Demystifying DevSecOps: The Role, Skills, and Career Path of a DevSecOps Engineer

Navigating the Intersection of Development, Security, and Operations

Flow-Diagram

What is a DevSecOps Engineer?

A DevSecOps Engineer is a security professional responsible for ensuring comprehensive and effective integration by the security team within the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). The task is, therefore, to find the possible vulnerabilities that security might have: either a technique or a strategy to mitigate the possible risks, in order for the risks of those vulnerabilities not to materialize.

The DevSecOps engineers are among those who look for, apply security controls to, and assure that the work done conforms to the appropriate high security standards and regulations. He is, in other words, the most important professional who makes sure the security is upfront of the SDLC.

Requirements and stacks

Introduction to DevSecOps Career Path

DevOps is a practical approach for delivering reliable software quickly, but security is often left as an afterthought. DevSecOps integrates security as an essential component of the SDLC, distributing security responsibilities amongst team members and encouraging a “Security as Code” culture.

The DevSecOps Career Path

DevSecOps is a professional career that starts from software development. Most of the engineers in the DevSecOps field started in software development (or) system administration, then later these professionals would be transitioned into DevSecOps. Another related certification is Certified DevSecOps Professional (CDP) & Certified DevSecOps Expert (CDE). If you’re someone who is looking for a high leadership level certification in DevSecOps then you can take Certified DevSecOps Leader certification (CDL).

Here is a brief overview of the DevSecOps Career Path

DevSecOps Engineer Skills

To become a pro-DevSecOps engineer in 2024, aspiring individuals must have different technical and soft skills in combination. Right below, we have listed out the best DevSecOps Engineer skills that are required:

1. Strong understanding of security concepts, including threat modeling, risk assessment, and vulnerability management.
2. Knowledge of the SDLC and experience integrating security best practices at every process stage.
3. Familiarity with automation tools and scripting languages like Python and PowerShell.
4. Understanding cloud security principles, including secure architecture design and configuration management.
5. Knowledge of container security principles, such as Docker and Kubernetes.
6. Experience with DevOps practices, such as continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) and infrastructure as code (IaC).
7. Experience with various compliance frameworks and regulations: PCI-DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR.
8. Good analytical problem-solving skills to scrutinize and solve very intricate security problems with effective solutions.
9. Ability to work cohesively with cross-functional teams and possess good communication skills.
10. Passionate about continued learning and being aware of current security trends and technologies.

DevSecOps Engineer Roles and Responsibilities

DevSecOps engineer roles and responsibilities are various tasks, including:

• Integrating security features in the software development life cycle.
• Identification and probable security risks, with their mitigating strategies.
• Implementation of security controls.
• Monitoring of the threat to security.
• Ensuring regulatory compliances for standards of security.
• Proficient in uniting cross-functional teams and communicating clearly, while fervently pursuing knowledge of the latest trends and technologies in security.

What really means

DevSecOps Engineer Requirements

DevSecOps engineer requirements are several, and some of them are as follows:

• Early detection of security vulnerabilities
• Faster deployment of secure software
• Enhanced collaboration among development, security, security, and operations teams.
• By following better compliance with security standards and regulations
• Greater visibility into security risks and threats

How to Become a DevSecOps Engineer?

To be a DevSecOps Engineer, one should have a strong basis in software development and principles of security. For example, some would be computer science, information technology, or any other degree-related stream from a relevant field. The same would stand you in good stead, for example, certifications like Certified DevSecOps Professional (CDP) in the area of shows off your security knowledge.

Also read, Best DevSecOps Books

Genius Guinea Pig

Learning Resources for DevSecOps

Several resources are available for anyone interested in learning more about DevSecOps. The right DevSecOps Career Path to Becoming a Skilled DevSecOps engineer includes the aspiring individual equipping himself with essential tools.

Here are the resources you can use to pave your way to becoming a DevSecOps engineer, Namely:

1. Git (Version Control System)
2. CI/CD ( Continuous Integration and Delivery)
3. Artifact management
4. Infrastructure as Code(Configuration management tools)
5. Cloud Platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure)

Do not feel overwhelmed! Initially, you only have to build a basic understanding of these tools.

Here is the link to the List of Videos, Tutorials, Blogs, Hands-on labs, or Online playgrounds you can use to pave your way to becoming a DevSecOps Engineer.

DevSecOps Tools and Technologies

DevSecOps engineers will be armed with a large variety of tools and technologies that they will apply to their work. They typically work within an environment that is supported by automated testing tools in the case of potential security vulnerability areas. Below is a list of Top 6 best tools and technologies used by DevSecOps professionals are:

• Jenkins
• GitLab
• Docker
• Kubernetes
• Ansible
• Terraform

Also Read, Best DevSecOps Tools in 2023

What Does a DevSecOps Engineer Do?

• DevSecOps engineers are required to be capable of efficiently implementing a range of DevSecOps best practices, including:
• Build in security early and often within the SDLC, so each of the phases identifies and mitigates the risks in the process.
• Cultivate a security culture within the organization: every stakeholder should know their responsibilities.
• The idea is that you should automate everything in the security testing and deployment process that you can possibly automate, as more likely to be driven by human error.
• Take a security risk-based approach, focusing on all important but most critical assets and vulnerabilities.
• To leverage IaC (infrastructure as a code) in a more consistent and efficient way to put up secure environments.
• Security is to be regularly assessed, and penetration testing should help in identifying any exposure for the improvement of security posture.
• Help in sharing knowledge and best practices between the security, development, and operation teams to achieve true collaboration. Monitor the environment from any security threat and respond promptly to incidents or breaches.
• Utilize a security-centric DevOps toolchain to integrate security testing, deployment, and processes smoothly.
• Integration of security into the SDLC will ensure developed software complies with some security standards and regulations, for example, PCI-DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, etc.

Also Read, Must Know DevSecOps Engineer Interview Questions

Challenges Faced by DevSecOps Engineers

DevSecOps engineers face several challenges, including

• Keep up with new security threats and vulnerabilities.
• Balancing security against development pace while ensuring compliance with the standard and regulation.
• Work harmoniously with developers and other stakeholders to manage complexity in cloud environments.

Articles

Grandview Research. “US DevSecOps market report overview, https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/development-security-operation-market-report.” Accessed February 14, 2023.

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