05/05/25 | EverOps
A Strategic Guide to Unified IT Practices
Security is no longer a checkpoint at the end of the software development lifecycle but a driving force behind how modern teams build, test, and deploy code. As DevOps practices evolve, so too does the urgency of weaving security into every layer.
Industry analysts estimate that the global DevSecOps market was valued around $7.5 billion in 2023 and is projected to surge to $32.4 billion by 2030, growing at a rate of nearly 20% annually. Meanwhile, Gartner predicts that in 2025, 95% of new software projects will incorporate DevSecOps practices—up from just 40% in 2021—underscoring its rise as a cornerstone of agile development.
In this blog, we’ll explore how embedding security early in the DevOps lifecycle empowers collaboration across ITOps and DevOps teams. From integrating security into CI/CD pipelines to fostering a security-first culture and leveraging platform engineering, we’ll outline actionable steps organizations can take to stay agile and secure.
As organizations embrace faster development cycles and more complex infrastructures, the need to embed security throughout the DevOps pipeline has become non-negotiable. In fact, a recent Reddit discussion highlighted this urgency, with one of the contributors stating, “Security is 100% the job. I don’t understand anyone who says it’s not. Whether you are working on a cloud service or an air-gapped machine, security is always a consideration with everything I do,” emphasizing that security should be an integral part of DevOps, not just an afterthought.
This perspective reflects a broader shift happening across industries. From regulatory demands to architectural changes, the alignment of ITOps and DevOps around shared security goals is imperative. Here’s why:
Industries that manage sensitive data—like healthcare, finance, and government—face strict compliance mandates (e.g., HIPAA, PCI-DSS, GDPR). DevSecOps helps organizations meet these obligations by embedding automated security controls directly into the CI/CD pipeline, through:
Today’s businesses rely on frequent software updates to stay competitive. Nearly half of today’s organizations cite increased agility and time pressures as a primary reason for evolving their DevSecOps strategies, further enabling:
The rise of cloud-native applications, containers, and microservices has made traditional perimeter-based security obsolete. DevSecOps equips teams to protect complex, distributed systems including:
Aligning ITOps and DevOps with a security-first mindset means breaking down traditional silos. When security becomes a shared responsibility, both teams benefit: DevOps gains the stability and oversight of ITOps, while ITOps gains the automation, agility, and speed of DevOps. Together, this creates a more resilient and responsive organization equipped to handle both innovation and risk.
In modern software engineering, particularly within DevOps, security should be a core component of development and operational processes from the beginning. This approach, often referred to as “shifting left”, emphasizes the importance of embedding security practices early in the software development lifecycle instead of relegating them to a final step.
As organizations transition to a DevSecOps framework, it’s essential to incorporate security testing into deployment pipelines. This ensures that code is continuously tested for vulnerabilities alongside other commits in the shared repository.
By prioritizing security from the start, organizations can:
This proactive approach to security enhances not only the integrity of products but also the resilience of platforms and the efficiency of operations. It allows teams to develop and deploy software faster, with greater confidence in its security.
Security integration isn’t a one-size-fits-all task. It requires a layered strategy that protects every part of the stack, from infrastructure to applications and identity. This means implementing automated security scanning across CI/CD pipelines, conducting regular threat modeling sessions with cross-functional teams, and defining clear KPIs and SLAs to keep security aligned with performance goals. It also involves integrating identity and access management, secrets management, and network segmentation. Together, these efforts create scalable, repeatable processes that support both operational reliability and secure, high-velocity development.
Technology alone cannot resolve all security challenges, and organizations should consider cultivating a strong security-conscious culture first and foremost. Every team member, from developers to operations staff, should recognize their responsibility to maintain the security posture of systems. This cultural shift involves ongoing training and awareness programs, such as regular workshops or simulated security incidents. By equipping all staff with the knowledge and tools to make security-conscious decisions, companies can promote a safer environment where security is viewed as everyone’s responsibility.
Even with a solid security strategy in place, integrating those practices into DevOps and ITOps workflows comes with its own set of challenges. One of the most persistent challenges is finding the right balance between security and speed. Without careful planning, controls can become bottlenecks, slowing down delivery and undermining the agility DevOps was designed to provide.
