Software Delivery with DevSecOps Implementation. How Does It Look in Practice?

So, this article distills what we did, how we measured it, where teams struggled, and what’s next.

Key takeaways

• DevSecOps embeds security from the start..
• Its goal is to make security part of the product’s “muscle memory”.
• Security maturity accelerates sales cycles and wins enterprise deals.
• DevSecOps best practices for implementation are shared accountability and collaboration, shift security left, automation, etc.
• How to implement DevSecOps? Step-by-step roadmap includes assessment, quick wins, building Secure SDLC (software development life cycle), continuous monitoring, and periodic reassessment.
• Typical challenges of DevSecOps implementation are technical debt and disruption, AI-generated code risks, team resistance, scanner noise, and security culture gaps.
• In the near future, DevSecOps teams will face challenges regarding shadow AI, unsafe AI-generated code, and attack automation (e.g., supply-chain, phishing).

What is DevSecOps, Besides a Trendy Word?

DevSecOps (short for Development + Security + Operations) is an evolution of DevOps that embeds security practices directly into the software development lifecycle, instead of treating them as a later bolt-on. It means “shifting left”: to push security earlier into design, coding, and build phases, and make sure all development and operations teams share responsibility.

The real purpose of DevSecOps is to make security part of the product’s muscle memory. In practice, our main goals are to implement effective security measures :

• Integrate security scans and controls so they run quietly in the background and don’t block teams, but instead help.
• Build a culture of shared responsibility where developers, QA, ops, and security are all engaged.
• Create a secure software development cycle and safe infrastructure that can be measured and improved over time.
• Show and document real results through metrics, dashboards, and attack telemetry, not just compliance checkmarks

Done right, it creates a culture where security professionals support delivery speed, reduces risk, and builds trust with clients and regulators.

DevSecOps vs. DevOps

Comparing DevSecOps vs DevOps, the main difference lies in their focus. DevOps focuses on speed: automating builds, tests, and deployments so teams can ship faster.

DevSecOps keeps that speed but adds security as a core part of the pipeline. Instead of testing for vulnerabilities after release, DevSecOps shifts security left: code scanning, dependency checks, threat modeling, and least-privilege access happen alongside development and operations. The result is the same agility DevOps promises, but with built-in resilience and improved security posture from day zero.

Best Practices and Key Principles of DevSecOps Implementation

In some ways, DevSecOps is a philosophy that redefines how security is built into the software lifecycle.  Let’s take a closer look at how to implement DevSecOps methodology.

Collaboration and culture

DevSecOps is always linked to people. Development, operations, and security must work as a cross-functional team with shared responsibility. To ensure that security becomes a natural part of daily work, it is important to foster open communication and invest in continuous training

Shift security left

Security must move into the earliest stages of development. Integrating controls into CI/CD pipelines allows cybersecurity specialists to catch vulnerabilities at design, coding, and build stages and address vulnerabilities effectively . In other words, long before production. This “shift left” approach reduces remediation costs and increases confidence in releases.

Automation

Manual checks cannot keep pace with rapid delivery cycles. Automation:

• ensures consistency;
• speeds up feedback loops;
• reduces human error.

Security testing tools like SAST, DAST, SCA, IaC scans (we’ll discuss them a little bit later) should run automatically in CI/CD. It enables teams to detect and fix issues in real time without slowing velocity.

Security as Code

organization's security policies, controls, configurations, etc. should be treated like software: codified, version-controlled, and testable. This principle makes security consistent and repeatable across environments. It also turns compliance into a natural part of CI/CD rather than a manual, last-minute hurdle.

Clear security baselines and measurements

You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Precise security baselines allow organizations to track effectiveness over time, compare against industry benchmarks, clarify security requirements, and demonstrate progress to auditors, regulators, and enterprise clients.

Continuous monitoring and incident response

Continuous monitoring across applications, infrastructure, and containers provides real-time visibility into threats. Just as critical is having a clear incident response plan. When issues are detected, teams can act quickly, contain risks, and recover without disrupting the business.

