In recent years, successful IT management has become almost synonymous with achieving business goals. IT does more than just empower business operations; it is also a key element of value creation. As such, keeping IT optimized not only in terms of performance but also strategic priorities is essential – and these days, nothing is more essential than security.
Developments over the last few decades have turned safety into a top priority for those working in the digital sphere. Data protection, threat prevention, and compliance are just a few of the security elements that are now integral to maintaining the value of IT-powered products and services. Not only can failures result in financial penalties, but they can also cause significant damage to a company’s reputation of a business among clients.
‘DevSecOps’ is a more recent evolution of the DevOps methodology. While DevOps cultures have always utilized security officers, DevSecOps takes things a step further by having security considerations integrated into every stage of the pipeline. In short, it puts security on the same level as development and operations in terms of optimizing IT.
All code is assessed from a security engineer’s perspective, with automated processes constantly scanning for vulnerabilities. At the same time, a DevSecOps engineer will keep his colleagues up to date on developments relating to security and compliance, as well as new tools and practices.
The widespread usage of DevOps, combined with the rise in security as a core element of IT, has sparked a growing demand for DevSecOps engineers. They are experts at implementing, explaining, and continually reoptimizing DevSecOps cultures. Studying DevSecOps can be an excellent way for security specialists to advance their careers, and the value of DevSecOps certification is easily reflected in the average salary of a DevSecOps engineer.
So, what skills do you need to become a DevSecOps engineer? How are they different from those required for DevOps? Let’s take a look…
What skills do I need to become a DevSecOps engineer?
To become a DevSecOps engineer, the first and most important asset you’ll need is an understanding of the DevOps methodology. What distinguishes DevSecOps engineers from standard security officers isn’t technical skill; it’s being able to work within and improve DevOps cultures.
Beyond understanding DevOps, the skills a DevSecOps engineer will usually have include:
- Teamwork and communication skills – Communication between professionals, teams, and departments is the heart of DevOps. This is not just about reporting bugs or updating others on progress, however. DevSecOps engineers should also be capable of teaching elements of security, automation, and so on to the rest of a DevSecOps culture
- Up to date security knowledge – A DevSecOps engineer should be aware of new security, risk assessment, and threat modeling software, along with compliance regulations and cybersecurity threats. IT is always evolving, as are the issues that security engineers have to deal with
- Knowledge of DevOps pipeline tools – Candidates should be familiar with deployment systems like Kubernetes, developer tools such as GitHub, programming languages like Java and PHP, and configuration management tools such as Ansible
- Vulnerability assessments – This is a continuous process in DevSecOps. Candidates should be familiar with automated code analysis to find and repair vulnerabilities
- Compliance and security training – As well as advising on security, DevSecOps engineers should also actively teach their team members. The more security is integrated into DevOps work, the more efficient and reliable it will be
- Change management – Adopting DevSecOps too quickly can be disruptive to an IT pipeline. A DevSecOps engineer should be able to communicate the impact to team members and work to alleviate the issues. This can also be an excellent way to get support from teammates
DevSecOps engineer training
DevSecOps can be a complicated subject. IT structures are complex and diverse, especially between different companies, and so while it is possible to pick up elements of DevSecOps on the job, this approach can make it difficult to gain a complete overview of how the methodology works.
With this in mind, one of the best ways to gain the skills required to become a DevSecOps engineer is to invest in a fully accredited training course. Organizations like the DevOps Institute base their qualifications on years of professional experience, as well as active feedback from thousands of DevOps practitioners.
The DevSecOps Engineering (DSOE) syllabus offers a comprehensive look at DevSecOps management. With a focus on strategic as well as security considerations, it demonstrates how security is directly linked to business value. It also covers application security, operational security, auditing, and other elements that play crucial roles in DevSecOps pipelines.
