Cybersecurity 101back-iconWhat Does DevSecOps Stand For?

What Does DevSecOps Stand For?

If you’re wondering what does DevSecOps stand for, the answer goes beyond the acronym. It represents a collaborative approach that embeds security into every stage of software development.

Rather than relying solely on final security reviews, DevSecOps incorporates security into planning, coding, testing, deployment, and ongoing operations. The objective is to identify and address security issues throughout development before they become more difficult to remediate.

DevSecOps builds on DevOps principles by making security a shared responsibility among development, security, and operations teams.

How does DevSecOps work?

DevSecOps integrates security practices and controls throughout the software development lifecycle, including within CI/CD pipelines where appropriate. As code moves through development, testing, deployment, and operations, organizations can incorporate security checks at suitable stages of their workflows.

Common DevSecOps practices include:

  • Static Application Security Testing (SAST)
  • Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)
  • Software Composition Analysis (SCA)
  • Infrastructure as Code (IaC) security scanning
  • Container image scanning
  • Secrets detection
  • Continuous vulnerability monitoring

Automating these security checks can help organizations identify certain issues earlier while reducing manual effort within software delivery workflows.

DevSecOps vs DevOps

Feature  DevOps  DevSecOps 
Primary emphasis  Collaboration, automation, and reliable software delivery  DevOps practices with security integrated throughout the lifecycle 
Security responsibility  Varies by organizational model  Shared across development, security, and operations 
Security integration  Not necessarily an explicit or standardized focus  Integrated throughout the SDLC 
Automation  Development, testing, delivery, and operational workflows  DevOps automation with integrated security testing and validation 
Goal  Deliver reliable software efficiently  Deliver reliable software with continuous security integration 

Why is DevSecOps important?

When security reviews occur primarily near release, organizations may discover vulnerabilities later in the development process, making remediation more disruptive.

DevSecOps helps organizations:

  • Detect certain security issues earlier in development.
  • Address vulnerabilities before they become more deeply embedded.
  • Support consistent application of organizational security policies.
  • Improve software supply chain security through practices such as dependency scanning and secure build controls.
  • Integrate repeatable security checks into development workflows while reducing avoidable delays from late-stage reviews.

This shift-left approach introduces security earlier in development while maintaining security practices during deployment and ongoing operations.

How Hexnode supports a DevSecOps strategy

Understanding what DevSecOps stand for helps organizations build secure software while supporting faster and more reliable development practices.

Hexnode UEM helps organizations manage developer workstations and enterprise endpoints through centralized device management, application management, compliance policies, and security configurations across supported Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and ChromeOS devices, with capabilities varying by platform.

Hexnode also provides OS patch management for supported Windows and macOS devices and enables organizations to monitor compliance and enforce supported security policies. By maintaining secure and compliant endpoints, Hexnode complements the endpoint security foundation that supports broader DevSecOps initiatives.

FAQs

No. DevSecOps practices can be applied to both cloud-native and traditional software development environments.

DevSecOps is generally considered a culture and set of practices rather than a formal software development methodology.