Continuous training and education

Ongoing training equips developers, QA, and operations teams with the skills to write secure code, evaluate AI-generated output, recognize risks, and more. A culture of learning strengthens shared responsibility and reduces vulnerabilities introduced through human error.

Step-by-Step DevSecOps Implementation Roadmap

Based on project experience, we’ve created a clear roadmap, DevSecOps implementation plan with typical timelines and examples from real-world engagements.

Step 1. Security assessment

Timeline: Up to 2 weeks

We always start our DevSecOps implementation roadmap with a baseline. Together with CTOs, product owners, and tech leads, we run a full audit using frameworks like AWS CIS Benchmarks, OWASP SAMM, or DevSecOps Maturity Models.

This assessment helps us uncover hidden risks, outdated practices, and compliance blockers caused by accumulated technical debt. Within two weeks, we deliver a clear roadmap that prioritizes issues and sets expectations, ensuring all stakeholders know what to expect.

From our experience, almost every project already carries some form of technical debt, and security debt is no exception. That’s why a structured assessment and clear communication with all stakeholders are critical from day one.

Step 2. Implementation

All the projects are different, and we have to be flexible enough to cover all the important areas of control, monitoring, and improvement. However, in most cases, the DevSecOps implementation strategy includes several common steps to focus on.

Quick wins for early impact

Timeline: Up to 3 months

In the first months, we focus on quick, visible improvements. We remove unnecessary access rights, enable baseline monitoring, add scanning for code and infrastructure. We also align the environment with compliance goals such as SOC 2 or ISO 27001.

Open communication with teams is key here. We make sure these changes don’t disrupt workflows, and stakeholders see measurable results and a working baseline. At Elements Cloud, for example, quick wins included integrating scanning tools into the pipeline and aligning AWS environments with CIS Benchmarks through Security Hub.

Build secure SDLC practices

Timeline: 6–12 months

Over the next 6–12 months, we integrate security into daily development. We also introduce secure coding practices, automated dependency checks, and threat modeling.

At the same time, we gradually transition teams toward least-privilege access using IAM analyzers and CloudTrail data. For example, at one of our projects (a compliance platform built for ISO 27001), we implemented Secure SDLC from day one, with DevOps and security engineers embedding controls during development and validating them through penetration testing.

Because technical debt often hides in permissions and legacy code, clear communication with developers and QA is essential to manage change without creating resistance. By the end of this stage, the organization must operate within a functioning Secure SDLC.

Phased access control

We never cut access overnight. Instead, we analyze 90 days of activity logs to capture quarterly tasks and gradually introduce least-privilege access.

This way, developers and QA adapt without disrupting productivity, while security posture steadily improves. Again, clear communication is key to mitigating security incidents . We explain why access is being reduced and how it protects both the product and the team.

Establish monitoring and continuous feedback

Timeline: ongoing

Once the basics, all the needed tools, and processes are in place, we set up proactive monitoring. We deploy tools like AWS Security Hub or custom WAF solutions that can block attacks automatically. Dashboards track vulnerabilities, remediation timelines, and incident patterns.

We help teams filter out false positives to avoid alert fatigue. We also establish proper communication protocols so everyone knows what to fix, how fast, and how to escalate issues if needed. Feedback loops ensure developers, QA, and security engineers share responsibility for closing issues.

Step 3. Documentation and culture shift

This is also one of the most important DevSecOps implementation steps. Alongside tooling, we create playbooks and guidelines so teams know how to respond to vulnerabilities.

We show them real evidence of attacks (sometimes hundreds of thousands of blocked requests per day) to underline why these changes matter. This transparency, in combination with strong support from CTOs and engineering leadership, helps overcome resistance and embeds security into everyday culture.

Step 4. Periodic reassessment and maturity growth

Timeline: Every 6–12 months

Finally, we make security an iterative cycle. Monthly metrics from Security Hub show incremental progress. At the same time, OWASP SAMM maturity assessments every 6–12 months provide a broader view.

