Are you struggling to strike a balance between speed and security in your software development process? DevOps and DevSecOps have become essential methodologies for fast and efficient software development, but they often lack the oversight necessary for compliance and risk management. That’s where Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) comes in. In my blog post, I discussed how DevOps/DevSecOps and GRC are a two-way road and suggested four principles for integrating GRC with DevOps. This post is to help our auditor friends.
DevOps:
DevOps is a methodology that emphasizes collaboration and communication between development and operations teams to increase software development and deployment speed and efficiency. DevOps practices help to automate the software development process and reduce the time it takes to get software from development to production. By breaking down silos between teams and streamlining processes with automation, DevOps enables organizations to develop and deploy software faster, with fewer errors, and at a lower cost.
However, there is a potential risk with DevOps in that speed and agility can sometimes come at the expense of security. DevOps can expose an organization to security vulnerabilities resulting in data breaches, reputational damage, and financial losses without proper security measures.
DevSecOps:
DevSecOps is an extension of DevOps that incorporates security into the development process from the start, popularly known as “Shift Left”. By integrating security into the DevOps pipeline, organizations can identify and address potential security risks early in the software development process, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities introduced into production.
DevSecOps practices help organizations ensure their software is secure by design, reducing the risk of security incidents and data breaches. DevSecOps also allows organizations to comply with regulatory requirements, as security and compliance issues are addressed from the beginning of the development process.
However, it is essential to note that DevSecOps is not just about adding security to the pipeline. Instead, it involves a shift in mindset and culture to ensure that security is a shared responsibility across the entire organization.
GRC:
GRC, or Governance, Risk, and Compliance is about managing an organization’s overall governance, risk, and compliance objectives. GRC provides a structured approach to managing risks and ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
GRC function ensures that an organization’s software development and deployment processes align with regulatory requirements, standards, and best practices.
Balancing compliance and speed and ensuring that GRC is integrated well into the overall software development process is essential. However, GRC can sometimes be a roadblock to the speed and agility of DevOps and DevSecOps. Risk Managers & Auditors need to acquire the skills to codify the GRC requirements into the pipelines and learn to use the digital artefacts, logs and pipeline events as evidence for their audit.
In conclusion, by combining the speed and agility of DevOps, the security of DevSecOps, and the oversight of GRC, organizations can develop and deploy fast, secure, and compliant software. The key is to ensure that each of these aspects is integrated into the software development process and that there is a culture of shared responsibility across the organization. It is all about moving forward with speed, safety and compliance.
BMK 