The journey toward secure software development lifecycles

The digital transformation race is on, and companies are churning out applications at an ever-increasing pace. Unfortunately, this speed often comes at the cost of security. A recent study revealed a shocking statistic: 92% of companies experienced a breach due to vulnerabilities in their own internally developed applications. A different approach is clearly needed. The solution might be found in the security philosophy known as “shift-left,” which essentially promotes the integration of security practices earlier in the software development lifecycle (SDLC).

A win-win-win for security, compliance and spending

Shift-left offers a compelling approach to optimizing spending, security and compliance throughout the SDLC. By integrating security practices early on, organizations can identify and fix vulnerabilities before they enter production, reducing the risk of security breaches. Additionally, a shift-left approach fosters enhanced collaboration between developers and security teams, eliminating the need for separate security audits that can be expensive and time-consuming.

The security benefits of shift-left are clear. Proactive identification and remediation of vulnerabilities leads to more secure software environments, reducing the risk of breaches and data loss. Furthermore, a security-first culture ingrained throughout the development process results in applications that are built with security in mind from the very beginning.

A roadmap to success

While shift-left provides a clear roadmap to more secure software, many organizations face challenges in implementation. Uncertainty about their current position in the journey and the necessary resources can be major obstacles. Understanding the stages of shift-left adoption helps organizations assess their current practices, identify growth opportunities and devise a strategy for deeper integration. The shift-left journey comprises four fundamental stages: box-checking basics, shift-left curious, shift-left committed and continuously secure.

A crucial element of successfully navigating this journey is the integration of people, processes and tools. By fostering a culture that prioritizes security, establishing robust processes and leveraging the right tools, organizations can effectively advance through each stage and achieve a higher level of security throughout their software development lifecycle.

Beyond the basics 

Many organizations’ shift-left journey begins with “box checking basics.” At this stage, the primary focus is on meeting compliance requirements rather than proactively improving overall security posture. AppSec teams typically focus on testing applications in production, creating tickets and expecting developers to resolve issues independently. This lack of collaboration leads to the late detection of security vulnerabilities, increased mitigation costs and delays in release cycles.

The relationship between AppSec and development teams is crucial for effective shift-left adoption. As the pace of innovation accelerates and attack surfaces expand, organizations need to move beyond the box-checking basics and enhance their security efforts. Although change often meets resistance, starting with small, controlled implementations of shift-left practices can demonstrate their value and ease the transition. Success in pilot programs can serve as proof of concept, encouraging broader adoption and fostering a more integrated approach to security.

Shift-left curious 

As organizations bridge the gap between box checking basics and shift-left curious, it is not uncommon for them to have a dedicated security champion focused on building or scaling AppSec teams. However, in the absence of a clear roadmap, this designated leader and their organization can face roadblocks to full adoption as the steps become more arduous and plans for implementation lack wider support. Starting small is the key to success at this stage, through successful pilot initiatives, organizations can begin scaling their approach and build momentum into the shift-left curious phase. 

To combat the slowing pace of exploration and adoption, this phase requires a significant focus on collaboration, bridging the gap between AppSec and engineering teams to help foster an environment that promotes knowledge sharing and alignment of security goals. Through the cultivation of progressive communication among teams, organizations can ensure everyone understands security risks, how to mitigate them and the steps that must be taken to further improve security. This will help teams identify the right tools and partners for successful implementation of shift-left practices. 

Commitment to shift-left

Following significant collaboration and the identification of the core tools and processes required for success, organizations solidify their commitment to shift-left and begin actively integrating security processes into development workflows. While security is no longer an afterthought, some challenges tend to arise, particularly overcoming technical limitations, ensuring the scalability of testing processes and executing processes that properly align with business goals. 

At this stage of the shift-left journey, it is crucial that security teams continue to collaborate with developers to foster a security-aware culture and integrate automated security checks within CI/CD pipelines for seamless security throughout the development lifecycle. It is also important to regularly evaluate shift-left tools and processes to ensure that they keep pace with evolving threats and security requirements. 

Continuously secure

The ultimate goal of shift-left is to achieve a “continuously secure” status, in which AppSec and development teams share combined ownership of application security and completely embrace a shift-left mentality. This cultural shift empowers teams to proactively identify and address potential vulnerabilities early on, minimizing the attack surface and reducing the risk of costly breaches. At this point in the journey, organizations are also leveraging cutting-edge security tools and automation to streamline processes and stay ahead of ever-evolving threats. This proactive approach not only enhances the overall security posture but also fosters trust with users by demonstrating a commitment to safeguarding their data and privacy.

Marathon, not a sprint 

There is no one size fits all approach for shifting left and the process will be different for every organization, depending on their size and industry. By understanding the different stages and the resources required at each level, organizations can develop a plan to improve their security posture and build more resilient applications. By investing in the right people, processes and technology at each stage, companies can dramatically improve their security and build applications that can withstand ever-evolving threats. Remember, security is not a destination — it’s a continuous journey. By prioritizing security throughout the development lifecycle, organizations can create a more secure future for both themselves and their customers.