This cycle ensures the program adapts to new threats, technologies, and compliance demands. It helps manage technical debt proactively and keep communication channels open with stakeholders. And the security strategy evolves alongside business needs.

Tools and Technologies That Power DevSecOps

Strong DevSecOps services and their adoption depend on the right mix of automation, monitoring, and compliance tools. Below, you can find the list of tools and technologies we use in practice.

Static and Dynamic Application Security Testing (SAST/DAST)

SAST tools analyze source code, bytecode, or binaries before an application is deployed. They detect vulnerabilities such as insecure coding patterns, hardcoded secrets, and logic flaws during development. Because they run early in the software lifecycle, SAST tools give developers immediate feedback and reduce costly rework later.

DAST tools examine running applications in real or simulated production environments. They test behavior by simulating external attacks such as SQL injection or cross-site scripting to identify exploitable weaknesses. This validates whether applications remain secure after deployment.

Together, they create a strong foundation for secure coding and create a complete feedback loop. In our projects, we use scanners for code, third-party packages, and infrastructure to ensure coverage across the SDLC.

Software Composition Analysis (SCA)

Most applications rely on open-source components. SCA tools identify vulnerabilities and licensing risks in dependencies before they reach production. This ensures external packages don’t become a hidden weak link in the system.

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Security

Misconfigurations can quickly scale into critical risks with infrastructure increasingly defined as code. Cloud security services monitor access patterns, enforce least-privilege permissions, and flag anomalies across accounts. Activity logging and analyzers create profiles of real user behavior, helping teams right-size permissions without slowing delivery.

For example, we use services like AWS Access Analyzer and CloudTrail, which can build user activity profiles and suggest the right level of permissions. They help enforce least-privilege principles and monitor activity patterns.

Continuous monitoring and logging tools

Real-time monitoring is crucial. We use AWS Security Hub with CIS Benchmark v3.0/v4.0 to track compliance against industry best practices.

Maturity models and Compliance-as-Code frameworks

Frameworks like the OWASP SAMM (Software Assurance Maturity Model) and DevSecOps Maturity Model give organizations structured ways to measure progress across the SDLC.

They set clear criteria for what it means to operate at Level 1, 2, or 3 maturity and make it possible to track year-over-year improvements in both practices and outcomes.

Automated security testing and protection

Automation is central to DevSecOps. Beyond scanners, our team built a custom AWS Lambda function that helps to monitor traffic detected by AWS WAF and automatically blacklist IP addresses used by malicious actors based on predefined criteria. This created a 24/7 defense layer with minimal human involvement.

SIEM and monitoring integrations

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems and monitoring platforms are essential for visibility and rapid response. They collect logs from applications, infrastructure, and security tools, correlate events, and surface anomalies in real time.

In practice, this means that we can spot suspicious activity (unusual access attempts or traffic spikes) and respond before incidents escalate. In practice, we aggregate vulnerability data into dashboards and automate defenses.

This way, we can demonstrate to developers how many real-world attacks were blocked.  SIEM integration with DevSecOps pipelines allows organizations to move from reactive response to continuous, proactive security.

Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Implementing DevSecOps has tangible long-term benefits, but it also has some obstacles. However, from our experience, there is no challenge without a precise solution if addressed early and strategically.

Challenge 1. Technical debt in existing projects

Usually, when we join a project with DevSecOps, we deal with a team that already has its own principles and ways of working.  As it was already mentioned, there’s some level of technical debt. It may be outdated security practices, over-permissioned accounts, and legacy infrastructure.

The biggest challenge is selecting the right set of tools and practices so they don’t disrupt the team’s existing work. At the same time, the team must stay engaged.

Solution: We start with a structured security assessment to uncover risks and compliance gaps, then deliver a roadmap that prioritizes fixes. Clear communication ensures all stakeholders understand priorities and trade-offs.

Challenge 2. AI-generated code vulnerabilities

The biggest headache for security engineers is AI. People write code with AI, don’t review it, and then a bunch of vulnerabilities appear. Security engineers have to deal with insecure prototypes pushed into production.

