DevSecOps is an approach to software development and IT operations that integrates security practices and principles throughout the entire software development lifecycle (SDLC), from planning and coding to testing, deployment, and operations. It extends the principles of DevOps (Development + Operations) to include security, aiming to build security into every stage of the development and delivery process rather than treating it as an afterthought.

Key aspects of DevSecOps include:

1. Shift Left: DevSecOps emphasizes shifting security practices and considerations to the left, meaning integrating security into the earliest stages of the development process. This includes incorporating security requirements into initial planning, design, and coding phases.
2. Automation: Automation is a fundamental aspect of DevSecOps, enabling security processes such as vulnerability scanning, code analysis, configuration management, and compliance checks to be integrated seamlessly into development and deployment pipelines. Automated security tests and checks are performed continuously throughout the SDLC, allowing for rapid detection and remediation of security vulnerabilities.
3. Culture and Collaboration: DevSecOps promotes a culture of collaboration and shared responsibility among development, operations, and security teams. It encourages open communication, knowledge sharing, and collaboration to ensure that security considerations are addressed effectively across all teams.
4. Continuous Security Monitoring: DevSecOps advocates for continuous monitoring of applications, infrastructure, and environments to detect and respond to security threats in real-time. This includes monitoring for suspicious activities, unauthorized access, configuration drift, and other security-related events.
5. Compliance and Governance: DevSecOps integrates compliance and governance requirements into the development process, ensuring that applications and systems adhere to relevant security standards, regulations, and industry best practices. Compliance checks are automated and performed continuously to maintain security and regulatory compliance.
6. Security as Code: DevSecOps promotes the concept of “security as code,” where security policies, configurations, and controls are defined and managed using code and version-controlled repositories. This enables security to be treated as an integral part of infrastructure and application development, with security controls defined programmatically and deployed alongside application code.

Overall, DevSecOps aims to improve the security posture of software systems by embedding security practices and principles into every aspect of the development and delivery process. By integrating security into DevOps workflows, organizations can build more secure, resilient, and compliant software while maintaining agility and speed of delivery.