As the world becomes more reliant on software, securing our software supply chains has become increasingly vital. Cybersecurity threats are evolving and becoming more sophisticated, with attackers focusing their efforts on exploiting vulnerabilities in CI/CD pipelines. While DevOps methodologies have improved the speed and quality of software development, the integration of security, known as DevSecOps, is now seen as essential to protecting organizations from cyber threats.
Cycode, a company that specializes in securing DevSecOps workflows, has recently added a new extension to its application security platform called Cimon. This extension uses eBPF technology to inspect network connections, running processes, and file modifications within pipelines, to learn standard behaviors and prevent cyberattacks.
In this article, we will explore how Cimon and eBPF technology work together to enhance the security of your CI/CD pipelines. We’ll also discuss Cycode’s platform and why embracing DevSecOps is crucial to improving software security.
How Does Cimon Work?
Alex Ilgayev, the head of security research for Cycode, explains that Cimon uses eBPF to inspect network connections, running processes, and file modifications within pipelines, in order to establish standard behaviors. eBPF enables Cimon to run sandbox programs at the kernel level without affecting performance, thus allowing the tool to scale and identify threats at much higher levels of throughput.
By monitoring the pipeline’s behavior, Cimon can quickly identify known attacks, as well as zero-day threats. It can also correlate events and alerts generated by other automated security tools, enabling organizations to streamline their DevSecOps workflows.
Cycode’s platform and ASOC module
Cycode’s platform uses graph technology to consolidate alerts generated by DevSecOps tools. This enables organizations to gain a holistic view of their security posture and identify vulnerabilities in their software supply chains. With the recently added Application Security Orchestration and Correlation (ASOC) module, Cycode now automatically discovers all the tools that make up a DevSecOps workflow, without requiring any integration effort.
The ASOC module is important because an average organization uses more than a dozen tools to flag potential vulnerabilities in their pipeline. Manually connecting and correlating the alerts from each tool can be a significant challenge. Cycode’s ASOC module automates this process, improving visibility and reducing the risk of missing critical alerts.
The importance of DevSecOps
Cycode’s Cimon extension is key to improving software supply chain security, but it is just one piece of the puzzle. DevSecOps is imperative for organizations that develop software. The rapid pace of software development creates a perfect storm for cyber threats, and DevSecOps is the only way to ensure continuous security without slowing down development.
As regulations that focus on application security increase, every organization that builds software will need to embrace DevSecOps. Developers and security teams often view each other as obstacles or causes of breaches, but this attitude needs to change. DevSecOps is about integrating security as an essential part of development, rather than a roadblock. It’s about recognizing the shared accountability for secure software development.
Cycode’s Cimon extension, combined with its platform and ASOC module, is an excellent example of how organizations can improve their pipeline security. eBPF is a powerful tool for enhancing pipeline security by running sandbox programs at the kernel level, and Cycode’s platform consolidates alerts generated by DevSecOps tools, giving organizations a holistic view of their security posture.
As regulations focused on application security increase, every organization that builds software will need to embrace DevSecOps. It is the best way to ensure continuous security without compromising the speed and quality of software development. By investing in DevSecOps, organizations can significantly enhance their software supply chain security and stay ahead of emerging cyber threats.