Top 10 DevSecOps Practices

|

Shreya Srivastava

|

Jul 14, 2025

Jul 14, 2025

Top 10 DevSecOps Practices
Top 10 DevSecOps Practices
Top 10 DevSecOps Practices

Want to secure your software development process without slowing it down? DevSecOps integrates security into every phase of development, helping you catch vulnerabilities early, reduce costs, and ensure compliance. Here's a quick look at the top practices:

  • Prioritize High-Risk Vulnerabilities: Use runtime data to focus on issues that matter most.

  • Integrate Security in CI/CD Pipelines: Add automated security checks without disrupting workflows.

  • Apply Security as Code: Treat security policies like code for consistency and automation.

  • Use Least Privilege Access: Limit permissions and manage secrets effectively.

  • Automate Security Scanning: Catch vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with automated tools.

  • Deploy Secure Container Images: Use lightweight, verified images to minimize risks.

  • Conduct Threat Modeling: Continuously analyze your attack surface to stay ahead of threats.

  • Set Up Continuous Monitoring: Use real-time alerts and centralized logging for better visibility.

  • Automate Remediation: Leverage AI-powered tools to fix issues instantly.

  • Build a Security-First Culture: Make security everyone's responsibility with training and collaboration.

These practices not only strengthen your security but also help deliver high-quality software faster. Let’s break down how to implement them effectively.

Want to secure your software development process without slowing it down? DevSecOps integrates security into every phase of development, helping you catch vulnerabilities early, reduce costs, and ensure compliance. Here's a quick look at the top practices:

  • Prioritize High-Risk Vulnerabilities: Use runtime data to focus on issues that matter most.

  • Integrate Security in CI/CD Pipelines: Add automated security checks without disrupting workflows.

  • Apply Security as Code: Treat security policies like code for consistency and automation.

  • Use Least Privilege Access: Limit permissions and manage secrets effectively.

  • Automate Security Scanning: Catch vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with automated tools.

  • Deploy Secure Container Images: Use lightweight, verified images to minimize risks.

  • Conduct Threat Modeling: Continuously analyze your attack surface to stay ahead of threats.

  • Set Up Continuous Monitoring: Use real-time alerts and centralized logging for better visibility.

  • Automate Remediation: Leverage AI-powered tools to fix issues instantly.

  • Build a Security-First Culture: Make security everyone's responsibility with training and collaboration.

These practices not only strengthen your security but also help deliver high-quality software faster. Let’s break down how to implement them effectively.

Want to secure your software development process without slowing it down? DevSecOps integrates security into every phase of development, helping you catch vulnerabilities early, reduce costs, and ensure compliance. Here's a quick look at the top practices:

  • Prioritize High-Risk Vulnerabilities: Use runtime data to focus on issues that matter most.

  • Integrate Security in CI/CD Pipelines: Add automated security checks without disrupting workflows.

  • Apply Security as Code: Treat security policies like code for consistency and automation.

  • Use Least Privilege Access: Limit permissions and manage secrets effectively.

  • Automate Security Scanning: Catch vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with automated tools.

  • Deploy Secure Container Images: Use lightweight, verified images to minimize risks.

  • Conduct Threat Modeling: Continuously analyze your attack surface to stay ahead of threats.

  • Set Up Continuous Monitoring: Use real-time alerts and centralized logging for better visibility.

  • Automate Remediation: Leverage AI-powered tools to fix issues instantly.

  • Build a Security-First Culture: Make security everyone's responsibility with training and collaboration.

These practices not only strengthen your security but also help deliver high-quality software faster. Let’s break down how to implement them effectively.

Comparison Table

When deciding on the best DevSecOps strategy, it's essential to weigh the pros and cons of traditional versus AI-powered security methods. In 2024, 92% of organizations in the U.S. and Europe increased their IT security budgets [46], with penetration testing investments rising by 85% in the same year [46]. These trends highlight the growing reliance on automation in security testing.

The real challenge lies in balancing depth, speed, and scalability between manual and automated approaches. Here's a breakdown:

Feature

Manual Security Testing

AI-Powered API Testing via Qodex

Automated Penetration Testing

Test Case Creation

Relies on manual scripting and expert knowledge

Automatically generates test cases from API documentation and usage data

Semi-automated with some room for customization

Speed and Execution

Time-consuming and resource-heavy

Extremely fast, delivering real-time feedback (up to 10x faster)

Quicker than manual but slower than AI-driven testing

Scalability

Challenging to scale for large API ecosystems

Easily scales to handle complex, large APIs

Moderately scalable and suitable for frequent scans

Vulnerability Detection

Excels at uncovering complex vulnerabilities

Uses AI to detect anomalies and rare issues

Best at identifying standard, known vulnerabilities

Adaptability

Updates require manual effort

Automatically adjusts to API changes with self-healing tests

Limited adaptability; primarily automated processes

Cost Structure

Lower upfront costs but higher maintenance over time

Higher initial investment with reduced long-term costs

Affordable for frequent scans

Coverage Depth

Offers the most in-depth analysis

Broad coverage with AI-enhanced depth tailored to APIs

Broad but lacks deeper analytical capabilities

Learning Capability

No automated learning; it depends on human expertise

Continuously improves by learning from past tests

Static, with no self-improvement features

The global penetration testing market is expected to hit $6.35 billion by 2032 [46], reflecting the increasing focus on security testing. Many organizations are now blending manual testing - valued for its depth in identifying critical vulnerabilities - with AI-driven tools that provide speed, scalability, and continuous monitoring.

