World discovers DevSecOps, NIST suggests global examination is warranted
In a proactive move to bolster software security, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has teamed up with 14 industry partners to develop a DevSecOps framework. This initiative aims to improve security across all stages of the software development lifecycle (SDLC), from planning and testing to deployment and ongoing maintenance.
The collaboration, led by NIST's National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE), is part of a broader consortium that responds to the White House Executive Order 14306, which aims to strengthen cybersecurity efforts nationwide. The goal is to implement best practices based on NIST's Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF) to enhance software security, mitigate cyber threats targeting software supply chains, and create more resilient development environments.
The project provides a high-level overview and upcoming detailed guidance on DevSecOps implementation, with a focus on integrating security continuously with software development and operations. This approach, commonly known as DevSecOps, addresses the increasing cyber threats to software development environments and helps organizations identify gaps and improve cybersecurity practices for both software producers and consumers.
Although the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the project is not explicitly mentioned in the current public drafts or consortium descriptions, it is possible that AI tools may be considered in future use cases or implementations. For now, the focus is primarily on guidelines and best practices in secure software development and operations.
The draft framework emphasizes the importance of monitoring and validating AI-generated content by humans, and the project focuses on defining responsible use of AI tools in DevSecOps. NIST plans to illustrate how to apply the SSDF to DevSecOps as a future project.
A workshop on August 27 has been scheduled to solicit feedback on the project. Feedback received during the workshop will be used to build a more complete outline for the project, with updates expected throughout the project, although an end date wasn't specified. The project's ultimate goal is to help construct software development environments that minimize software supply chain vulnerabilities.
The consortium includes industry heavyweights such as Google, Microsoft, Dell, and GitLab, with the project aiming to explore the incorporation of zero-trust security practices throughout the entire development process and environment. According to Alper Kerman, a cybersecurity engineer with the group, the SSDF helps organizations figure out what needs to be done to make their development environment more secure.
This initiative represents a significant step towards building a more secure software ecosystem by embedding security into development and operations. As the project progresses, more details about the role of AI and the specific strategies for organizations to adopt DevSecOps are expected to be revealed.
- The DevSecOps framework developed by NIST, in partnership with 14 industry partners, aims to improve cybersecurity across all stages of the software development lifecycle, including industry sectors like finance and business.
- The project focuses on guidelines and best practices in secure software development and operations, and it may consider AI tools in future use cases or implementations.
- A workshop on August 27 has been scheduled to gather feedback on the project, which will help build a more complete outline for the project, with updates expected throughout the project.
- The consortium, which includes industry leaders such as Google, Microsoft, Dell, and GitLab, intends to explore the incorporation of zero-trust security practices across the entire development process and environment.
- The initiative aims to help construct software development environments that minimize software supply chain vulnerabilities, ultimately resulting in a more secure software ecosystem.
- The project underlines the significance of monitoring and validating AI-generated content by humans, and it emphasizes the responsible use of AI tools in DevSecOps, with future plans to illustrate how to apply the SSDF to DevSecOps.
