A Step-by-Step Framework for Building a DevSecOps Pipeline

The attack surface in software delivery pipelines has expanded faster than most organizations can secure it.

TechRadar reports that 81% of companies knowingly ship insecure code. This gap pushes for continuous delivery pipelines as one of the most attractive targets for attackers.

A DevSecOps pipeline addresses this reality by integrating security into each stage of the CI/CD process: Source control, builds, deployments, infrastructure, and monitoring.

Instead of treating security as a separate gate at the end of development, it embeds automated checks, policy enforcement, and compliance controls directly into workflows.

This guide provides a step-by-step framework for building a DevSecOps pipeline. It covers the core components, implementation practices, and challenges organizations must solve to deliver software that scales without compromising security.

Why DevSecOps Is Critical in 2025

Today, software delivery pipelines have become one of the primary entry points for attackers. A single misconfigured cloud resource or an unpatched open-source dependency can compromise the integrity of entire applications.

According to Datadog’s State of DevSecOps 2025 report, only 18% of identified vulnerabilities are truly critical, yet most organizations still struggle to distinguish and prioritize them effectively.

Organizations that have embraced structured DevSecOps practices show a measurable advantage.

In 2025, the relevance of a DevSecOps pipeline is defined not by preference but by necessity. Teams that embed security at every stage of CI/CD position themselves to respond faster to threats, satisfy compliance requirements continuously, and release software that users and regulators can trust.

Key Components of a DevSecOps Pipeline

A robust DevSecOps pipeline does more than run tests. It integrates security into every artifact, process, and environment. Here’s how that breaks down:

1. Source Code Management with Security

Security must act at the earliest stage: implement pre-commit and commit-time checks with tools like SAST and SCA in your Git workflows. Don’t let vulnerable code slip in unnoticed.

2. Continuous Integration and Security Testing

Effective CI/CD security integration embeds vulnerability testing directly into the build stage, catching flaws before deployment.

3. Timely Delivery with Compliance Checks

Before deployment, gates like policy-as-code and automated compliance tests must ensure that only infrastructure and apps meeting baseline security controls go live.

4. Infrastructure as Code with Security Policies

Infrastructure as Code security ensures that cloud resources are deployed with compliance controls baked in from the start.

Embedding these policies into IaC templates becomes even more effective when paired with cloud DevOps integrations, which enforce compliance consistently across environments.

5. Regular Monitoring and Incident Response

A structured security incident response process reduces downtime and improves recovery after pipeline threats are detected.

Step-by-Step Framework to Build Your DevSecOps Pipeline

Here’s how to get it done, strategically and without chaos:

-> Initiate Security-First Culture

Start by aligning leadership and defining shared responsibility between dev, ops, and security teams. Culture is the true foundation.

Establishing a security-first culture works best when aligned with a structured DevOps implementation roadmap, ensuring that security milestones evolve with delivery goals.

-> Choose and Integrate DevSecOps Tools

Pick tools that embed into dev workflows (e.g., SAST, SCA, DAST, IaC scanning) and make sure they plug into your CI/CD stack without friction.

-> Implement Automated Security Scans

Automating scans, policy checks, and approvals is at the core of DevSecOps automation, ensuring that pipelines remain both fast and secure.

-> Establish Continuous Compliance Monitoring

Track drift in configuration and compliance continuously. Let dashboards and alerts notify you of policy violations immediately.

-> Foster Cross-Team Collaboration

Make sure devs get actionable vulnerability feedback, and bridge silos with integrated ticketing, shared metrics, and joint retrospectives.

-> Continuous Improvement and Feedback Loops

Measure security posture, response times, and coverage. Adapt and tune your pipeline based on real usage—not assumptions.

Best Practices for DevSecOps Pipelines in 2025

-> Shift-Left Security

Security testing must begin at the first line of code, not after release. Incorporating static analysis tools and dependency checks directly into development workflows ensures vulnerabilities are identified before they enter the pipeline.

-> Automate Vulnerability Scanning

Manual reviews can’t keep pace with modern release cycles. Relying on automated vulnerability scanning ensures rapid identification of risks across code, dependencies, and infrastructure.