AI-powered tools bring a new edge to cybersecurity by leveraging machine learning, data analytics, and automation to predict and counter advanced threats [47]. Unlike traditional methods bound by static rule sets, these tools analyze files against vast datasets to detect unknown threats [47]. They shine in continuous API monitoring, automated test creation, and delivering rapid feedback during development.

When deciding on the best DevSecOps strategy, it's essential to weigh the pros and cons of traditional versus AI-powered security methods. In 2024, 92% of organizations in the U.S. and Europe increased their IT security budgets [46], with penetration testing investments rising by 85% in the same year [46]. These trends highlight the growing reliance on automation in security testing.

The real challenge lies in balancing depth, speed, and scalability between manual and automated approaches. Here's a breakdown:

Feature

Manual Security Testing

AI-Powered API Testing via Qodex

Automated Penetration Testing

Test Case Creation

Relies on manual scripting and expert knowledge

Automatically generates test cases from API documentation and usage data

Semi-automated with some room for customization

Speed and Execution

Time-consuming and resource-heavy

Extremely fast, delivering real-time feedback (up to 10x faster)

Quicker than manual but slower than AI-driven testing

Scalability

Challenging to scale for large API ecosystems

Easily scales to handle complex, large APIs

Moderately scalable and suitable for frequent scans

Vulnerability Detection

Excels at uncovering complex vulnerabilities

Uses AI to detect anomalies and rare issues

Best at identifying standard, known vulnerabilities

Adaptability

Updates require manual effort

Automatically adjusts to API changes with self-healing tests

Limited adaptability; primarily automated processes

Cost Structure

Lower upfront costs but higher maintenance over time

Higher initial investment with reduced long-term costs

Affordable for frequent scans

Coverage Depth

Offers the most in-depth analysis

Broad coverage with AI-enhanced depth tailored to APIs

Broad but lacks deeper analytical capabilities

Learning Capability

No automated learning; it depends on human expertise

Continuously improves by learning from past tests

Static, with no self-improvement features

The global penetration testing market is expected to hit $6.35 billion by 2032 [46], reflecting the increasing focus on security testing. Many organizations are now blending manual testing - valued for its depth in identifying critical vulnerabilities - with AI-driven tools that provide speed, scalability, and continuous monitoring.

AI-powered tools bring a new edge to cybersecurity by leveraging machine learning, data analytics, and automation to predict and counter advanced threats [47]. Unlike traditional methods bound by static rule sets, these tools analyze files against vast datasets to detect unknown threats [47]. They shine in continuous API monitoring, automated test creation, and delivering rapid feedback during development.

When deciding on the best DevSecOps strategy, it's essential to weigh the pros and cons of traditional versus AI-powered security methods. In 2024, 92% of organizations in the U.S. and Europe increased their IT security budgets [46], with penetration testing investments rising by 85% in the same year [46]. These trends highlight the growing reliance on automation in security testing.

The real challenge lies in balancing depth, speed, and scalability between manual and automated approaches. Here's a breakdown:

Feature

Manual Security Testing

AI-Powered API Testing via Qodex

Automated Penetration Testing

Test Case Creation

Relies on manual scripting and expert knowledge

Automatically generates test cases from API documentation and usage data

Semi-automated with some room for customization

Speed and Execution

Time-consuming and resource-heavy

Extremely fast, delivering real-time feedback (up to 10x faster)

Quicker than manual but slower than AI-driven testing

Scalability

Challenging to scale for large API ecosystems

Easily scales to handle complex, large APIs

Moderately scalable and suitable for frequent scans

Vulnerability Detection

Excels at uncovering complex vulnerabilities

Uses AI to detect anomalies and rare issues

Best at identifying standard, known vulnerabilities

Adaptability

Updates require manual effort

Automatically adjusts to API changes with self-healing tests

Limited adaptability; primarily automated processes

Cost Structure

Lower upfront costs but higher maintenance over time

Higher initial investment with reduced long-term costs

Affordable for frequent scans

Coverage Depth

Offers the most in-depth analysis

Broad coverage with AI-enhanced depth tailored to APIs

Broad but lacks deeper analytical capabilities

Learning Capability

No automated learning; it depends on human expertise

Continuously improves by learning from past tests

Static, with no self-improvement features

The global penetration testing market is expected to hit $6.35 billion by 2032 [46], reflecting the increasing focus on security testing. Many organizations are now blending manual testing - valued for its depth in identifying critical vulnerabilities - with AI-driven tools that provide speed, scalability, and continuous monitoring.