To overcome these integration obstacles, organizations should take a proactive and structured approach, including:
By addressing these challenges head-on, businesses can create a more cohesive and secure IT ecosystem that supports both the stability requirements of ITOps and the velocity demands of DevOps, all while maintaining robust security posture.
As organizations mature in their DevSecOps adoption, the focus is shifting from implementation to innovation. With evolving threat landscapes, rising complexity in IT environments, and increasing regulatory pressure, the future of security lies in more intelligent, more adaptive approaches. Emerging technologies and architectures are reshaping how security is integrated into ITOps and DevOps, enabling teams to be more proactive, automated, and resilient.
Looking ahead, here are several key trends poised to define the next wave of secure digital transformation:
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are playing a growing role in enhancing threat detection and response. These technologies can analyze vast volumes of data to identify behavioral anomalies, detect previously unknown attack patterns, and prioritize risks in real time, better helping security teams shift from reactive to proactive postures.
The zero trust model is gaining momentum as organizations adopt hybrid and remote-first environments. This model assumes no user, device, or system is inherently trustworthy and requires continuous verification of access requests, regardless of network location. It’s particularly effective in minimizing lateral movement during breaches and limiting access to only what’s necessary.
Traditional perimeter-based security models struggle in distributed, cloud-native environments. Cybersecurity mesh architecture offers a more flexible approach by applying security policies and controls at the individual asset level, wherever that asset resides. This decentralized model provides consistent security coverage across dynamic infrastructure.
Compliance as code integrates regulatory requirements directly into infrastructure and deployment workflows. Automating policy enforcement and validation ensures consistent adherence to standards like HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and GDPR without slowing down development. It also simplifies audits by providing real-time compliance visibility and traceability.
Security today is no longer a standalone function but is becoming a shared responsibility across development, operations, and infrastructure. Embedding security early in the lifecycle, aligning ITOps and DevOps teams, and fostering a culture of accountability are no longer optional—they’re foundational to delivering software at speed without compromising trust.
Therefore, modern organizations must begin adopting a layered, proactive approach that integrates automation, continuous testing, and compliance into every stage of development and deployment. Most importantly, ITOps and DevOps should no longer operate in isolation. Security is the common ground where these disciplines converge. When both teams align on security goals and processes, organizations gain more than protection. They gain resilience, agility, and the ability to innovate without fear.
At EverOps, we understand the critical importance of unifying ITOps and DevOps through security. That’s why our approach is rooted in the belief that security must be embedded from day one, empowering teams to innovate quickly while maintaining operational integrity.
We go beyond traditional consulting by embedding our experts directly into your workflows. From secure infrastructure management to continuous security testing and observability, our tailored solutions bring DevSecOps to life, bridging the gap between ITOps stability and DevOps velocity.
Ready to bring your teams together and build a secure, scalable future? Partner with EverOps to unlock the full potential of ITOps and DevOps integration securely, efficiently, and strategically.
Contact us today to get started!
The main security challenges include balancing security with speed, ensuring consistent security practices across teams, managing access controls in a dynamic environment, maintaining compliance with regulations, and preventing security from becoming a bottleneck. Overcoming these challenges requires a combination of automation, cultural change, and the right security tools and practices.
Security automation enhances collaboration by reducing manual effort, ensuring consistent application of security controls, speeding up security testing and validation, and enabling faster detection and response to security incidents. This automation allows both ITOps and DevOps teams to maintain their focus on their primary responsibilities while ensuring security requirements are met.
DevSecOps is an approach that integrates security practices into the DevOps process, making security a shared responsibility across development, operations, and security teams. It relates to ITOps and DevOps integration by providing a framework for incorporating security considerations into all aspects of IT service delivery, from development to operations, creating a more cohesive and secure IT ecosystem.
Embedding security early, also known as “shifting left,” helps identify and remediate vulnerabilities when they’re easier and less costly to fix. It also ensures that security becomes a collaborative, continuous part of the software development process rather than a last-minute checkpoint. This approach reduces risk, improves compliance, and supports faster, more secure software delivery.
EverOps specializes in optimizing both ITOps and DevOps through a security-first approach that embeds our experts directly into your team. We help streamline your operations, eliminate security inefficiencies, and implement best practices across secure infrastructure management, continuous security testing, and security observability. Our solutions ensure that your ITOps and DevOps teams work together effectively and securely, driving increased productivity and innovation without compromising on security.