOps endeavors.
Embracing New Protocols, Processes, Tools, and Data Management
In response to emerging threats and regulations, the software community has been diligently crafting and refining guidelines to fortify supply chain security. Initiatives such as SLSA, NCSC UK supply chain security guidance, and NIST cybersecurity supply chain risk management exemplify these efforts. However, adopting these guidelines often entails navigating complexities, necessitating the implementation of novel processes and tools.
Prior to integrating new tools or altering existing processes, it’s imperative to assess the efficacy of current tools in meeting supply chain security mandates. Organizations must also evaluate the efficacy of existing processes in safeguarding their interests before strategically augmenting or streamlining them as required.
Regardless of the solutions deployed, the proliferation of diverse tools invariably generates copious amounts of data, raising pertinent questions about its relevance, management, and trustworthiness. Organizations must devise effective mechanisms to sift through this data, ensuring its dissemination to relevant stakeholders in a timely manner. Maintaining a focus on “shifting security left” and integrating automation wherever feasible will be pivotal for preserving the capacity for continuous innovation.
As new security metadata, such as SBOMs, becomes available, there will be a growing need for solutions to manage this metadata effectively. Initiatives like Google’s GUAC, designed to integrate software security information including SBOMs, attestations, and vulnerability data, aim to address this need.
Continued Emphasis on Shifting Security Left
Another avenue through which organizations can sustain their DevOps momentum while safeguarding the software supply chain is by persistently investing in “shifting security left.” This entails integrating security considerations early in the software development lifecycle. Collaborative efforts between security, development, and DevOps teams are essential for fortifying both application and infrastructure-as-code supply chains.
Moving beyond merely identifying vulnerabilities early on, it’s imperative to assess the quality of configuration-as-code, leverage emerging recommendations, and harness attestation solutions tailored for pipeline environments. Detecting and addressing issues at an early stage minimizes disruptions and mitigates associated costs.
No Panacea: Cultivating Agility and Collaboration
While the aforementioned strategies are invaluable, there exists no panacea for ensuring the security-innovation equilibrium. Success hinges on fostering agility, flexibility, and effective communication and collaboration—cornerstones of the DevOps ethos. Rather than being hindered by the imperatives of software supply chain security, DevOps presents an opportunity to embed protective measures capable of thwarting or mitigating vulnerabilities and breaches. Moreover, it empowers organizations to swiftly adapt to evolving threats and regulatory requirements.
Nevertheless, organizations must adopt a nuanced approach to software security management, strategically evaluating and integrating tools that align with current and future mandates, thus safeguarding their interests over time. This may necessitate occasional trade-offs between speed and security until a comprehensive framework for software supply chain protection is firmly established—and subsequently, whenever exigencies demand a reassessment of the pace-protection balance. At OpsBee Technology, a globally acclaimed niche Cloud DevOps company, we can help you beef up security deployment to overcome modern security threats.