Taking on Security Automation

Taking on Security Automation

Increasing risk exposure in modern software

Security experts are sounding the alarm about risks in the software development process. Not only does modern software architecture create a broader attack surface area, the accelerated DevOps methodology makes it harder to detect and remediate vulnerabilities. The heart of this issue is that DevOps teams are challenged to take on new security responsibilities. This is not a role they are trained to play, but it is possible to make developers an extension of your security strategy. New tools for automated security in DevOps remove much of the security burden placed on developers—but do so in ways that make them part of the solution at the same time, while not slowing development.

DevOps as a Driver of Increasing Risk Exposure in Modern Software

DevOps teams offer much to businesses who employ it. Assuming you can pull off the tricky integration between two different and organizationally-distinct groups, the result is faster software development cycles and alignment with agile methodologies. Combined with practices such as Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD), DevOps enables the release of new software features at a rapid clip.

This is great until you start to look at DevOps from the perspective of information security. The pace of development is simply too fast for traditional application security techniques to work. According to SANS Institute research, 43 percent of organizations are pushing out changes to their software either daily, weekly or continuously. Historically, software testing was intended to reveal security flaws in a new application. There is little time built for manual AppSec inspection into these processes on today’s rapid DevOps timetable.

The nature of software vulnerability is also evolving, making code developed using DevOps that much more vulnerable. Undetected at the source, hackers can plant malware into the vast open source code libraries that DevOps teams draw on for their work. This is an astonishing 79 percent of code. Now, those libraries can carry malicious code.

The Fallacy of Expecting Developers to Enforce Security Policies

Development professionals already have a full-time job: writing great code. Their skill sets revolve around code. They get paid to write code and fix bugs. Bonuses are based on writing code to deliver new products and features that popularize applications. They are used to having an arm’s-length relationship with security. Developers care about security if, and when, it helps to make their products better, faster and more reliable. However, if a vulnerability seems theoretical, or worse the issue is a security “code hygiene” practice, then developers may not give that type of security escalation much priority.

A new approach today involves continuous follow up with dynamic, run-time analysis that can uncover real security problems. Done right, automated analysis identifies critical issues with a clear path to remediation. Once a problem is uncovered, the developer can address it as a software “bug,” e.g. JIRA ticket that includes secure code samples and recommendations to make the remediation straightforward.

The need for automated security discovery without the burden of being trained as a security professional is crucial. It is possible to make DevOps more secure. Armed with this automation, developers will be able to test for vulnerabilities sooner in the development process instead of at the end or after there is a huge breach and they have to rebuild, rewrite code or find a new job anyway.

This article originally appeared in the November/December 2019 issue of Security Today.

About the Author

Felicia Haggarty is a director at Data Theorem.

Featured

  • Video Surveillance Trends to Watch

    With more organizations adding newer capabilities to their surveillance systems, it’s always important to remember the “basics” of system configuration and deployment, as well as the topline benefits of continually emerging technologies like AI and the cloud. Read Now

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services
  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

New Products

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities