The Ultimate Guide to Code to Cloud Security

Summary

Code to Cloud security ensures that security is part of the entire SDLC. AppSec teams are responsible for ensuring secure coding and deployments. 

Code to Cloud security ensures that security is part of the entire SDLC, from design to deployment and runtime. AppSec teams focus on early-stage security, promoting secure coding and deployments (shift left), ensuring secure coding and deployments. In this guide, we explain what code to cloud is, map out code to cloud security tools, processes and security requirements for the different stages of the SDLC, discuss various approaches, details the risks and provide best practices and tools that can help. 

What is Code to Cloud?

“Code to Cloud” is a seamless and integrated approach to developing, managing and deploying applications, from the initial coding phase to the final deployment in the cloud. A code to cloud culture includes the practices, tools and methodologies designed to streamline and optimize the SDLC.

With code to cloud, enterprises can achieve:

• Faster time-to-market, thanks to automated and streamlined processes
• Enhanced collaboration between developers, DevOps, SREs and security teams
• Scalability
• Reliability and stability of applications
• Cost reduction, through resource efficiency and automation
• Protection from vulnerabilities, malicious injections and compliance issues from the start

The Role of Code to Cloud in the SDLC

Code to cloud helps streamline and protect the SDLC. Let’s map code to cloud to each phase in the SDLC. We’ll look at the goal that code to cloud helps achieve, example code to cloud tools and methodologies and the required code to cloud security practices.

Shift Left vs Shift Right Concepts in Code to Cloud 

When developing an internal “code to cloud” culture and practices, there are two main approaches to take: shift left and shift right.

Shift Left: Early Detection and Prevention

“Shift Left” refers to the practice of integrating activities such as testing, security and compliance checks earlier in the SDLC. This approach aims to identify and address issues as soon as possible, ideally during the initial stages of development.

This includes:

• Early Testing – Incorporating unit tests, integration tests and automated tests in the initial phases of development.
• CI/CD – Implementing CI pipelines for frequent code commits and automated testing.
• SAST and SCA – Identifying security vulnerabilities and/or malicious OSS packages in the code before it is run.
• Developer Training – Equipping developers with the knowledge and tools to write secure and compliant code from the outset.

By shifting left, enterprises achieve:

• Reduced Costs – Fixing defects and security vulnerabilities early in the development process is significantly cheaper than addressing them later.
• Improved Quality – Early detection leads to earlier detection of bugs and issues and enhanced code quality.
• Improved Security Posture – Identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities before they reach runtime enhances security, builds trust with customers and saves significant resources. 
• Faster Time to Market – By catching issues early, the overall development process becomes more efficient.
• DevSec Trust – Shifting left helps develop collaboration and trust between AppSec and development teams. By identifying vulnerabilities early the time wasted in development is reduced. However, it’s important to choose tools that reduce noise and false positives.
• Comprehensive Approach – A comprehensive platform that covers multiple shift left strategies reduces management overhead. Otherwise, integrating various testing and security tools into the development pipeline can be complex.

Shift Right: Continuous Improvement

“Shift Right” involves extending testing, monitoring and security practices into the later stages of the SDLC, particularly in production environments. This approach emphasizes the importance of operational insights and continuous feedback to improve system reliability and performance.

This includes:

• Real-time Monitoring – Implementing APM and log management tools to gain insights into system behavior in production.
• User Feedback – Collecting and analyzing feedback from users to identify areas for improvement.
• Chaos Engineering – Practicing deliberate disruptions in production to test system resilience and identify weaknesses.
• CNAPP – Runtime cloud and application protection.

By shifting right, enterprises achieve:

• Reliability in Production – Continuous monitoring and feedback loops help maintain high system reliability and performance.
• Improved User Experience – Direct feedback from production environments allows teams to address user issues more effectively.
• Proactive Issue Resolution – Real-time insights enable teams to anticipate and resolve problems before users report them.

However, it’s important to take into consideration the following:

• Shifting right requires significant investment in monitoring and analytics tools.
• Managing and analyzing data from production environments can be complex and requires specialized skills.

Who is Responsible for Code to Cloud Security

Let’s dive into the security aspect of code to cloud. To start with, let’s break down the responsibilities of stakeholders involved:

Development Side (Shift Left): AppSec Teams

AppSec teams are responsible for embedding security practices into the SDLC. They cater specifically to developers, providing tools, guidance and processes to help create secure code.

Responsibilities:

• Secure Coding Practices – Educate and train developers on secure coding standards and best practices.
• SAST – Implement tools to scan source code for security issues during development.
• SCA – Implement tools that monitor and manage open-source components for known vulnerabilities and malicious packages.
• API Testing – Secure APIs by scanning for vulnerabilities and identifying shadow APIs.
• SSCS – Application security from third-parties, open source and others in the supply chain.
• CI/CD – Ensure security tools and checks are integrated into CI/CD processes for continuous testing.
• Threat Modeling – Conduct threat modeling exercises to identify potential security threats and design mitigations.
• Dev Collaboration – Collaborating with development teams to ensure security requirements are met without impeding development speed.

