What’s the Difference between AppSec, Software Security, Cybersecurity, and DevSecOps?

Note: This is a highly simplified drawing to help visualize the relationships between the four terms. As far as this author’s knowledge goes, the above is accurate within a DevSecOps organization: if you haven’t implemented DevSecOps, then that ring wouldn’t exist. With that in mind, all diagrammatical (and other) errors are purely the fault of this author.

If you’ve been involved in computing or IT for longer than this week, you’ll have come across the terms AppSec, Software Security, DevSecOps, and cybersecurity. Unfortunately, you might often hear or read several being used interchangeably. As always, clarity is key and, in this post, we’ll explain each term, how they relate to each other, and, where applicable, provide examples to help solidify them in your mind. But first, why such confusion?

Confusion Reigns

GuardRails is an Application Security (AppSec) platform, so that’s an excellent place to start. Here are three AppSec definitions to get your juices flowing: Cobalt, in their July 20, 2022 article, discusses how AppSec is a profession. In their November 8, 2022 piece, VMware defines AppSec as “…the process of developing, adding, and testing security features within applications to prevent security vulnerabilities against threats such as unauthorized access and modification.” Third, and finally, TechTarget, in their January 25, 2022 piece, defines AppSec as “…the practice of using security software, hardware, techniques, best practices and procedures to protect computer applications from external security threats.”

So if, like us, you’re confused, then join the club. Given a picture paints a thousand words and, as there’s no definitive answer or agreement (as yet), we went searching for one to clarify…

A Picture Paints a Thousand Words (When it Exists, That is)

We couldn’t find one. That’s how clear the definition is! So, with the above in mind, we decided to create our own.

What is the Difference Between AppSec, Software Security, Cybersecurity, and DevSecOps?

In our Internet-connected world, we’ll start with cybersecurity because that encompasses most of the other items (and most of the other items will use cybersecurity elements).

What is Cybersecurity?

“Cybersecurity is the protection of internet-connected systems such as hardware, software, and data from cyber threats.”.

Any device that connects to the Internet requires cybersecurity protection. You will need to implement relevant security controls depending on which type of the seven types of cybersecurity involved:

• Network Security – Securing the hardware and software components of the network, including perimeter devices, endpoints, routers, etc.
• Cloud Security – Securing data stored in the cloud.
• Endpoint Security – Involves physical devices, such as laptops and mobile phones that form the network endpoints.
• Mobile Security – Protecting sensitive information stored on/ transmitted by laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc.
• IoT Security – Protecting cloud-connected devices such as scanners, security cameras, and any tech that connects directly to the cloud.
• Application Security – Includes the processes involved with testing application security features to prevent security vulnerabilities/threats.
• Zero Trust – a security framework that requires users to authenticate, authorize, and validate to access network components.

So that’s a brief overview of cybersecurity.

What is DevSecOps?

DevSecOps focuses on the integration of Development (Dev), Security (Sec), and Operations (Ops) into the software development process within your Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).

In essence, DevSecOps is the approach/methodology of designing, developing, deploying, and maintaining secure software with a focus on collaboration and automation. If you’re familiar with DevOps end-to-end practices and processes such as application development, continuous integration, and continuous deployment (CI/CD), then DevSecOps takes those processes and wraps them in an automated security process.

Because DevSecOps covers all areas of software development, including how it ties in with architecture, platforms, hardware, networks, etc., it also encompasses cybersecurity, software security, and AppSec.

DevSecOps White Paper

If you want to learn more about DevSecOps, our ‘How to build a DevSecOps Pipeline’ white paper will help. You can download it for free here

What is Software Security?

Software security refers to the measures taken to protect computer programs and systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. Software security examples include:

• Access control – Limiting access to a system or network based on the identity of the user or system.
• Intrusion detection and prevention – Using software or hardware to detect and prevent unauthorized access to a system or network.
• Vulnerability management – Identifying, assessing, and mitigating security vulnerabilities in software and systems.
• Security information and event management (SIEM) – A security management system that collects and analyzes security data from various sources to identify and respond to security incidents.
• Application security (AppSec) – Securing software applications from various threat types such as malware, SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), etc. More on this below.

