A DevOps Approach to Improving Security in Higher Education
Many organizations modernize their legacy applications using a DevOps approach, which brings development and operations teams together to improve the speed, quality and security of app development. DevOps processes can increase velocity, shorten resolution times, improve user satisfaction and spur innovation. They can also reduce security risks for organizations that employ them effectively.
A further refinement of DevOps is the DevSecOps approach, in which security plays a foundational role in the development process. DevSecOps automates the security testing of applications as they are undergoing modernization. Any security issues that are detected in an app must be remediated before it can move to the next stage of development or production.
“When you're trying to modernize applications, you want to look at every key aspect, and that includes things like, which dependencies do they use from a security perspective?” Peters says. “If they’re using containers, are they secure?”
Addressing these concerns early in the modernization process helps to ensure that security issues are resolved before they can lead to a data breach.
DIG DEEPER: Learn how to reimagine a secure student experience with DevOps and DevSecOps.
Important Security Objectives for Application Modernization
An application modernization project presents an organization with an opportunity to further enhance its security posture by integrating with security measures. For example, an application can be incorporated in an institution’s zero-trust security approach. Zero trust requires all users — whether inside or outside a college’s network — to be authenticated, authorized and continuously validated for security configuration and posture before being granted access to applications. Adoption of zero trust has risen sharply in recent years, and a recent report notes that of 55 percent companies had implemented a defined zero-trust initiative by 2022.
As institutions engage in app modernization, they can also ensure their applications work with updated security solutions, including multifactor and passwordless authentication. These help to ensure that only authorized users gain access to applications and data.
Ultimately, the security benefits of app modernization can also improve the performance and reliability of applications, further helping colleges and universities achieve the goal of enhancing the experiences of all users.
