Navigating the DevSecOps landscape with right tools
Selecting the right tools is pivotal in your DevOps journey. The tools you select significantly decide the scale of your DevOps success. And this holds true for the DevSecOps landscape since security is a leading parameter for any software environment these days. According to a recent MarketsandMarkets research, the DevSecOps market will grow from USD 10.4 billion in 2023 to USD 25.5 billion by 2028, indicating a substantial increase in utilizing various tools for robust DevSecOps ecosystems. This guide focuses on helping you choose the right DevSecOps tools for a secure and efficient software development pipeline in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
Top DevSecOps tools by phases
For better understanding, let’s break down the tools into the four major phases –
- Secured Coding
- Continuous Build and Integration
- Continuous Deployment and Delivery
- Continuous Monitoring
We’ll take a detailed look at the tools and technologies deployed at each stage.
1. Secured Coding
The stakes are high in the digital age. Insecure code can have severe consequences, including data breaches, system failures, and reputational damage. Therefore, understanding the significance of secure code and the tools at your disposal is not just good practice; it’s a critical need. Secure coding is a pivotal step, ensuring that your software remains unaffected by vulnerabilities by building resilient, threat-resistant software.
Let’s begin by exploring the tools to ensure secure coding principles. We’ll focus on Source Code Review, (SCA) Software Composition Analysis, and (SAST) Static Application Security Testing, which significantly craft inherently secure code.
Source Code Review
Code reviews identify errors, maintain coding standards, and reduce the time spent on manual reviews. However, choosing the right code review tool can be challenging due to the many available options, each with unique features and integrations.
These tools are gaining popularity for their ability to pre-emptively spot issues, saving time, money, and reputation. Integrated validation rules enforce coding standards, ensuring code compliance before deployment. Code review tools foster collaboration and feedback among developers and contribute to more reliable systems.
KEY TOOLS FOR SOURCE CODE REVIEW
- Crucible
- GitHub
- Bitbucket
- Gerrit
- Azure DevOps
- AWS Code Commit / AWS Code Star
- SonarCloud
Software Composition Analysis (SCA)
Software Composition Analysis (SCA) scrutinizes applications and related artifacts, such as containers and registries. It detects open-source and third-party components with known vulnerabilities, outdated patches, or licensing risks. SCA fortifies the software supply chain, supporting secure application development by including secure components. It equips development teams to swiftly track and evaluate open-source elements within projects, encompassing dependencies, licenses, deprecated modules, and vulnerabilities.
SCA’s scanning process yields a Bill of Materials (BOM), an inventory of software assets, achieved through a package manager, manifest file, and source code inspections. The BOM is cross-referenced with databases, including the National Vulnerability Database (NVD).
TOP SCA TOOLS
- Nexus Repository
- Checkmarx SCA
- Snyk Open Source
- CloudeDefense.AI
- GitLab DevSecOps Platform
- GitHub
- JFrog Software Supply Chain Platform
- GuardRails
- Aqua Security
- Argon CI/CD Security
Static Application Security Testing (SAST)
Static Application Security Testing (SAST) tools are designed to automatically scan an application’s source code, identifying vulnerabilities before deployment. SAST, a form of white-box testing, provides granular assessments down to the code line. The key advantages include:
- Early vulnerability identification in the software development life cycle
- Real-time feedback to developers
- Rapid analysis of the entire codebase
SAST doesn’t require a running application and doesn’t disrupt the development process. It prevents security issues from becoming afterthoughts and offers graphical representations of vulnerabilities. Developers can create customized reports and track security issues, contributing to a secure software development life cycle. SAST is highly efficient, scanning millions of lines of code within minutes and detecting critical vulnerabilities like SQL injection and buffer overflows.
PROMINENT SAST TOOLS
- GitHub
- Checkmarx
- Fortify Static Code Analyzer
- SonarQube
- CodeScan
- CoreOS Clair
- Argon CI/CD Security
- New Relic
- Nexus Lifecycle
2. Continuous Build and Integration
Continuous build and integration involves developers frequently merging code changes into a central repository. This practice predominantly focuses on the build and integration phase during software release. It aims to expedite bug detection and resolution, enhance software quality, and minimize the duration required to validate and launch software updates. As each change is typically small, pinpointing the specific change (read more..)
