The Benefits of Shifting Left: Minimize Risk and Save Money with Early Security Integration 

Shifting left in security, or integrating security early in the software development lifecycle (SDLC), can help your organization save time and money. By identifying and addressing potential security flaws early, organizations can reduce the likelihood of vulnerabilities being exploited in production applications. This proactive approach is more cost-effective and time-efficient, as it prevents the accumulation of technical debt and minimizes the need for extensive rework or redesign. Let’s explore the benefits of shifting left and how it minimizes risk through early security integration. 

Key Benefits of Shifting Left 

Reduced Risk of Vulnerabilities 

Shifting left allows organizations to identify and address security issues early in the development process. This early detection and resolution of vulnerabilities significantly reduce the risk of security breaches and data leaks. By catching issues early, teams can ensure that the codebase is more secure before it reaches production, thereby protecting sensitive data and maintaining customer trust. 

Cost-Effective and Time-Efficient 

Addressing security issues early in the SDLC is more cost-effective and time-efficient compared to fixing them later. Late-stage security fixes often require significant rework, which can delay project timelines and increase costs. Some flaws are even addressed so late that the creator of the code is no longer at the company, making them even more difficult to fix. Early integration of security testing helps prevent these issues, allowing teams to focus on delivering high-quality, secure applications on time and within budget. 

Improved Code Quality & Security Culture 

Early security integration promotes better coding practices and raises security awareness among developers. This fosters a security-conscious culture within the organization, leading to improved code quality and more efficiently secure applications. Developers who are trained in security best practices are more likely to write secure code from the start, reducing the likelihood of introducing vulnerabilities. 

Enhanced Developer Productivity 

Integrating automated security tools into development workflows further enhances application security and productivity. These tools help identify and address security flaws early, providing real-time feedback and remediation guidance. This reduces the time and effort required for manual security checks, allowing developers to focus on innovative product development and feature enhancements. 

Practical Steps to Adopt a DevSecOps Approach for Shifting Left 

1. Integrate Security Testing Early and Often: 
   Incorporate security testing into the early stages of the SDLC, including during the planning, design, and development phases. Regular testing helps identify and address issues early, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities. 
2. Automate Security with a Developer-Centric Approach: 
   Use automated security tools that integrate seamlessly into the development workflow. These tools should provide real-time feedback and guidance to help developers address security issues quickly and efficiently. 
3. Implement Continuous Scanning and Remediation: 
   Set up continuous scanning processes to monitor the codebase for security vulnerabilities. Implement AI for remediation in workflows to address issues as they are discovered, ensuring that the code remains secure throughout the development process. 
4. Enhance Security Awareness Through Training: 
   Provide regular security training and awareness programs for developers and other team members. This helps build a security-conscious culture and ensures that everyone is equipped with the knowledge and skills to write secure code. 

Real-World Impacts of Shifting Left 

The benefits of shifting left in security have been demonstrated in a recent case study. For example, one organization was able to reallocate 70,000 developer hours to innovative product development by integrating early security practices. Another organization reduced the mean time to remediate vulnerabilities to about 24 hours, significantly improving their security posture and development efficiency. 

How Veracode Helps with Shifting Left 

As the development world continues to embrace the benefits of shifting left, Veracode offers the tools and resources needed to integrate security seamlessly into every phase of the SDLC. Veracode’s comprehensive suite of security solutions enables developers to find and fix vulnerabilities in real time—well before they reach production. 

• Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) Integration: Veracode integrates easily with your CI/CD pipeline, providing real-time feedback and allowing developers to catch vulnerabilities during coding or testing. This continuous feedback loop helps you resolve issues faster, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities slipping through the cracks. 
• Static Analysis (SAST): Veracode’s Static Application Security Testing (SAST) scans your source code early in the development process, ensuring that potential vulnerabilities are identified and fixed before they become costly problems.
• Software Composition Analysis (SCA): With Veracode’s SCA, you can monitor and secure third-party open-source components throughout the development cycle. Early detection of vulnerabilities in dependencies is key to minimizing risk and ensuring your applications are secure from end to end. 
• Dynamic Analysis (DAST): As your application is developed, Veracode’s Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) allows you to test running applications in real-time, detecting vulnerabilities in a live environment before they’re exposed to end users.
• Veracode Fix: Veracode Fix provides developers with responsible-by-design AI remediation advice and code-level fixes for identified vulnerabilities, helping to accelerate the process of patching issues. It offers actionable recommendations that integrate directly into the development workflow, enabling teams to address security issues swiftly and efficiently without needing deep security expertise.
• Developer-Friendly Tools: Veracode’s tools are designed to be easy to use and integrate seamlessly into the developer’s workflow, providing quick, actionable results that allow teams to focus on building secure code without slowing down the development process.
• Developer Education: Veracode offers a comprehensive set of training resources designed to upskill developers on secure coding practices. With interactive lessons, hands-on labs, and practical guidance, Veracode’s developer education empowers teams to write secure code from the start, fostering a security-first mindset throughout the development process. 

By using Veracode’s security testing solutions, you can shift left with confidence—building security directly into your development process and minimizing risk along the way. Veracode helps streamline security, improve collaboration, and make proactive security practices a natural part of your development pipeline. Reach out to learn more about how we can help you reap the benefits of shifting left.