Security as code (SaC) describes an integrative approach to implementing security workflows and procedures within the software development lifecycle (SDLC), or the CI/CD pipeline in the DevOps world. SaC works mainly in two ways — through programmatic security rules and security-focused tooling — to ensure that smarter security remains a core tenet of application development.
Security as code works through hard coding rules and policies (typically within your IDE), security policy integration and monitoring, logging, alerting, observability, and even version control to simplify auditing. Some SaC practitioners may also use vulnerability scanning and other shift-left-inspired testing mechanisms to prevent cyber threats from impacting sensitive systems.
Automation also plays a key role in ensuring that security best practices are continuously implemented as efficiently as possible (while reducing human error). This also makes rapid patching easier when vulnerabilities are discovered. Developers should codify these automations wherever possible, and users can manage these configurations more easily through a centralized control plane. Any such code must be continually scrutinized and validated to prevent infrastructure issues from popping up.
While the exact origins of SaC aren't 100% certain, industry experts associate the concept with the rise of DevSecOps philosophies in the late 2000s. The idea is that resilient systems require a non-stop, iterative, and proactive security strategy to fend off modern threats at scale.
What makes security as code (SaC) useful?
The programmatic nature of security as code boosts flexibility by allowing developers to granularly craft codified policies and security responses. It also offers the following benefits:
Security threats are tackled early on before a given service or piece of infrastructure goes live, preventing costly breaches and downtime later on.
Shared policies enforce consistency around security and the ways in which teams respond to noteworthy events.
Automation of important management tasks — including security checks and scans — reduces human error vs. doing everything manually.
Developers can shorten the release cycle and launch faster.
DevSecOps teams follow an integrated approach which encourages collaboration, increased management visibility, and smarter shared maintenance of the overall code base.
Because security is codified, these portions of code-based infrastructure can be easily reused and adapted to fit different use cases.
A focus on security fixes drives continual improvements across the entire software development lifecycle.
However, there are some common barriers that teams encounter when implementing SaC. First, it can be difficult to find the correct or consensus tools best suited for the job. Second, teams that don't collaborate well may find it challenging to divvy up ownership of the code base, maintenance tasks, and security checks.
Third, any process changes (and new tools) introduced by security as code also require training to use effectively. This can take time, money, and initially cause the release process to lag. While achieving an SaC setup is beneficial, teams should be aware of these challenges so they're better prepared to solve them. Teams can transition more effectively by making smaller process and tooling changes first, then scaling up once they're more comfortable.
Does HAProxy support security as code (SaC)?
Yes! HAProxy One supports a number of SaC processes and principles — such as custom response and routing policies through access control lists (ACLs), version control for HAProxy configurations, easy PKI management at scale, and next-gen, multi-layered security management, and RBAC — through HAProxy Fusion. Granular delegation of ownership for administrative roles, configurations, and load balancing cluster groups is easy.
To learn more about security as code support in HAProxy, check out our security and automation and self-service solution pages.