AI-powered tools bring a new edge to cybersecurity by leveraging machine learning, data analytics, and automation to predict and counter advanced threats [47]. Unlike traditional methods bound by static rule sets, these tools analyze files against vast datasets to detect unknown threats [47]. They shine in continuous API monitoring, automated test creation, and delivering rapid feedback during development.

Conclusion

DevSecOps moves organizations away from patching problems after the fact and toward building security into their processes from the start. The ten practices discussed earlier provide a solid framework for embedding security into every phase of development and operations. As Keatron Evans, a consultant at the Infosec Institute, puts it:

"DevSecOps is so important today because 95% of Fortune 500 companies are 50% or more in the cloud. And how do we access the cloud? Through applications. DevSecOps is how we secure applications. If your organization is going to compete securely now and in the future, you will need to implement DevSecOps." [45]

This perspective highlights the critical role DevSecOps plays in modern development. By adopting it, organizations can deliver code faster, save money by identifying vulnerabilities early, and break down silos between teams [48][50]. With 90% of breaches originating from code vulnerabilities [52], the need for DevSecOps is undeniable.

Building a security-first culture is equally important, especially since 74% of breaches involve human errors [51]. Promoting continuous learning and encouraging feedback from employees can help integrate security into daily operations.

The benefits extend beyond technical improvements - they also have strategic value. To stay effective, organizations must regularly assess and refine their processes to keep up with evolving security challenges [49]. DevSecOps isn’t a one-time fix; it’s an ongoing effort that strengthens security, boosts efficiency, and fosters collaboration over time.

Start small. Pick a project that’s easy to manage and introduces minimal disruption while delivering noticeable security improvements. Focus on one practice that aligns with your current capabilities, and build from there. This gradual approach ensures measurable progress while creating a strong foundation for integrating security into every stage of your development pipeline.

DevSecOps moves organizations away from patching problems after the fact and toward building security into their processes from the start. The ten practices discussed earlier provide a solid framework for embedding security into every phase of development and operations. As Keatron Evans, a consultant at the Infosec Institute, puts it:

"DevSecOps is so important today because 95% of Fortune 500 companies are 50% or more in the cloud. And how do we access the cloud? Through applications. DevSecOps is how we secure applications. If your organization is going to compete securely now and in the future, you will need to implement DevSecOps." [45]

This perspective highlights the critical role DevSecOps plays in modern development. By adopting it, organizations can deliver code faster, save money by identifying vulnerabilities early, and break down silos between teams [48][50]. With 90% of breaches originating from code vulnerabilities [52], the need for DevSecOps is undeniable.

Building a security-first culture is equally important, especially since 74% of breaches involve human errors [51]. Promoting continuous learning and encouraging feedback from employees can help integrate security into daily operations.

The benefits extend beyond technical improvements - they also have strategic value. To stay effective, organizations must regularly assess and refine their processes to keep up with evolving security challenges [49]. DevSecOps isn’t a one-time fix; it’s an ongoing effort that strengthens security, boosts efficiency, and fosters collaboration over time.

Start small. Pick a project that’s easy to manage and introduces minimal disruption while delivering noticeable security improvements. Focus on one practice that aligns with your current capabilities, and build from there. This gradual approach ensures measurable progress while creating a strong foundation for integrating security into every stage of your development pipeline.

DevSecOps moves organizations away from patching problems after the fact and toward building security into their processes from the start. The ten practices discussed earlier provide a solid framework for embedding security into every phase of development and operations. As Keatron Evans, a consultant at the Infosec Institute, puts it:

"DevSecOps is so important today because 95% of Fortune 500 companies are 50% or more in the cloud. And how do we access the cloud? Through applications. DevSecOps is how we secure applications. If your organization is going to compete securely now and in the future, you will need to implement DevSecOps." [45]

This perspective highlights the critical role DevSecOps plays in modern development. By adopting it, organizations can deliver code faster, save money by identifying vulnerabilities early, and break down silos between teams [48][50]. With 90% of breaches originating from code vulnerabilities [52], the need for DevSecOps is undeniable.

Building a security-first culture is equally important, especially since 74% of breaches involve human errors [51]. Promoting continuous learning and encouraging feedback from employees can help integrate security into daily operations.

The benefits extend beyond technical improvements - they also have strategic value. To stay effective, organizations must regularly assess and refine their processes to keep up with evolving security challenges [49]. DevSecOps isn’t a one-time fix; it’s an ongoing effort that strengthens security, boosts efficiency, and fosters collaboration over time.

Start small. Pick a project that’s easy to manage and introduces minimal disruption while delivering noticeable security improvements. Focus on one practice that aligns with your current capabilities, and build from there. This gradual approach ensures measurable progress while creating a strong foundation for integrating security into every stage of your development pipeline.

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