What Is DevSecOps: Definition, Certifications, and Careers

DevSecOps is an approach to integrating security and operations within software development processes. This new way of thinking about security is a natural response to the increasing cybersecurity threats emerging in the corporate landscape. The Microsoft Digital Defense Report for 2023 identifies the United Kingdom as the second highest-targeted region in Europe after Ukraine, facing significant cyberattacks from nation-state actors [1]. DevSecOps offers organisations a means to detect and mitigate potential security vulnerabilities promptly. With a compound annual growth rate of 31.5 percent, the global DevSecOps market is expected to reach 23.16 billion USD by 2029, according to Data Bridge Market Research [2].

A DevSecOps career can offer you the chance to work with cutting-edge technologies, learn valuable workplace skills, and help organisations streamline and enhance their development processes. With different routes into this career, you’ll find various DevSecOps certifications available that can provide your resume with a boost to help you get onto a DevSecOps career path.

What exactly is DevSecOps?

DevSecOps combines information security best practices with the ability to continuously integrate and deploy software changes. The combination of DevOps and Sec can improve software reliability, security, and quality. DevSecOps is an approach to development that grew out of DevOps. Rather than considering security in late development and post-development phases, DevSecOps makes security integral to development activities through the software development lifecycle.

What does a DevSecOps professional do?

A DevSecOps professional is responsible for the security of the software development process, including automating scans, code verification, and developing security protocols. In this role, you’ll work with operations staff and developers to ensure that teams design security into the software from the start and that the software environment is secure and monitored continuously.

How do you start a career in DevSecOps?

Experience is highly prized when employers are looking at DevSecOps job applicants. You’ll find different routes to working in this function. You can take various jobs to help you prepare for a DevSecOp role. The important thing is to get some valuable experience before moving into the pressure of a security-focused role. 

For example, working as a software developer can help you gain experience in coding and developing applications. This job can also give you experience in the Development side of the role. Working in operations or a security role will provide experience with the business tools, systems, and processes needed to manage and secure software applications.

Should you pursue a college degree, research which major would most benefit your career goals. Depending on the roles you’re targeting, you might choose a degree that focuses on cybersecurity or a more software development-focused degree.

Attending conferences and workshops can demonstrate that you're keeping up with the latest security trends. Additionally, you can enhance your resume by taking courses and certifications. You'll want to make your resume appealing to potential employers. 

Certification options for DevSecOps engineers

One way to enhance your DevSecOps career prospects is to earn a certification in DevOps from a reputable institution. A certificate can help you demonstrate the specific skills and knowledge employers value. 

Below are some certifications you can consider:

• DevSecOps Foundation

• DevSecOps Practitioner

• EXIN DevSecOps Manager

• GIAC Cloud Security Automation (GCSA)

• Certified DevSecOps Engineer (CDSOE)

• Certified DevSecOps Professional (CDP)

• DevSecOps Engineer (DSOE) 

• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

• Offsec Defense Analyst (OSDA)

You’ll also find many online courses that can help you learn the basics of DevOps. However, many DevSecOps professionals have a computer science or cybersecurity-related bachelor's degree. 

Types of jobs in DevSecOps

You’ll find many jobs in which you can build a career in DevSecOps. For example, you could become a developer, a tester, an operations engineer, or a security analyst. The following are some roles advertised in DevSecOps environments and their average annual salaries:

• DevSecOps engineer: £58,697 [3]

• Cloud security engineer: £63,838 [4]

• Senior DevSecOps engineer: £71,965 [5]

• DevSecOps lead: £71,172 [6]

Skills needed in DevSecOps jobs

When you work in DevSecOps, you'll bring security to the heart of software development and deployment. You'll need an understanding of the organisation’s development and operational side. You will have programming and infrastructure knowledge to ensure that security becomes vital to the software development lifecycle. To get a DevSecOps job, you must demonstrate technical and workplace competencies that map to your target role.

Technical skills

You must quickly adapt and learn new technologies in the ever-changing business and technology landscape. Having the capacity to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues fast is critical in this role. Some of the top DevSecOps skills you may see in job advertisements include:

• Understanding of code development and scripting languages like Java, C++, XML, and JSON

• Familiarity with automation tools like Puppet, Chef, and Ansible

• Experience with cloud technologies for cloud DevSecOps

• Working knowledge of security concepts and tools like firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems, and encryption

• Configuration management expertise

• Familiarity with basic Linux commands

• A keen understanding of networking concepts

• Cloud computing

• Continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD)

• Coding skills in at least one common scripting language, such as Python or Ruby

• Ability to use a text editor, such as Vim or Emacs

• Familiarity with basic Linux commands

• Ability to use a terminal emulator, such as PuTTY or iTerm2

Workplace skills

It's also crucial that you have strong workplace skills. The following skills can help you succeed more in your DevSecOps career and help you positively impact your organisation. 

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

• Ability to manage and prioritise tasks

• Knowledge of top-level cybersecurity subjects and issues

• Ability to research threats and draw up logical conclusions through well-thought-out, unbiased processes

• Ability to troubleshoot and solve problems

• Ability to learn new technologies quickly

• Ability to bring together data from diverse sources and articulate it into simple and concise information 

What is the future of DevSecOps?

With the ever-growing need for speed and agility, organisations are turning to DevSecOps to help deliver software with greater security and get it to the market faster. By automating security controls, integrating them into the software development process, and taking a more strategic approach to security, companies can mitigate the increasing risk posed by cyber threats.

Learn the fundamentals of cybersecurity.

Building upon DevOps principles, the DevSecOps methodology helps development teams integrate security goals at the outset of the software development lifecycle. As you embark on a career in DevSecOps, keeping up with evolving cybersecurity threats and threat modeling strategies is crucial. Consider the Microsoft Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate on Coursera. This programme covers network security, cloud computing security, and penetration testing to help you learn in-demand job skills—no experience required.