From DevOps to DevSecOps- It’s about building an effective program level strategy

Scaling DevSecOps requires bridging policy, development, and compliance across teams, not just embedding security into pipelines.

This webinar from Security Compass explores the shift from project-based DevOps to enterprise-wide DevSecOps. It outlines the structural, cultural, and collaboration challenges organizations face when trying to scale security, and how to overcome them by aligning people, processes, and platforms.

Why Transition from DevOps to DevSecOps?

DevSecOps integrates security into every stage of the SDLC, but doing it at scale requires cross-functional collaboration.

Organizations often adopt DevOps to move faster. However, without integrating security as a shared responsibility, they risk:

  • Releasing insecure code due to security lagging behind dev cycles

  • Stalling delivery when security blocks deployment

  • Misaligning policy and technical implementation

Program-level DevSecOps solves this by embedding compliance, risk, and security into the broader delivery ecosystem.

What Are the Common Challenges in Scaling DevSecOps?

Most DevSecOps struggles stem from tool fragmentation, cultural silos, and lack of governance.

Key blockers include:

  • Disjointed Toolchains: Automation tools are not integrated across teams

  • Misused Metrics: Output from SAST tools treated as program-level indicators

  • Uncontrolled Collaboration: Security needs may conflict with data access rules

  • No Central Coordination: Lack of security champions or centers of excellence

  • Policy Gaps: Compliance policies not translated into dev-relevant actions

Where Do Current Practices Fall Short?

Security and compliance are still underrepresented in early SDLC phases, creating long-term risks.

SDLC Stage Maturity in Automation Security Integration Compliance & Risk Maturity
Requirements Low Emerging policies Weak
Design Moderate Threat models/data flow Rare
Development High Input validation, SAST Limited
Testing High Pen testing, DAST Reactive
Deployment High Monitoring integrations Minimal audit points
Security controls improve later in the SDLC, but early gaps reduce overall effectiveness.

Who Owns Security in a DevSecOps World?

DevSecOps success depends on shared ownership across security, IT, and compliance teams.

Research shows that:

  • 50% of security requirements are initiated by IT or dev teams

  • Compliance and risk teams are often left out despite being key drivers

  • Communication between developers and risk managers is minimal

What Is the Policy-to-Procedure Gap?

The policy-to-procedure gap occurs when high-level security policies fail to translate into actionable developer tasks.

Layer Challenge
Policy (Compliance Teams) Too abstract for developers
Governance (IT/DevOps) Frameworks like ITIL help partially
Implementation (Developers) Need detailed, in-context requirements

Bridging this gap requires tooling that maps policies to technical controls and feeds them into developer workflows.

How Does Proactive Compliance Work?

Proactive compliance embeds security controls into development and testing, enabling real-time auditability.

Proactive Compliance Workflow

  1. Policy Assessment: Identify app-specific compliance needs

  2. Control Mapping: Derive technical controls from policies

  3. Dev Tool Integration: Link controls into ALM/CI tools

  4. Real-Time Feedback: Validate control implementation live

  5. Audit Support: Provide traceable records across the SDLC

Why Training Is Key to DevSecOps Success

Cross-functional training ensures both devs and security teams understand each other’s constraints and objectives.

Training should include:

  • Role-Specific Security Skills: E.g., secure APIs, SQL injection mitigation

  • Cross-Functional Awareness: Joint workshops for dev, sec, ops, and risk teams

  • Impact-Driven Metrics: Measure training effectiveness through reduction in bugs or improved compliance posture

How to Grow a DevSecOps Program Organically

Start small, build internal champions, and scale through repeatable success.

Best practices include:

  • Begin with one or two motivated teams

  • Form a community of practice (e.g., security champions)

  • Garner early wins and measure them

  • Align technical metrics with business outcomes (resilience, compliance)

What Are the Indicators of a Mature DevSecOps Program?

Maturity is defined by cultural alignment, tooling integration, and measurable improvements—not speed alone.

Success Indicator Description
Shared Security Ownership Dev, sec, risk, and ops collaborate
Policy-to-Code Traceability Controls derived directly from policies
Embedded Compliance Controls validated during dev/test
Cross-Team Training Security knowledge spread across org
Business-Aligned Metrics Risk reduction and compliance are tracked

Final Takeaway

Scaling DevSecOps is about more than shifting left—it’s about embedding security into organizational DNA.

By addressing the policy-to-procedure gap, enabling proactive compliance, and fostering cross-functional alignment, organizations can evolve from fragmented DevOps to secure, scalable DevSecOps programs.