Runtime Side (Shift Right): Cloud/Infrastructure/Network Security Teams

These teams are responsible for securing the deployed applications and the underlying cloud infrastructure. Their focus is on ensuring that the runtime environment is protected from various threats.

Responsibilities:

• Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) – Continuously monitor and manage cloud security configurations to ensure compliance and best practices.
• Container Security – Secure containerized applications by scanning container images and monitoring runtime behavior.
• CNAPP – A consolidation of CSPM and container security, with Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM), runtime cloud workload protection, runtime vulnerability/configuration scanning and others.
• Identity and Access Management (IAM) – Control access to resources through policies like MFA and RBAC.
• Network Security – Manage firewalls/ Zero Trust solution, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDPS), and other network security measures to protect against external threats.
• Incident Response – Detect, analyze and respond to security incidents in real-time using tools like Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) and Extended Detection and Response (XDR).
• Compliance and Governance – Ensure that cloud and infrastructure operations comply with regulatory requirements and internal policies.
• AppSec Collaboration – Collaborating with AppSec teams to ensure secure deployment practices.

Key Elements of Code to Cloud Security

As mentioned, Code to Cloud security is a comprehensive approach to protecting applications and data throughout the SDLC. Here’s all this entails:

• Threat Modeling – Providing security recommendations before the coding phase. This enables AppSec and development teams to agree on the application build and the application of security controls, enhancing the overall security posture.
• Secure Code Training – Training developers on how to reduce vulnerabilities in the codebase.
• SAST – Scanning source code for vulnerabilities.
• Secrets Detection – Identifying and preventing accidental leakage of Secrets in collaboration tools.
• API Security – Identifying and detecting risks in APIs, as early as possible in the SDLC.
• SCA – Identifying vulnerabilities in open-source libraries and providing remediation options. SCA also includes protection against malicious code introduced by attackers in open-source projects, ensuring robust application security.
• DAST – Identifying vulnerabilities in the compiled code, focusing on application logic and codebase weaknesses that may not be apparent during static analysis. DAST helps prevent attacks that could be exploited once the application is deployed.
• Container Security – Spans multiple SDLC stages, focusing on scanning static container images for vulnerabilities in both proprietary and open-source code before deployment. In production, it includes continuous scanning, posture management and threat detection to protect running container workloads.
• IAC Security – Scanning IaC templates for security issues and misconfigurations early in the SDLC to ensure secure deployment environments.
• CWPP – Security for application workloads running in the cloud, including network security, anomaly detection, and anti-malware scanning. They focus on protecting the application workload during runtime.
• CSPM – Monitoring cloud infrastructure for misconfigurations, ensuring that all resources are properly configured and secure. This capability helps identify and address potential security gaps in the cloud environment.
• WAAP – Protecting applications in production from runtime attacks, offering features like web application firewall (WAF), DDoS protection, bot management and API security. They provide a comprehensive defense against various attack vectors.

Code to Cloud Security Approaches: Cloud Native Application Security vs. CNAPP

Cloud-native application security and Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms (CNAPP) are two related but distinct cloud security concepts. Both aim to enhance the security of applications in cloud environments, but they approach this goal from different angles and with varying scopes.

Cloud-native application security refers to the practices, tools and methodologies designed to protect cloud-native applications.  Security is embedded throughout the SDLC, from design to deployment and beyond, aligning with DevSecOps principles.

CNAPP (Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms), on the other hand, are integrated security platforms designed to provide comprehensive protection for cloud-native applications during runtime. CNAPPs consolidate multiple security capabilities into a single platform: CSPM, CIEM, runtime cloud workload protection, runtime vulnerability/configuration scanning and others. This provides a unified approach to securing cloud-native environments.

How to Keep Code to Cloud Knowledge Updated

Keeping your Code to Cloud knowledge updated can help you ensure you are always employing the latest practices and technologies. Here are some effective strategies to ensure you stay current:

• Continuous Learning and Training – Take online courses in cloud computing, DevOps and related technologies and participate in webinars, workshops, and boot camps hosted by vendors and tech organizations. These often cover the latest trends and best practices.
• Stay Connected with the Community – Attend conferences and local meetups and join forums like Stack Overflow, Reddit and Discord. Engaging with the community helps you learn from peers and experts.
• Follow Industry Leaders and Publications – Subscribe to blogs and newsletters from industry leaders, vendors, and tech publications and follow key influencers and organizations on social platforms.
• Hands-On Practice – Regularly work on personal or open-source projects that involve cloud technologies. Use cloud provider labs and sandboxes for experimentation.
• Documentation and Release Notes – Regularly review the official documentation and release notes from cloud providers and follow repositories of popular cloud tools and frameworks to keep track of the latest changes, practices and contributions.
• Formal Education and Research – Enroll in university courses that focus on cloud computing and related fields and read research papers and whitepapers from leading institutions and tech companies. These often provide deep insights into emerging trends and technologies.
• Workplace Learning – Participate in or organize internal knowledge-sharing sessions, lunch-and-learns, or tech talks. Work on cross-functional teams or projects that allow you to learn new tools and methodologies from colleagues.