Solution: We enforce a “human-in-the-loop” approach. All AI-generated code must go through standard secure coding reviews, automated scans, and threat modeling before release. Provide developers with training on the risks of AI-generated code and clear guidelines on safe usage. This ensures AI speeds up delivery without sacrificing security.

Challenge 3. Resistance from Development Teams

This is one of the primary DevSecOps implementation challenges. Teams don’t always understand why they need this. They may resist least-privilege access, loss of permissions, or extra checks. Some developers even rely on AI-generated code without proper validation, introducing vulnerabilities.

Solution: We start building trust and engagement by involving teams early. We always show them real evidence of attacks (e.g., blocked requests per day), and give them clear playbooks. Leadership (CTO/VP Eng) support is critical to drive adoption. This is the only way to show that security is part of the team’s mission, not a burden.

Challenge 4. Introducing least privilege access

If it’s a large project, implementing least privilege is difficult. If you cut access immediately, the team can’t work. It disrupts workflows and creates frustration. Developers and QA may suddenly find themselves unable to access logs, buckets, or services they relied on.

Solution: This needs to be done gradually; otherwise, there will be conflict. Usually, we phase in least-privilege gradually, using 90 days of CloudTrail/IAM activity logs to identify real usage. Reduce access step by step, explaining the benefits and ensuring productivity isn’t blocked.

Challenge 5. Managing False Positives from Scanners

Security scanners often generate noise; we get streams of vulnerabilities and alerts. The hardest challenge is filtering out false positives, filtering out the noise. False positives overwhelm teams, making it harder to prioritize real vulnerabilities.

Solution: It is important to build an effective process for handling this data. What can we do here?

• Deploy dashboards with triage protocols.
• Define SLAs for remediation timelines, escalation paths, and filtering rules.
• Train teams to separate noise from true vulnerabilities, so effort is focused where it matters most.

Challenge 6. Lack of security culture

One of the hardest things in practice is gaining the team’s trust and making them comfortable with new approaches. Without team involvement, it won’t work effectively. It is essential that they see the results and take an active part. Without cultural adoption, security becomes the responsibility of a small group (DevOps/SecOps) rather than the entire team. This leads to gaps and pushback.

Solution: We promote a shared responsibility model. We run training sessions, document guidelines, and establish transparent communication channels. The good option is to recognize successes publicly to embed security into the team culture.

Challenge 7. Proving ROI to clients and management

We saw it in our projects. Clients often underestimate potential security flaws. And then we show that there were 200,000 attack attempts in a single day. Sometimes stakeholders miscalculate the risk, assuming their product isn’t a target. Without proof of value, security is treated as a cost center.

Solution: Measurable metrics are the answer. We always show real-time attack data (e.g., 200,000 blocked requests per day) and track metrics like reduced high-severity vulnerabilities over time. This is the most efficient and transparent way to demonstrate how security improvements build trust and accelerate client acquisition.

Our Real Examples of DevSecOps Implementation

Over the years, we’ve enforced DevSecOps across projects of different sizes and industries. Here are a few DevSecOps implementation examples that show how theory translates into practice.

Secure SDLC without slowing delivery

For one of our largest and longest-running projects in e-commerce (Salesforce), the main challenge was integrating security scanning across multiple development teams without disrupting delivery. Therefore, we started by aligning the client’s cloud environments with CIS Benchmarks and enabled continuous monitoring through Security Hub.

Within the first three months, we established a measurable security baseline. By 12 months, the organization operated with a mature Secure SDLC where automated security checks ran seamlessly alongside development. The priority was to make security “invisible” to developers. Tools ran in the background while providing actionable insights to security engineers.

Security maturity assessment and advisory support

We were engaged to evaluate a client’s security posture using the OWASP SAMM framework. Our team carried out a structured assessment of their current state and delivered clear recommendations on priority improvements.

As the client began adopting new scanners and processes, we provided advisory support:

• validating their approach;
• suggesting best practices;
• ensuring all changes are aligned with long-term security goals.

The client retained full ownership of implementation, while our guidance helped them avoid common pitfalls and accelerate progress toward a stronger security maturity level.

