DevSecOps is a way of building and running software that brings security into DevOps practices from the start, rather than treating it as a separate review at the end. Security checks run automatically in the same pipelines that build, test and release code, and developers, operations staff and security specialists share responsibility for fixing what those checks find. The goal is to release software quickly without leaving security behind.
At a glance
- DevSecOps is a practice and culture, supported by tools, not a single product.
- Automated security checks run inside the build and release pipeline, often on every code change.
- Common checks include code scanning, testing the running application, open-source component checks, secret scanning and infrastructure configuration checks.
- Developers fix most findings themselves; the security team sets policy and helps with complex issues.
- The hard part is usually prioritizing findings and changing habits, not installing scanners.
What problem it solves
When teams release software weekly or daily, a security review that takes weeks at the end of the process becomes a bottleneck. Either releases wait, or the review gets skipped. Flaws then reach production, where they are more expensive to fix and may be exploited before anyone notices. Modern applications also pull in large numbers of open-source components, any of which can carry a known vulnerability or be tampered with in a supply chain attack.
DevSecOps tackles this by making security part of the normal flow of work. Small, automated checks run on each change and give developers fast feedback while the code is fresh in their minds. Policies can stop a release if a serious issue is found. Over time, this turns security from a gate at the end into a routine part of how software is built.
How it works
Secure design. Teams consider threats and security requirements when planning features, not just when testing them.
Code-level checks. Static application security testing (SAST) scans source code for risky patterns. Secret scanning catches passwords or keys accidentally committed to code. These often run in the developer’s editor and on every code change.
Component checks. Software composition analysis lists the open-source and third-party components an application uses and flags those with known vulnerabilities or license issues.
Runtime testing. Dynamic application security testing (DAST) tests the running application in a test environment from the outside, the way an attacker would.
Infrastructure and container checks. Infrastructure-as-code templates and container images are scanned for misconfigurations and known vulnerabilities before deployment.
Pipeline security. The build system itself is protected, with controlled access, signed builds and protected credentials, because a compromised pipeline can push malicious code to production.
Feedback and metrics. Findings go into the developers’ issue tracker, prioritized by severity and exposure. Teams track measures such as time to fix serious issues. These checks are all forms of application security testing, organized around the pipeline.
When it matters for buyers
- When you build or customize software. Including customer portals, internal tools, integrations and cloud infrastructure defined in code.
- When security reviews slow down releases. Automating routine checks can free the security team for higher-risk work.
- When customers send security questionnaires. Software and SaaS companies are often asked how they test code and manage open-source risk.
- When hiring a development partner. Their security practices become part of your risk.
- When consolidating security tools. Many teams run separate scanners that could be combined on one platform. Our application security testing overview covers how these platforms are compared.
Questions to ask vendors
- Which checks run in the pipeline (SAST, DAST, component analysis, secrets, infrastructure, containers), and at which stages?
- How do findings reach developers, and how do you reduce false positives?
- Can policies block a release for serious issues, and who can override them?
- How is the pipeline itself secured, including credentials and build integrity?
- Can you produce a software bill of materials for what you deliver to us?
- What are your target times to fix critical and high-severity findings, and can you report against them?
- How is pricing calculated: per developer, per application or per scan?
How it differs from DevOps
DevOps joins development and operations around automated, frequent releases. DevSecOps is the same approach with security added as a shared responsibility and a set of automated checks inside the pipeline. In practice the line is thin: many mature DevOps teams already run security checks, and the separate name mostly signals that security is treated as part of the delivery process rather than a separate team’s sign-off at the end.