How can you train developers to follow web security best practices in a DevOps workflow?

1 Assess your current security posture

The first step to train developers to follow web security best practices is to assess your current security posture and identify any gaps or weaknesses. You can use tools like OWASP ZAP, Nmap, or SonarQube to scan your web applications and infrastructure for common security issues, such as cross-site scripting (XSS), SQL injection, broken authentication, or misconfigured permissions. You can also conduct a threat modeling exercise to map out the potential attack vectors and scenarios that could compromise your web assets. Based on your assessment, you can prioritize the most critical security risks and define the corresponding mitigation measures.

3 Integrate security testing and automation into your CI/CD pipeline

The third step is to integrate security testing and automation into your CI/CD pipeline, so that you can detect and fix security issues early and often in your web development process. You can use tools like Snyk, Dependabot, or WhiteSource to scan your code dependencies and libraries for known vulnerabilities and outdated versions. You can also use tools like Jest, Mocha, or Cypress to write and run unit tests, integration tests, and end-to-end tests that cover the security aspects of your web functionality and logic. Moreover, you can use tools like Docker, Kubernetes, or Terraform to automate the deployment and configuration of your web applications and infrastructure in a secure and consistent manner.

5 Monitor and audit your web security performance and compliance

The fifth step is to monitor and audit your web security performance and compliance, so that you can measure and improve your web security outcomes and ensure that you meet the relevant standards and regulations. You can use tools like Splunk, ELK, or Grafana to collect and analyze your web security logs, metrics, and alerts and gain insights into your web security status and trends. You can also use tools like Qualys, NIST, or ISO to perform regular web security audits and assessments and verify that you comply with the best practices and frameworks for web security, such as OWASP SAMM, NIST CSF, or ISO 27001.

6 Foster a culture of security awareness and collaboration

The sixth and final step is to foster a culture of security awareness and collaboration among your web development team and stakeholders, so that you can create a shared sense of responsibility and accountability for web security and foster a continuous learning and improvement mindset. You can use strategies like gamification, recognition, or rewards to motivate and incentivize developers to follow web security best practices and achieve web security goals. You can also use communication tools like Slack, Teams, or Zoom to facilitate web security discussions, feedback, and support among developers and other roles, such as security engineers, testers, or operations staff.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?