Limited development tools can directly impact DevOps scalability and security. Forrester’s Total Economic Impact study of Azure Integration Services found that a ‘lack of automation by integration and DevOps’ was a leading cause of delays, mistakes, poor visibility and inefficiencies. The same study also found that using Azure, companies experienced a 295% ROI with a gain in integration developer and data architect productivity worth $2.4 million. The Azure platform is designed to provide companies with the tools they need for scalable and secure DevOps practices thanks to its intelligent combination of cloud-native architecture and integrated services.
It is also the doorway to modern application development, allowing for companies to rapidly shift and pivot to meet changing customer needs and to create solutions that are personalised, relevant and capable of adapting to real-time demands.
The Security that Azure brings to the DevOps yard
Security and compliance remain two of the most important requirements for DevOps teams. It’s why DevOps has expanded to become DevSecOps – development teams have evolved to incorporate security throughout the development and operational phases to ensure their solutions are secure and meet increasingly stringent regulatory and compliance requirements. In a landscape riddled with cyber-threats powered by AI and sophisticated, personalised attacks, solutions can’t afford to bypass security. The risks to costs, loss and reputation are too great.
Azure DevOps provides teams with a variety of tools and features designed to streamline DevOps and wed their processes to robust, integrated security.
- Static Application Security Testing (SAST) – the Azure DevOps Security Code Analysis extension can be used to assess source code for any vulnerabilities and to ensure it aligns with coding best practice.
- Follow the Microsoft guidelines – Microsoft has developed a comprehensive guide to security best practices within Azure DevOps to ensure security remains a priority. Including links to core guides that include securing the Azure DevOps environment and managing scoped permissions, the guide is setlist of the best routes to securing any Azure DevOps environment.
- Shift-left – according to Microsoft, companies should consider embracing the ‘shift-left’ security approach right at the start of the development phase. It introduces a new way of thinking that allows for teams to be more proactive in detecting security risks and vulnerabilities by ensuring security sits right at the heart of developer workflows.
- GitHub Advanced Security for Azure DevOps – this is a security testing service for applications that fits seamlessly into the developer workflow. It helps DevSecOps teams to continuously move forward and embrace innovative practices without compromising on security (or on their sanity and productivity).
- Enjoy the Azure ecosystem – included within the Azure DevOps ecosystem are Azure Boards, Pipelines, Repos, Test Plans, Artifacts and Marketplace. All these combine to provide DevOps teams with the tools they need to automate workflows, monitor applications, integrate security into the development lifecycle, and test and ship solutions effectively.
- Use the right partner – building your DevSecOps ecosystem or leveraging the skillsets of another company both require partnerships with trusted partners that have an in-depth understanding of Microsoft’s ecosystem and the Azure bouquet of services. Mint specialises in crafting mobile applications that elevate your brand and in providing solutions that build on the foundations of security, compliance, and emergent technology.
Your business can transform its approach to DevSecOps with modern application development tools from Azure. It’s easy, it offers access to the latest technologies and best practice approaches, and with Mint, it ensures your vulnerabilities are addressed quickly and efficiently without impacting on development and timelines.