Types of devices that require software security

Virtually every device that stores, processes, or transmits data can benefit from software security. As shown in Figure 1 above, devices include:

• Network devices – Including routers, switches, firewalls, and others that control and protect network traffic.
• Industrial control systems – Devices that control industrial processes such as manufacturing, power generation, and transportation.
• Medical devices – Pacemakers, insulin pumps, etc. Internet of Things (IoT) devices – Smart home devices, security cameras, wearables, etc.
• Automotive devices – The electronic systems in cars, trucks, and other network-connected vehicles.
• Embedded systems – printers, televisions, and other consumer electronics that have network-connected embedded software.

What is Application Security?

AppSec “is the practice of using security software, hardware, techniques, best practices, and procedures to protect computer applications from external security threats.”

A subset of software security, AppSec is a critical element of the development process and is composed of different features, environments, types, and methods.

Application Security Features

include:

Authentication – Controls access and ensures users are who they say they are. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adds an authentication layer and typically involves three items: something you know (a password), something you have (a device), and something you are (a fingerprint, facial recognition, etc.)
Authorization – Determines what authenticated users can access and use once logged in. Authorization allows organizations to safeguard assets, secure data, mitigate security risks, etc.
Encryption – Protects sensitive data from unauthorized persons.
Logging – Creates a time-stamped trail of who accessed what, when, and how.
Testing – Verifies that all controls are working correctly.

Application Security Environments

With software, there are different types of AppSec environments, each with its own security concerns:

• Mobile – Mobile devices (and mobile apps) extend your security perimeter. They are increasingly vulnerable because they communicate over the Internet rather than private networks.
• Cloud – Involves shared resources and, because cloud-based data is especially vulnerable when transmitted across the Internet, will require additional security measures.
• Web – Web and web-based applications pose increased risks due to transmitting data between your local client, desktop browser, or mobile device, and the Internet-based server.

Application Security Test Types

The types of AppSec testing and purposes are:

• Black box – Simulates an external attack. Black box testing tests the application’s end-to-end security, including application and server configurations, external integrations, etc.
• Grey box – Simulates a more sophisticated attack, such as where a privileged user (like an administrator) uses their advanced knowledge to exploit defenses.
• White box – The tester has full access to the application’s internal workings/code. One example is Static Application Security Testing (SAST), which we look at below.

Application Security Testing Methods

AppSec testing methods include:

• Static Application Security Testing (SAST) – Is white box testing used to scan and identify vulnerabilities in source code. Automated SAST is cheap and quick to run and allows you to find and fix vulnerabilities early, thereby keeping pipeline costs to a minimum and making your application more secure.
• Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) – Is a black box automated testing method that allows you to mimic attacks to identify vulnerabilities in running applications using HTTP, HTTPS, Html, etc.
• Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST) – IAST combines elements of SAST (black box) and DAST (white box) to perform a grey box test that analyzes the entire application to detect security issues. This includes code, data flow information, runtime controls, responses, etc.
• Software Composition Analysis (SCA) – Analyzes and manages any open source libraries and components used in your application.
• Runtime Application Self-Protection (RASP) – Is run within and performs continuous security checks on the application itself. In doing so, it can respond to, and terminate, active attacks and alert your security teams to the live intrusion.

Application Security Testing and GuardRails

GuardRails is a continuous application security verification platform that empowers modern development teams to find, fix and prevent vulnerabilities related to source code, open-source libraries, secrets management, and cloud configuration.

GuardRails Automates SAST and SCA

GuardRails automates SAST and SCA at the code level by automatically scanning every code change and providing continuous security feedback. In conjunction with Just-In-Time (JIT) Training, this feedback helps developers create secure applications while educating and upskilling them. When security scans detect a vulnerability, the developer receives instant notification of the error, where it is, and guidance on how to fix it.

Summary

At a higher level, the boundaries between cybersecurity, DevSecOps, software security, and AppSec are dissolving. Naturally, this has led to confusion over each term’s definition, meaning, and application. However, when you delve into each and understand how they interconnect within the overall schema, the separation (albeit small) becomes more apparent and defined.