Roadmap for security improvement

We conducted a full DevSecOps assessment for a client and delivered a tailored roadmap for security improvements. The team completed the initial audit and roadmap in two weeks, giving the client clarity on immediate risks.

Over the next three months, they implemented quick wins such as baseline monitoring and access adjustments. Within a year, follow-up maturity assessments showed measurable progress across vulnerability management and compliance alignment.

Compliance from day zero

A compliance-focused platform required Secure SDLC practices embedded from the start. Our DevOps and security teams worked side by side with product leaders to integrate controls directly into development workflows and validate them through penetration testing.

• Within the first two weeks, we delivered a compliance roadmap.
• By the end of the first year, the platform was fully aligned with ISO 27001 requirements and prepared for external audits.

Secure Infrastructure and SDLC

For one of our clients, we partnered with the DevOps team to design and implement a secure infrastructure and Secure SDLC. This included monitoring integrations, enforcing least-privilege access, and establishing baseline security practices.

• Within three months, the team achieved quick wins such as access cleanup and monitoring dashboards.
• Over the following six to twelve months, the infrastructure matured to support continuous vulnerability management and proactive threat detection.

Why Security Must Start from Day Zero

Security delayed is security compromised. When you build protections into your architecture and processes from the first commit, it ensures resilience and speeds compliance. Such an approach also prevents the cost spiral that comes with bolting controls on later.

Early detection reduces cost and complexity

Implementing DevSecOps methodology and catching security issues early during design or development avoids expensive rework later. Industry data shows a 30× cost difference between remediation in production vs. development. For large-scale systems, that translates into millions saved.

Trust accelerates revenue

In practice, teams that embed DevSecOps early often find it pays off in client acquisition. As projects scale, larger customers and partners demand proof of security maturity: completed checklists, audit reports, due diligence packages, and evidence of SOC 2 or ISO 27001 readiness.

When external audits or client due diligence confirm strong security practices, it becomes a selling point. Your business wins contracts in markets with tougher requirements and more mature competitors. That validation helps win new, larger clients who otherwise wouldn’t engage.

In other words, secure practices accelerate sales cycles and unlock markets where compliance and resilience are non-negotiable. You can confidently show progress through CIS benchmarks, SAMM maturity assessments, or pen test results, and enterprise buyers get the reassurance they need to move forward.

Culture of shared accountability

When teams learn to own security from day one, it becomes part of the delivery culture. Developers validate dependencies, QA tests for vulnerabilities, and operations enforces least privilege as the default.

That cultural shift is much harder to introduce retroactively. The earlier this culture forms, the less resistance you face later.

Smaller attack surface, fewer surprises

Unchecked growth of services, APIs, and dependencies creates exposure. Secure start prevents hardcoded secrets, overprivileged access, and unmonitored infrastructure from becoming entrenched risks. It is far easier to prevent exposure during design than to unwind it across services, APIs, and teams after launch.

Compliance and credibility from the start

IBM’s 2025 Cost of a Data Breach report shows the global average cost of a data breach fell to $4.44 million, a 9% decrease over last year. This decline is driven by faster identification and containment, and DevSecOps implementation directly supports these practices thanks to embedding security into every stage of development and operations.

Automated code scanning, compliance checks, and least-privilege controls help teams detect security vulnerabilities before release. Continuous monitoring and response reduce the time it takes to identify and contain active threats. The security breaches' lifecycles shorten, and detection costs reduce.

Let’s Make Your Software Secure From Scratch

When security is built in, your teams can move faster, audits become smoother, and enterprise clients gain the confidence to sign.

We’ve guided organizations from startups to enterprises through this shift. Our team brings hands-on experience and security skills with:

• early security vulnerabilities detection and risk management;
• Secure SDLCs;
• integrate security testing, CI/CD pipeline integration;
• compliance frameworks like ISO 27001 and SOC 2;
• proven alignment with CIS Benchmarks and OWASP standards.

