How to Transition from DevOps to DevSecOps?

Introduction: The Shift That Every DevOps Engineer Must Prepare For

Security threats grow every day. Companies need faster releases, smarter automation, and stronger protection. DevOps helps teams build and deliver software fast, but DevSecOps helps them do it fast and safely. This shift has created a huge need for professionals who understand both DevOps and security.

If you work in DevOps today, you stand at one of the strongest career points in the IT industry. Many DevOps engineers now move into DevSecOps because salaries increase, job roles expand, and companies want secure automation. This transformation also increases the value of skills like AWS, CI/CD pipelines, IaC, and container security. Many learners now search for the Best DevSecOps certification, DevSecOps course, and AWS DevSecOps certification to stay ahead.

This blog explains how to transition from DevOps to DevSecOps with a step-by-step roadmap, real examples, hands-on tools, and industry data. You will also learn how DevSecOps training, including options like H2K Infosys, can support this career jump.

What Is DevSecOps? A Quick and Clear Explanation

DevSecOps adds security checks into every step of the DevOps cycle. DevOps focuses on speed. DevSecOps focuses on speed with protection.

DevOps Pipeline vs DevSecOps Pipeline

Companies now adopt DevSecOps because it reduces risk and lowers the cost of fixing vulnerabilities. Research from IBM shows that fixing a vulnerability during development costs 30x less than fixing it after release.

Why DevOps Engineers Need DevSecOps Skills Today

The demand for DevSecOps continues to grow. Industry reports show:

• 600% rise in supply chain attacks since 2021

• 78% of companies plan to adopt DevSecOps by 2025

• DevSecOps engineers earn 20–30% more than DevOps engineers

• Cloud-native apps require stronger security automation

These facts show why DevOps engineers now shift to DevSecOps roles. Many learners improve their skills through DevSecOps training and certification, AWS DevOps course, or DevOps engineer course programs.

Skill Gaps Between DevOps and DevSecOps (And How to Fill Them)

You may already have DevOps skills like:

• CI/CD pipelines

• Containers like Docker

• Kubernetes orchestration

• Cloud infrastructure

• Automation tools

But DevSecOps needs extra skills:

Security Skills Required

• Secure code analysis

• Dependency and artifact scanning

• Cloud IAM roles and policies

• Zero-trust access

• Network segmentation

• Secrets management

• Threat detection

The good news is you can learn these skills quickly with the right roadmap.

Step-by-Step Roadmap to Move From DevOps to DevSecOps

Step 1: Strengthen Your Security Fundamentals

Start by learning the basics:

• What is OWASP?

• What are the top 10 application risks?

• What are common vulnerabilities (SQL injection, CSRF, insecure APIs)?

• How do attackers break systems?

Hands-On Tip

Try checking your code with a simple SAST tool like SonarQube.

Example Command:

sonar-scanner \

  -Dsonar.projectKey=myapp \

  -Dsonar.sources=. \

  -Dsonar.host.url=http://localhost:9000

This practice helps you understand secure code.

Step 2: Add Security Tools to Your CI/CD Pipeline

Security must run inside your pipeline.

Common Tools

• SAST: SonarQube, Checkmarx

• DAST: OWASP ZAP

• Dependency Scanning: Snyk, Trivy

• Container Security: Aqua, Twistlock

Example CI Pipeline With Security Stage (Jenkinsfile)

stage('Security Scan') {

    steps {

        sh 'trivy image myapp:latest'

    }

}

This adds container scanning before deployment.

Step 3: Learn Cloud Security (AWS Is Most Important)

AWS is the most used cloud for DevSecOps teams. Many DevOps engineers now take AWS DevSecOps certification programs to increase cloud security knowledge.

Key AWS Security Skills

• IAM roles and policies

• Security groups and NACLs

• KMS encryption

• S3 bucket security

• CloudTrail and GuardDuty

• Secrets Manager

Practical Example: Secure an S3 Bucket

aws s3api put-bucket-encryption \

  --bucket mybucket \

  --server-side-encryption-configuration \

  '{"Rules":[{"ApplyServerSideEncryptionByDefault":{"SSEAlgorithm":"AES256"}}]}'

This simple command adds encryption to your bucket.

Step 4: Learn Infrastructure as Code Security

IaC security protects Terraform and CloudFormation scripts.

