How To Learn DevOps

Upskill Battle: How to Learn DevSecOps

As enterprises look to embrace new technologies, develop new software, and customize IT deployments, “upskilling” has become a priority. With skilled staff in high demand and their cost at a premium, this training approach focuses on improving current IT skillsets to help technology teams stay ahead of the curve.

Applications have emerged as a particular area of interest for enterprises. With mobile-native and responsive desktop apps now must-haves for any organizational initiatives, speedy development, and management are top priorities. This is DevOps' origin: The combination of development and operations teams to help streamline the software design, production, and deployment process.

With application environments rapidly expanding, security has emerged as a new area of focus. As a result, a new organizational framework has emerged, which is called DevSecOps. It is the injection of (and consideration for) security within the DevOps process(es). It is designed to reduce potential risks without negatively impacting performance. This hybridization of development/security/operations is quickly becoming the de facto standard for enterprise IT operations.

But how do IT pros ensure they’re on the winning side of this upskill battle? What skills and knowledge do they need to embrace the new software and embrace DevSecOps at scale?

DevSecOps: From Agile to Adaptable

Software development is continually evolving as companies look for new ways to improve time-to-market without sacrificing quality or security.

Consider the transition from waterfall-based development to agile software models — while the rigid frameworks of dependent phases used by waterfall initiatives provided corporate consistency, the rapidly-evolving application landscape made it clear that more flexible, sprint-based solutions were better suited to meet end-user expectations.

Nonetheless, agile has its limits. Although rapid deployments were beneficial for development teams, operations staff were often overwhelmed by the sheer volume of application assessments required to ensure IT consistency, not to mention the potentially adverse effects of rushed software development.

DevOps initiatives were created to combat these issues by combining Development and Operations frameworks to empower continual evaluation of enterprise software projects. DevSecOps takes this integrative idea a step further with ongoing security assessment and testing throughout the development lifecycle, allowing agile efforts to embrace the on-demand adaptability now required to deliver secure software at speed.

How to Learn DevSecOps

As a developing framework, DevSecOps designations are still evolving to meet industry demands. For IT professionals looking to expand their DevSecOps expertise, a dual-track approach to upskilling efforts often delivers the best results.

A good starting point is gaining experience with the latest industry tools and improving key knowledge of industry best practices. This includes everything from training in key coding languages such as Python, JavaScript, and C#, to more solution-specific education in Azure or AWS DevOps environments.

Next, it’s worth considering certifications to highlight key DevSecOps knowledge and skills. IT pros are well served by DevSecOps fundamentals training that helps them describe the need for this triple-tactic approach: gain executive buy-in, develop basic DevSecOps deployments, and design implementation strategies.

Key DevSecOps skills include:

• Identifying common vulnerabilities including XSS, CERF, SQL injection, and Remote/Local file inclusion.
• Recognizing and remediating third-party and supply chain risks from public repositories such as Docker Hub, Python Package Index, or NPM.
• Implementing secure software development lifecycle (SSDLC) practices that prioritize ongoing evaluation and natively-secure coding.
• Deploying continuous assessment tools and techniques that maximize development speed while minimizing security risk.

By laying the groundwork with cutting-edge DevSecOps training, IT pros are better prepared to take on the challenges of in-depth certification courses and exams.

Developing Career Potential

Despite the relative infancy of many DevSecOps deployments, the results speak for themselves. Organizations that have implemented effective DevSecOps solutions have seen significant reductions in the number of always-vulnerable applications. As a result, companies are willing to pay for DevSecOps expertise, with trained staff now earning $140,000 per year on average — and even more in large urban centers where market competition makes first-to-market software critical for success. Add in the rapid adoption of mobile devices and the need for on-demand application development that is cloud-enabled, responsive, and secure. It’s no surprise that the career potential for DevSecOps professionals is rapidly expanding.

This is especially true as software security priorities shift from budget line-items to line-of-business benefits. Many C-suites are now making room for security professionals at the boardroom table and see the advantages of combined DevSecOps environments that lean into software development's continuous nature, rather than treating this task as a discrete set of disparate stages.

Simply put, DevSecOps is just getting started — making it a great opportunity for IT professionals looking to expand their education and enhance their career potential.

Conquering Continuous Improvement

Upskilling is now essential for enterprises to embrace the continuous-improvement mandate of mobile and web-based software development. This is especially critical as security takes center stage for both revenue and reputation. If end-user data is compromised thanks to rushed software releases or obvious application flaws, the results can significantly impact corporate ROI. As a result, DevSecOps professionals with the right combination of in-situ skills and applicable certifications are now in demand to help companies conquer continuous improvement and deliver secure software at speed.