Beyond proven DevSecOps practices, we hold certifications from leading providers, including AWS, ISO, and industry-recognized security bodies. You get the assurance that you’re working with security experts who meet the highest standards and know how to address security vulnerabilities properly.

Final Thoughts: What’s Next?

DevSecOps is the operating model for building secure, resilient software from the start. When shifting security left, organizations reduce costs, accelerate compliance, and strengthen customer trust. The case studies we shared show how this works in practice:

• Assessments deliver clear roadmaps and security processes.
• Secure SDLCs scale across development and security teams.
• Infrastructures mature to handle continuous monitoring, compliance, and threat response.

Looking ahead, DevSecOps will be highly affected by Artificial Intelligence. AI will play a larger role, both as a threat and a defense. Security and development teams will definitely face greater use and integration of AI, and it won’t always happen organically. There’s already a problem with what’s called shadow AI. Teams experimenting with unapproved tools risk exposing code and sensitive data without realizing it.

Attackers are already moving faster. In just the past two weeks, there were two major attacks on NPM (attackers embedded malicious code). With the growth of AI technologies, this risk is rising further. At the same time, defenders are using AI to accelerate detection and scale processes: The key will be how quickly you can detect security threats, how well you can scale defense processes.

However, automation alone isn’t enough. AI still generates code that isn’t secure by default, so there must be some human in the loop. Human oversight remains critical to ensure AI-driven development and security controls don’t introduce new risks.

Yet some fundamentals won’t change. The human is always the weakest link in the system, and regulations remain a moving target. They are a decent foundation, but they definitely need to adapt to AI standards, since many of them are not flexible enough.

In short, the future of DevSecOps will be defined by how well organizations blend automation, AI, regulatory alignment, and human oversight. So, act fast, implement security into development from the very first day of development, and you’ll be positioned to move faster, win trust, and grow with confidence.

FAQ

1. How does DevSecOps differ from traditional DevOps?

   DevOps focuses on speed and automation in delivery. DevSecOps embeds security at every stage: design, coding, testing, deployment, and operations. The goal is “shift left”: security becomes everyone’s responsibility. This reduces risk while keeping agility intact.

2. Can DevSecOps slow down delivery cycles?

   Not if implemented correctly. Early-stage security automation, like static code analysis and dependency scanning in CI/CD (continuous integration), catches security issues before they reach production without blocking releases. This prevents costly rework and accelerates delivery over time. 

3. What tools are essential for DevSecOps implementation?

   Key security scanning tools include code scanners (SAST/DAST), dependency and container scanners (SCA). DevSecOps tools also include Infrastructure as Code (IaC) practices, monitoring dashboards, automated tools, and compliance-as-code security frameworks.

4. How does DevSecOps improve compliance?

   DevSecOps makes compliance continuous rather than reactive. Security controls are coded and enforced automatically, and every action is logged. This provides ongoing evidence for audits, reduces manual effort, and accelerates readiness for frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, or PCI DSS. Instead of preparing for compliance once a year, organizations stay audit-ready at all times.

5. What industries benefit most from DevSecOps?

   Industries that handle sensitive or highly regulated data gain the most from DevSecOps. Financial services and fintech rely on it to meet strict regulatory standards and reduce fraud risks. Healthcare and life sciences use it to safeguard patient data, stay HIPAA-compliant, and support FDA requirements. 

   SaaS companies lean on DevSecOps to prove enterprise-grade security and close large deals faster. Government and critical infrastructure organizations adopt it to align with zero-trust mandates and defend against advanced threats and security considerations. In practice, however, any organization that builds software benefits by reducing vulnerabilities early and proving security to customers and partners.

6. What is the ROI of DevSecOps?

   Beyond reducing security risks, DevSecOps accelerates revenue. Secure products pass due diligence faster, shortening enterprise sales cycles. Also, detecting and fixing issues earlier, DevSecOps reduces security flaws and breach likelihood and cuts remediation costs dramatically. 

   The more secure your organization is, the more solid your software development process is, the more enterprise-grade clients you can get. Security is both a cost saver and a growth driver.