The so-called “shift left” approach to software security is no longer just an added value but, today, represents a specific expectation and a specific need for organizations. Security must be at the center of the planning phase for the development of new applications: only in this way can processes be optimized and made more efficient, teams can truly collaborate with each other, and the final result can meet expectations, not only in terms of performance but also in terms of compliance, which are increasingly high.
Conversely, the conventional methodology (also known as shift right) is obsolete: it is no longer sufficient to continue working according to old habits that were fine in a less challenging and less fast-paced commercial and production context.
Embracing the shift left method is therefore essential to achieve better results and more secure applications and to introduce agile and flexible practices into the software development lifecycle.
Shift left: why this method was created
There’s no point beating around the bush: security vulnerabilities are much harder to justify today than in the past, and it’s even more expensive to fix them after the software has been deployed. If we consider the possibility—which is not so remote—of malicious third parties exploiting the software, a security breach of this kind represents incalculable damage for organizations.
In addition to harming the software developer, a third-party intrusion also harms those using the software and, in turn, their customers: a domino effect with exponential growth. In practice, a security vulnerability today is much more serious than in the past.
For this reason, it has been necessary to change the paradigm, ways of thinking, and interpreting software development so that security is implemented right from the start and not only after the development phase and close to the launch of the application. This approach is limiting and rigid, as any security issue would block development processes and potentially require pervasive interventions.
Shift left: the benefits for companies
Adopting the shift left methodology therefore means that security is incorporated directly into the preparatory planning and development processes, so that any problems can be resolved at the outset, before moving on to the actual development stage.
The expression “shift left” means just that: shifting security integration to the left, i.e., to the beginning of the timeline that visually represents the software development cycle.
There are many advantages to this approach:
- Having the various departments involved in development (developers, IT department, testers, etc.) work together right from the start improves collaboration and makes code development more flexible.
- Security issues are prevented, while those that are detected can be resolved using fewer resources
and in less time.
- Organizations optimize costs because the shift left approach reduces time-to-market.
- The application will have fewer problems and perform better thanks to the collaboration between the various departments involved, which will improve customer satisfaction.
This does not mean giving up further checks after the code has been written, but that security cannot be considered merely as an add-on: it must be an integral part of the process from start to finish (and even beyond).
Shift left: another way to develop
The shift left methodology therefore guarantees significant benefits by integrating development and security right from the start. Before beginning development, it is important to establish the policies and rules to be followed in order to standardize processes and ensure that everyone is aware of them. Furthermore, integrating security while the code is being developed means that any issues can be remedied at this stage. This situation encourages collaboration and communication: two fundamental ingredients of the DevSecOps methodology and the beating heart of the shift left approach. The integration of automated systems also makes it easier to detect anomalies and flaws, further accelerating development times.
Organizations capable of giving shape and substance to this methodology are able to maximize the value of their applications and see a significant improvement in the final result. Ultimately, the shift left method is the way forward for developing secure, high-performance, and successful applications.