The growing challenge to efficiently develop secure software applications spurred the adoption of the DevOps methodology, which highlights the merging of development and operations teams, automating tasks and fostering a culture of teamwork. The objective of DevOps is to streamline the software development process. This shift has given rise to DevSecOps, which extends the principles of DevOps by integrating security measures into the software development journey. By incorporating security measures within the DevOps process, companies can lower risks and enhance compliance with regulations.

Kumar Vaibhav, lead senior solution architect: cybersecurity at In2IT, said DevSecOps is gaining traction in South Africa as organisations strive to address the growing threat of cyberattacks. “According to a 2022 report, the global DevSecOps market size was valued at US$4,4 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 22% between 2023 and 2032. In South Africa, demand for DevSecOps is driven by the increasing adoption of advanced technologies such as cloud computing, AI, and IoT, which have expanded the attack surface for cybercriminals.”

By integrating security practices into the software development process, DevSecOps helps South African businesses identify and address vulnerabilities early on, reducing the risk of data breaches and ensuring compliance with industry regulations. It also enables South African companies to streamline their software development and deployment processes, leading to faster time to market and improved responsiveness to changing business requirements.

Additionally, by automating security tasks and reducing the need for manual intervention, DevSecOps can help businesses save on IT and security-related costs. The 2022 report stated that the global DevSecOps market is expected to reach US$30 billion by 2032.

As South African businesses embrace DevSecOps, many are turning to third-party IT companies to help them navigate the complexities of integrating security into their software development processes. These third-party providers offer several benefits including access to expertise, cost savings, scalability and flexibility and compliance and risk mitigation.