Deploy software programmatically

Deploying software programmatically reduces the likelihood of human error, ensuring that security protocols are consistently applied. This practice not only enhances security but also increases deployment efficiency, making it critical in maintaining the integrity of production workloads.

Best Practices

Implement Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

• Utilize IaC tools like AWS CloudFormation or Terraform to manage your infrastructure and deployments programmatically. This approach reduces the risk of human errors during deployments, ensures consistency, and allows for version control of your infrastructure.

Automate Security Testing

• Incorporate security testing into your CI/CD pipeline using automated tools for static and dynamic application security testing (SAST and DAST). This helps identify vulnerabilities early in the development lifecycle, making it easier and less costly to remediate before production.

Conduct Regular Security Training

• Provide developers and operations teams with training focused on secure coding practices and the importance of security in the deployment process. Regular training ensures that the team stays updated on emerging threats and best practices, reducing security risks associated with human error.

Implement Continuous Compliance Monitoring

• Use tools to continuously monitor compliance with security best practices during the application lifecycle. This monitoring helps ensure that security policies are consistently applied, reducing the chance of introducing security flaws during development and deployment.

Utilize Immutable Infrastructure Patterns

• Consider using immutable infrastructure where servers or components are not modified after deployment. If changes are needed, new instances are created and deployed, reducing risks of configuration drift and improving security posture.

Questions to ask your team

• Is software deployment automated using CI/CD pipelines to minimize manual intervention?
• Do you have version control in place for your deployment scripts and configurations?
• How do you validate the security properties of your applications during the deployment process?
• Are security-related tests incorporated into your automated deployment workflows?
• What measures do you take to ensure the integrity and authenticity of the deployed software?
• Do you have rollback procedures in place for deployments that encounter security issues?
• How often do you review and update your deployment processes to incorporate new security best practices?

Who should be doing this?

DevOps Engineer

• Implement and maintain CI/CD pipelines for automated deployments.
• Configure security checks within the deployment process.
• Ensure version control practices are followed for infrastructure as code and application code.
• Monitor deployment processes for failures and security issues.
• Collaborate with security teams to integrate security tools into the deployment pipeline.

Security Analyst

• Conduct security reviews of automated deployment scripts and configurations.
• Evaluate and recommend security tools and practices for use during deployments.
• Develop and maintain security testing standards for the deployment process.
• Assist in creating training materials related to secure deployment practices.
• Perform vulnerability assessments on deployed applications.

Software Developer

• Write secure code and collaborate on incorporating security features into applications.
• Work with DevOps teams to ensure automated deployments include necessary security validations.
• Participate in code reviews to identify potential security issues related to deployment.
• Stay updated on best practices for secure coding and deployment strategies.

Project Manager

• Facilitate communication between development, operations, and security teams regarding deployment security.
• Ensure that security considerations are integrated into the project lifecycle.
• Support the team in identifying and managing risks associated with security in the deployment process.
• Track progress on implementing security measures in deployment workflows.

What evidence shows this is happening in your organization?

• Automated Deployment Pipeline Template: A template outlining the structure and components of an automated deployment pipeline, ensuring that security checks are integrated at every phase of the software delivery process.
• Security Policy for Automated Deployments: A policy document that specifies the security requirements and protocols for programmatically deploying software within the organization, emphasizing the importance of reducing human error.
• Security Validation Checklist: A checklist used during the development and deployment lifecycle to ensure all security aspects are considered and validated before software is deployed to production.
• Incident Response Playbook for Deployment Failures: A playbook that outlines steps to take when security issues arise during programmatic deployments, including detection, response, and remediation strategies.
• Security Training Guide for Development Teams: A guide designed to train development and operations teams on best practices for security considering automated deployments, including threat modeling and coding standards.

Cloud Services

AWS

• AWS CodePipeline: AWS CodePipeline automates the build, test, and release process for applications, allowing teams to deploy securely and reduce human error.
• AWS CodeDeploy: AWS CodeDeploy automates software deployments to various compute services, helping ensure consistent deployments and minimizing risks.
• AWS CloudFormation: AWS CloudFormation allows you to model and set up your AWS resources, automating infrastructure provisioning and compliance checks.

Azure

• Azure DevOps: Azure DevOps provides tools for continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD), allowing safe automated deployments.
• Azure Resource Manager: Azure Resource Manager allows you to deploy, manage, and organize resources within Azure, helping automate deployment processes securely.
• Azure Security Center: Azure Security Center provides unified security management and advanced threat protection across hybrid cloud workloads.

Google Cloud Platform

• Google Cloud Build: Google Cloud Build automates builds and deployments in a serverless CI/CD platform, reducing human error during deployment.
• Google Cloud Deployment Manager: Google Cloud Deployment Manager allows you to automate and manage the deployment of resources with templates to maintain security.
• Google Cloud Security Command Center: Google Cloud Security Command Center helps you understand and remediate security risks across your Google Cloud resources.

Question: How do you incorporate and validate the security properties of applications throughout the design, development, and deployment lifecycle?
Pillar: Security (Code: SEC)