In the realm of Information Technology (IT), the past few years have seen a transformation in how organizations manage their operations. Previously, IT operations were dictated by narrow interests. This meant that different business functions often operated in silos, each choosing their own set of vendors, applications, or hardware based on individual preferences rather than organizational need. Over time, it became apparent that these isolated approaches were inefficient, missing opportunities for growth and cost savings.
Despite the growing awareness of these inefficiencies, remnants of siloed thinking still persist, particularly when it comes to the interaction between development and security teams. When these two crucial teams clash, it results in several critical issues:
1. Increased software vulnerabilities.
2. Slower development processes.
3. Misaligned toolchains.
4. Poor communication across teams.
The friction between development (Dev) and security (Sec) teams often stems from their differing priorities and expectations. Security teams aim for robust data protection and breach prevention, while development teams focus on speed, innovation, and meeting market demands. Developers often find security measures burdensome, as they can slow down the development process. According to a recent software security study, 77% of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and 68% of developers agree that the emphasis on security often leads to tension between their teams. Furthermore, 82% of developers believe security protocols should not obstruct their workflow.
The solution to these conflicts might lie in a relatively new concept known as platform engineering. By adopting a consolidated internal development platform (IDP), organizations can encourage collaboration between Dev and Sec teams, minimizing conflict through effective tooling and automation.
### Legacy Patterns Cause Continued Friction
The discord between Dev and Sec teams can be traced back to outdated on-premises datacenter tools and workflows. These legacy systems are not well-suited for the demands of cloud application development and operation. Security teams often rely on ticket-based workflows and manual reviews to catch vulnerabilities before applications are launched. Meanwhile, developers resist these controls, arguing that they should not be expected to be security experts and that such responsibilities hinder their ability to meet deadlines.
### DevSecOps and Automation Tooling Sprawl
DevSecOps teams were introduced as an early attempt to bridge the gap between development and security processes. These teams deploy automated checks and processes to reduce the need for manual approvals. However, the introduction of too many tools, with each team choosing their favorites without standardization, can lead to further misalignment. Security teams are then tasked with protecting a broad range of systems, complicating their job of ensuring secure access to machines, networks, and people. When DevSecOps teams add numerous tools, it often results in a lack of visibility and control over cloud infrastructure, hindering security efforts.
### Valuing New Platform Workflows
To prevent or recover from the chaotic scenario of unstandardized tool usage, organizations need a dedicated platform team. This team can correct the disarray by implementing a unified approach to deploying, securing, and managing applications. By integrating security best practices into developer workflows—often called a “shift-left” approach—organizations can secure cloud software without impeding development speed.
New platform workflows deliver sustainable value by finding a balance between security and speed. These workflows should:
– Accelerate developer velocity for secure infrastructure launches.
– Secure keys and credentials with minimal developer disruption.
– Provide quick access to a select list of privileged systems.
– Connect services securely and swiftly over the network.
– Expedite debugging and auditing processes.
The tools needed to build this platform should be chosen with input from both Dev and Sec team champions. Kelly Monteith, Global Public Cloud Lead at AXA Group, emphasizes the importance of providing developers with the tools they need rather than mandating specific solutions. This approach ensures that developers are equipped with tools that meet both their needs and the organization’s security and compliance requirements.
### Reducing Stress and Advancing Security
Reflecting on the evolution of enterprise computing, it is evident that there was a time when decentralized, manual tasks and vendor-specific toolchains were prevalent. In today’s cloud-driven development environment, there is a pressing need for secure software supply chains, cross-team collaboration, automation, data sharing, and broad observability. These factors highlight the benefits of flexible yet secure centralized controls.
Executives can spend years searching for the right tools or trying to create their own toolchains. About half of CISOs recognize that consolidation is the best path forward, but it’s often a daunting task. IT leaders are not only looking for tools and products; they seek partners who can support their teams through digital transformation.
One such partner is HashiCorp, which offers a consolidated solution known as The Infrastructure Cloud. This platform is built on principles of Infrastructure Lifecycle Management and Security Lifecycle Management. It includes popular tools like HashiCorp Terraform, an infrastructure as code provisioner, and HashiCorp Vault, a leading secrets management platform. Organizations can deploy these tools as self-managed software or as managed services on the HashiCorp Cloud Platform (HCP).
HashiCorp’s products allow teams to reduce stress, enhance efficiency, and implement security best practices across all layers of cloud software development. By building an end-to-end cloud IDP, these products alleviate the burden on developers to address security requirements directly, enabling them to deploy application infrastructure more rapidly. This approach results in fewer tickets and easier visibility for security teams.
The Infrastructure Cloud’s platform strategy eliminates error-prone manual provisioning processes, replacing them with secure, standardized modules for reuse. Aligning development and security teams begins with deploying secure cloud development tools that “shift left,” reducing team stress and boosting productivity.
In conclusion, for organizations seeking to prevent conflict between development and security teams in the cloud, it is essential to explore innovative solutions like platform engineering and to seek partners like HashiCorp that provide comprehensive, integrated platforms. By doing so, they can ensure both speed and security, ultimately leading to successful digital transformation.
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