Course description


DevOps Security and Compliance

In DevOps, speed and automation are critical — but so are security and compliance. DevOps Security and Compliance (often part of DevSecOps) ensures that every step of the software delivery pipeline is secure, auditable, and compliant with regulations.

  • Definition:
    DevOps Security and Compliance is the practice of embedding security checks and compliance requirements into the DevOps lifecycle to protect applications, infrastructure, and data.

  • Why It Matters:

    • Rapid deployments can increase security risks if controls are skipped.

    • Regulations (like GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS) require organizations to protect user data.

    • A secure and compliant pipeline prevents breaches, fines, and reputation damage.

  • Core Practices:

    1. Shift-Left Security: Integrating security early in the development cycle.

    2. Automated Security Testing: Running static and dynamic scans in CI/CD pipelines.

    3. Compliance as Code: Defining and enforcing compliance rules programmatically (e.g., with Terraform, AWS Config).

    4. Access Management: Using IAM, MFA, and role-based access to limit privileges.

    5. Vulnerability Scanning: Regularly scanning code, containers, and infrastructure.

    6. Audit Logging & Monitoring: Keeping detailed logs for traceability and compliance audits.

    7. Encryption & Data Protection: Securing data at rest and in transit.

  • Benefits:

    • Stronger security posture against attacks.

    • Reduced risk of regulatory fines and legal issues.

    • Faster and safer software delivery.

    • Builds customer trust through compliance transparency.

  • Challenges:

    • Balancing speed with strict compliance requirements.

    • Tool integration across diverse DevOps pipelines.

    • Continuous updates to stay aligned with evolving regulations.

    • Cultural shift — developers, ops, and security must collaborate closely.



What will i learn?

  • Understand DevOps Security Fundamentals Learners will be able to explain the importance of integrating security and compliance into the DevOps lifecycle.
  • Identify Risks and Vulnerabilities Learners will gain the ability to recognize common security risks, vulnerabilities, and compliance challenges in DevOps environments.
  • Apply Secure DevOps Practices Learners will be able to implement secure coding standards, secrets management, and automated security checks within CI/CD pipelines.
  • Ensure Compliance with Industry Standards Learners will learn how to integrate regulatory compliance requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS) into DevOps processes
  • Use Tools for DevOps Security and Compliance Learners will acquire practical knowledge of tools for vulnerability scanning, compliance validation, and monitoring.
  • Develop Security-First Mindset in Teams Learners will be able to promote a culture of shared responsibility, ensuring developers, operations, and security teams collaborate effectively.

Requirements

  • Integration of Security into CI/CD Pipelines Security checks (vulnerability scanning, code analysis, compliance validation) must be automated and embedded in the software delivery pipeline.
  • Identity and Access Management (IAM) Implement role-based access control (RBAC), least privilege policies, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) to protect systems and data.
  • Vulnerability Scanning and Threat Detection Continuous scanning of applications, infrastructure, and dependencies to identify and remediate risks early.
  • Compliance Enforcement Automated compliance checks aligned with industry standards (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, ISO 27001). Maintain audit trails and evidence for regulatory reporting.
  • Secure Coding Practices Developers must follow secure coding guidelines, perform code reviews, and use tools for static and dynamic application security testing (SAST/DAST).
  • Secrets Management Use secure vaults or key management systems (e.g., HashiCorp Vault, AWS KMS) to protect passwords, API keys, and certificates.
  • Monitoring and Logging Real-time monitoring, centralized logging, and anomaly detection to quickly identify and respond to incidents.
  • Incident Response and Recovery Plan Clearly defined processes for handling security breaches, including detection, containment, recovery, and post-incident analysis
  • Continuous Training and Awareness Teams must stay updated on emerging threats, compliance requirements, and best practices for DevSecOps.
  • Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Security Validate and secure IaC templates (Terraform, CloudFormation, etc.) to prevent misconfigurations and policy violations.

Frequently asked question

DevOps Security and Compliance is the practice of embedding security and regulatory requirements into the DevOps workflow to ensure safe, compliant, and reliable software delivery.

Risks include system vulnerabilities, data leaks, regulatory penalties, loss of customer trust, and increased cost of fixing issues later in production

Because DevOps promotes speed and automation, security must be integrated early to prevent vulnerabilities, data breaches, and compliance failures

Traditional security is often applied at the end of development, while DevOps Security (DevSecOps) integrates security checks continuously throughout the development lifecycle.

Popular tools include vulnerability scanners (e.g., OWASP ZAP), compliance checkers (e.g., Chef InSpec), and CI/CD integrations like Jenkins or GitLab with security plugins.

Akinola Ojuola

Cloud Solution Architect, DevOps Consultant & Trainer

Akinola Ojuola is a seasoned Cloud Solution Architect, DevOps Consultant and technical trainer with over 20 years of industry expertise. Throughout his career, he has worked with some of the world’s most prominent technology-driven organisations, including IBM, Fujitsu, Walmart, and MasterCard, delivering transformative solutions across various sectors. Akinola has trained and mentored more than 1,000 students across 18 countries on five continents. His commitment to real-world, practical learning has enabled hundreds of learners to launch successful careers in global tech companies. He is passionate about practical, real-world learning. His teaching approach blends deep technical knowledge with hands-on, enterprise-level experience. He holds multiple industry certifications and leads advanced projects in Cloud Architecture, DevOps, DevSecOps, and Artificial Intelligence for both private enterprises and public institutions.Whether you’re just starting or looking to advance your tech career, you’ll gain valuable, job-ready skills under his guidance.

$10

Lectures

4

Quizzes

2

Category

Cloud DevOps

Publish date

16 September 2025

Expiry period

Lifetime

Certificate

Yes

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