-> Leverage AI for Threat Detection

AI-driven anomaly detection improves coverage by analyzing logs, pipeline telemetry, and runtime behavior to flag unusual activity. Emerging AI in DevOps solutions is embedding machine learning to detect patterns that human teams miss.

-> Secure Coding Standards

Consistent coding guidelines reduce risk at the source. Adopting consistent coding guidelines rooted in security best practices reduces the risk of introducing exploitable flaws early in development.

-> Adopt Policy as Code

Security and compliance requirements should be codified, versioned, and enforced in the same way as application logic. Policy-as-code frameworks allow automated compliance checks across infrastructure and application layers.

-> Establish Zero Trust Principles

Every connection, request, and identity within the CI/CD pipeline should be continuously validated. Zero Trust eliminates assumptions of trust between services, significantly lowering the risk of lateral movement.

Security Challenges and How to Overcome Them

-> Managing Toolchain Complexity

A growing number of specialized tools can overwhelm teams. Standardizing on an integrated DevSecOps platform or consolidating through plugins and APIs reduces friction while preserving security coverage.

-> Overcoming Cultural Resistance

Security teams and developers often operate with competing priorities. Embedding security champions within dev teams and measuring security outcomes as part of development KPIs helps align incentives.

-> Handling Security Risks in CI/CD

CI/CD pipelines are attractive to attackers because of embedded secrets, access to source code, and automation scripts. Secrets management tools, signed artifacts, and pipeline isolation are essential defenses.

-> Balancing Speed and Security

Fast releases shouldn’t compromise controls. Set pipeline gates that block only on critical vulnerabilities, while assigning lower-priority issues to the backlog. This balance keeps deployments on schedule without ignoring risks.

Measuring Success: Metrics and KPIs

-> Deployment Frequency

High-performing teams release frequently while keeping systems stable. Track frequency as an indicator of pipeline maturity and agility.

-> Mean Time to Recovery (MTTR)

Measure the time required to detect, respond, and recover from security incidents. A lower MTTR reflects strong monitoring and response capabilities.

-> Vulnerability Detection Rates

Track how quickly and consistently vulnerabilities are identified across code, dependencies, and infrastructure. Effective pipelines show continuous improvement in detection coverage.

-> Compliance Scores

Regulatory compliance is a key driver for DevSecOps adoption. Automated compliance tests produce quantifiable scores that can be audited and benchmarked against industry standards.

Conclusion

Security challenges in 2025 are no longer isolated to the network or runtime.

They now extend across the entire software delivery pipeline – from code commits to infrastructure deployments.

A well-designed DevSecOps pipeline ensures that every phase of CI/CD is secured through automation, policy enforcement, and continuous security monitoring.

At American Chase, we specialize in building secure, scalable pipelines through advanced cloud, DevOps, and integrations. If you’re ready to strengthen your delivery process with a security-first approach, contact us to get started.

FAQs

1. What is a DevSecOps pipeline, and why is it important?

A DevSecOps pipeline integrates security into every stage of CI/CD. It ensures vulnerabilities are caught early, compliance checks are automated, and deployments remain both fast and secure.

2. How do I implement security in a CI/CD pipeline effectively?

Embed security tools into each stage of the pipeline—SAST for code, DAST for applications, and policy-as-code for infrastructure. Automation is key to maintaining speed without compromising safety.

3. What are the best tools for building a DevSecOps pipeline?

Popular tools include GitHub Advanced Security, Snyk, SonarQube, Checkov, and Kubernetes-native security solutions. The best choice depends on your stack and compliance needs.

4. How can automation improve security and deployment speed?

Automated scans, compliance checks, and incident workflows eliminate manual bottlenecks. This reduces delays while ensuring consistent enforcement of security standards.

5. What cultural changes are needed to adopt DevSecOps?

Teams must share responsibility for security. Developers, operations, and security professionals collaborate through shared KPIs, security champions, and continuous feedback loops.

6. How do we measure the success of a DevSecOps pipeline?

Key metrics include deployment frequency, MTTR, vulnerability detection rates, and compliance scores. Tracking these over time reveals both maturity and areas needing improvement.

7. What challenges should I expect when building a DevSecOps pipeline?

Common hurdles include toolchain sprawl, cultural pushback, and balancing speed with control. Addressing these requires leadership support, automation, and a phased rollout strategy.