Common Tools

• Checkov

• Terrascan

• TFSec

Example Checkov Scan

checkov -d ./terraform

This helps you detect insecure Terraform resources.

Step 5: Strengthen Container and Kubernetes Security

Containers are at high risk. Kubernetes adds more complexity, so security is important.

Learn These Skills

• POD security

• RBAC

• Image scanning

• Network policies

• Admission controllers

Example Kubernetes NetworkPolicy

apiVersion: networking.k8s.io/v1

kind: NetworkPolicy

metadata:

  name: deny-all

spec:

  podSelector: {}

  policyTypes:

  - Ingress

This blocks all inbound traffic unless allowed.

Step 6: Learn Threat Monitoring and Incident Response

Monitoring is important in DevSecOps.

Key Tools

• AWS GuardDuty

• AWS CloudTrail

• SIEM tools like Splunk

• Prometheus alerts

Monitoring improves visibility and reduces recovery time.

Step 7: Take a DevSecOps Course or Certification Program

Structured learning helps you bridge the skill gap. Many professionals join a DevSecOps course, DevSecOps training, or DevSecOps training and certification program to gain hands-on labs and real project exposure.

Training institutes such as H2K Infosys also provide guided sessions, practice projects, and cloud labs to help learners build strong skills.

Step-By-Step Hands-On Example: Build a Simple DevSecOps Pipeline

Below is a full pipeline example that covers security checks.

1. Clone the code

git clone https://github.com/demo/myapp

2. Run static analysis

sonar-scanner -Dsonar.projectKey=myapp

3. Scan dependencies

snyk test

4. Scan Docker image

trivy image myapp:latest

5. Deploy with IaC scans

checkov -d .

kubectl apply -f deployment.yaml

This practice builds real DevSecOps experience.

Real-World Example: How a Company Benefited From DevSecOps

A large e-commerce company faced frequent security issues in its API. They used DevOps pipelines but lacked proper security scanning.

After introducing DevSecOps:

• API vulnerabilities dropped by 85%

• Release time improved by 40%

• Downtime reduced by 50%

• Customer data breaches dropped to zero

This shows the real impact of DevSecOps skills.

Training and Learning Path: How Courses Can Support Your Transition

A guided learning program helps you learn fast and build practical skills. Many learners now choose:

• DevSecOps course programs

• DevSecOps training with hands-on labs

• DevSecOps training and certification tracks

• DevOps courses with security add-ons

• AWS DevOps course options

• Best DevSecOps certification paths

Training platforms like H2K Infosys offer structured programs, practical labs, and interview preparation that support learners in their transition.

Common DevSecOps Interview Questions to Prepare For

1. What is the difference between SAST and DAST?

2. How do you secure a Kubernetes cluster?

3. What is threat modeling?

4. How do you manage secrets inside CI/CD?

5. How do you add security to Terraform?

6. What is the DevSecOps pipeline flow?

Preparing for these topics helps you crack interviews faster.

DevSecOps Tools You Must Learn

Code and Pipeline Security

• SonarQube

• Git-Secrets

• Trivy

• Snyk

• OWASP ZAP

Cloud Security

• IAM

• Config

• KMS

• GuardDuty

• Secrets Manager

IaC Security

• Chekhov

• Terrascan

• TFSec

Container Security

• Aqua

• Twistlock

• Falco

Monitoring

• Prometheus

• Grafana

• CloudWatch

Learning these tools improves job readiness.

Career Roles You Can Get After Transitioning to DevSecOps

Once you shift to DevSecOps, you can apply for:

• DevSecOps Engineer

• Cloud Security Engineer

• Security Automation Engineer

• Kubernetes Security Engineer

• AWS Security Engineer

• Application Security Analyst

Each role offers strong salaries and career stability.

Key Takeaways

• DevSecOps adds security into DevOps pipelines.

• DevOps engineers can shift to DevSecOps with the right roadmap.

• Security tools, cloud security, IaC scanning, and container security are important.

• Hands-on labs increase skill strength.

• Certifications and structured courses help you grow.

• Training programs such as H2K Infosys can support your learning process.

Conclusion

Start your DevSecOps journey today and upgrade your DevOps skills to meet the needs of modern companies. Join a structured DevSecOps course or certification program and move one step closer to becoming an in-demand DevSecOps engineer.

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