What are Common Code to Cloud Threats and Attacks

Throughout the SDLC and in runtime, enterprises face a range of security threats and attacks that target cloud-native environments. Understanding them can help maintain the security and integrity of cloud-based applications. Here are some of the most prevalent ones:

• Code Injection – Vulnerabilities like SQL injection or cross-site scripting (XSS).
• Open-source and supply chain vulnerabilities
• Malicious packages from OSS
• Insecure Coding Practices – Hardcoded credentials, lack of input validation, etc.
• Test data leakage from sensitive data used in testing.
• Misconfigurations – Default settings or improper configurations that can be exploited.
• Unpatched systems – Outdated software with known vulnerabilities.
• Zero-Day Exploits – New vulnerabilities being exploited before patches are available.
• Insider Threats – Unauthorized access or malicious activities by insiders.
•  Shadow APIs – Undocumented APIs that are unknown to security teams, posing risks due to lack of oversight.
• IaC risks –  IaC templates in insecure repositories
• Logging and monitoring gaps that prevent the detection of malicious activity, hindering timely responses to potential threats.

Code to Cloud Security Best Practices for 2024

To mitigate Code to Cloud threats, follow these best practices, including cloud application security best practices. You can also read this code to cloud security checklist.

1. Scan APIs to identify vulnerabilities and misconfigurations and identify shadow APIs.
2. Identify security recommendations and requirements upfront through automatic threat modeling.
3. Conduct secure code training for developers.
4. Use SAST solutions to scan source code for vulnerabilities. Make sure to choose a solution that supports all programming languages and frameworks used by the development team, offers tuning flexibility for mission-critical applications, provides low false positives and integrates into developer workflows.
5. Detect Secrets shared in collaboration tools during the development process.
6. Use SCA tools to identify known vulnerabilities and malicious code in open-source libraries. Choose a solution that integrates into the SDLC.
7. Generate and maintain an SBOM to track the use of open-source and other third-party software in applications.
8. Use DAST solutions to identify vulnerabilities in application logic and codebase.
9. Conduct penetration tests to uncover vulnerabilities such as data leakage and session management issues.
10. Scan static container images for vulnerabilities.
11. Scan IaC templates for potential security risks and misconfigurations.
12. Protect running containerized applications.
13. Use CWPP solutions to protect application workloads running in cloud environments.
14. Use CSPM to monitor cloud infrastructure and identify resource misconfigurations.
15. Use WAAP to protect against runtime attacks, including web application attacks, DDoS, bot attacks, and API attacks.
16. Display vulnerabilities from all AppSec tools in one place for centralized visibility, vulnerability triaging and correlations, to enable prioritized remediation of the most exploitable vulnerabilities.
17. Ensure adherence to relevant compliance requirements.
18. Maintain thorough documentation of security practices and vulnerabilities.
19. Display vulnerabilities from all AppSec tools in one place for centralized visibility, vulnerability triaging and correlations, to enable prioritized remediation of the most exploitable vulnerabilities.
20. Ensure adherence to relevant compliance requirements.
21. Maintain thorough documentation of security practices and vulnerabilities.

How Checkmarx One Provide a Comprehensive Solution for Code to Cloud Security

Checkmarx One is a unified code to cloud application security platform designed for securing applications throughout the SDLC, from the initial code stages through deployment in the cloud. Checkmarx One provides AppSec teams with:

• Consolidated cloud-based security, providing a streamlined experience from code to cloud.
• A solution for building DevSec trust – integrating into dev workflows, quick remediations and minimizing false positives to prevent disruptions in the development process.
• A full-suite of security tools, from SAST and SCA and scaling all the way to runtime
• AI-powered capabilities for efficiency and productivity
• Seamless integrations into developer workflows and DevOps processes

Learn more by requesting a demo.

Introducing the Cloud Insights

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Learn how you can now connect the dots between code and runtime, facilitating vulnerability and risk management, helping your AppSec teams cut through the noise and focus on what matters most. 

Find out more about code to cloud AppSec and book a demo: https://checkmarx.com/solutions/code-…