In today’s rapidly evolving DevOps environment, the drive for speed often inadvertently amplifies security risks, leaving applications exposed to costly breaches. With global breach costs averaging $4.8 million last year, according to IBM’s annual Cost of a Data Breach Report – and continuously climbing – DevOps and security teams face immense pressure to build robust, secure software.
The answer lies in secure coding practices and embracing the “Shift Left” approach, embedding security into every stage of development from the get-go, rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Understanding the Shift Left Approach
“Shifting Left” integrates security practices early into the software development life cycle (SDLC), particularly during the design and coding phases, instead of waiting for testing and reports during the post-deployment phase. This proactive strategy helps teams identify vulnerabilities sooner, when they are easiest and less expensive to fix. This minimizes risk, reduces remediation costs, and avoids costly project delays.
Some DevOps teams worry shifting left may slow down deployments or complicate workflows. However, organizations such as Netflix and Etsy demonstrate that integrating security from the beginning actually enhances productivity, accelerates release cycles, and reduces costly disruptions caused by last-minute security fixes.
Balancing Shift Left with Shift Right
While shifting left proactively mitigates vulnerabilities during development, “Shifting Right” focuses on continuous monitoring, real-time threat detection, and rapid incident response post-deployment. The strongest DevSecOps strategies integrate both approaches, ensuring comprehensive security throughout the entire software lifecycle.
Key Benefits of Shifting Left
- Risk reduction: Early vulnerability detection prevents breaches and enhances overall security posture.
- Cost efficiency: Addressing security flaws during development significantly reduces remediation costs and disruptions.
- Accelerated delivery: Early integration of security practices streamlines workflows, reduces rework, and improves software reliability.
- Enhanced collaboration: Embedding security early fosters collaboration among developers, operations, and security teams, breaking down organizational silos.
Lessons from Past Security Breaches
Over the past decade, corporate giants have experienced major data breaches, as illustrated below. Each case highlights a crucial lesson about the importance of secure coding, not as a simple checklist – but as an essential practice embedded in the development process.
- Twitter API Breach (2022): An oversight in code exposed data from 5.4 million users. Robust early-stage security reviews could have detected and prevented this vulnerability before deployment.
- MOVEit Transfer Breach (2023): A basic SQL injection vulnerability led to massive data exposure. Secure input validation integrated into the coding process could have prevented this issue structurally.
- Equifax Data Breach (2017): Unpatched vulnerabilities in Apache Struts resulted in millions of exposed records. Routine patch management and dependency scanning during development could have significantly mitigated this risk.
Embrace Shift Left with IGS Training Programs
IGS invites all Check Point customers’ developers and DevOps teams to embrace the “Shift Left” mentality by enrolling in specialized cyber security training. The AppSec for Developers 2-day course offers practical application security skills, teaching developers to identify and remediate vulnerabilities effectively, apply secure coding practices, and foster a security-oriented culture within their teams. Meanwhile, the DevSecOps course (CCPA) helps teams build their own secure DevSecOps pipelines, integrating security seamlessly into their fast-paced DevOps environments without sacrificing delivery speed. Both courses, delivered by Check Point’s long-time training partners at NotSoSecure, emphasize hands-on experience, real-world proactive offensive methodologies, and immediate applicability, effectively embedding the Shift Left mentality into everyday development practices.
About IGS
Check Point offers comprehensive managed security services through Infinity Global Services (IGS). These services, utilized by 5,000 enterprise customers, include threat research, managed detection and response (MDR), risk assessment, proactive monitoring, professional services, and top-notch training. IGS’ suite of cyber security services provides end-to-end protection – from initial assessment and design to ongoing training and optimization to rapid response – ensuring the highest level of security. Backed by world-class experts and real-time threat intelligence, the extensive range of services helps safeguard organizations of all sizes.
Ready to experience the powerful impact of shifting left? Enroll to IGS’s DevSecOps (CCPA) course or AppSec for Developers course today.