Security-As-Code: Integrating Automated Security Policies into Devops Pipelines

Abstract

There has been an increase in the demand for security measures that can integrate smoothly with continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) processes as a result of modern software development and the growing demand for speedy delivery. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incorporation of automated security policies, also known as Security-as-Code (SaC), into DevOps pipelines in order to improve security enforcement without compromising delivery speed. A mixed-methods approach was utilized for the purpose of conducting experimental testing, which monitored changes in deployment time and vulnerability detection rates. Additionally, qualitative feedback from DevOps engineers and security professionals was utilized to provide insights into the problems and benefits associated with adoption. According to the findings, there was only a slight increase of 5.4% in deployment timeframes. On the other hand, there was a significant improvement of 77.4% in vulnerability detection, which highlights the capability of SaC to identify dangers at an earlier stage in the development cycle. Based on the findings of the thematic analysis, the team's confidence and operational efficiency have increased, while the learning curves and integration difficulties have become more manageable. As a result of the findings, it is clear that Security-as-Code is a realistic and effective solution for integrating security into DevOps techniques. This solution strikes a balance between efficiency and powerful protection.