How DevSecOps Turns Cyber Threats into Customer Trust

How DevSecOps Turns Cyber Threats into Customer Trust

Security shouldn't be an afterthought. With DevSecOps, it's built in, ensuring compliance and keeping your AI initiatives on track.

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In today's AI landscape, data reigns supreme. Experts predict that by 2027, the world will store nearly 300 zettabytes of data. This explosion in data volume is not only a technological shift but an ethical challenge. And as businesses increasingly collect data to enhance customer experiences, they also face growing pressure to manage sensitive information carefully.

In other words, if data is king, trust is the foundation it rules from. This relationship highlights the critical importance of transparency, especially as businesses continue to adopt Agentforce and AI apps. And for Agentforce to reach its full potential, security must be a cornerstone, not an afterthought. How? Through DevSecOps.

Consumers trust less but expect more from data use

There's a disconnect between businesses and consumers when it comes to understanding data usage. Sixty-five percent of consumers feel companies are reckless with their data, but 79% say they'd trust companies more if the data use was explained.

By using a unified, harmonized data platform like Data Cloud, teams can build scalable Agentforce and AI apps that operate autonomously with real-time, secure data while maintaining compliance with global privacy standards. However, with more data comes more risk, especially when dealing with Personally Identifiable Information (PII) or other sensitive data.

The costs are also significant: the average data breach hovers around $4.9 million, a 10% increase from last year and a 15% increase since 2020. Meanwhile, consumer trust has been at its lowest point in recent years, with advances in AI making earning that trust more critical than ever.

What is DevSecOps? Where speed meets security

DevOps transformed software development by simplifying operations and emphasizing speed, collaboration, and automation. Core practices like continuous integration (CI) and continuous delivery (CD) allowed teams to quickly build, test, and deliver applications, minimizing bottlenecks and delays.

But security often got tacked on as a last-minute checkbox in the race to deliver software quickly. The result? Vulnerabilities that slipped through the cracks or, worse, costly rework discovered too late in the process.

As a result, DevSecOps - short for development, security, and operations - is all about integrating security into every stage of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) rather than at the end, a practice referred to as "shifting left."

This approach allows teams to identify and catch issues during the design and development phases - when they're easier to fix and less expensive to address.

By automating security checks, implementing traceable workflows, and ensuring constant monitoring, teams can release applications - including Agentforce - faster while maintaining the highest security standards. Features like isolated testing sandboxes, data masking to protect sensitive information, and source tracking to ensure transparency in code changes also play a key role.

This allows for quicker releases and strengthens the protection of sensitive data stored across platforms like Data Cloud. It also simplifies compliance and auditing processes, with automation creating a clear, auditable trail of every step.

Ultimately, "shifting left" with DevSecOps isn't just about avoiding delays; it's about creating a proactive security culture that innovates without compromising trust. And in a world where Agentforce and AI apps are central to business success, security is non-negotiable.

Building a strong DevSecOps pipeline with the right tools

DevSecOps is more than just an upgrade to DevOps - it's essential for building strong, future-proof Agentforce and AI apps. And regardless of the tools you use to secure your DevOps pipeline, they must work together seamlessly to maximize efficiency. Here are the key tools that often form the backbone of a DevSecOps ecosystem:

• Code repositories: Provide version control and a centralized location for team collaboration
• CI/CD tools: Automate building, testing, and deploying applications for fast, reliable delivery
• Vulnerability scanners: Identify security issues in code and dependencies early in the process
• SAST tools: Analyze code to detect vulnerabilities before applications are deployed
• Cloud security tools: Protect configurations and infrastructure in cloud environments

Integrating these tools into a cohesive workflow can be challenging and time-consuming for some teams. And fragmented security solutions often lead to inefficiencies, gaps in coverage, and reduced visibility.

Unified platforms are also key to truly securing data in the cloud. These platforms combine DevOps automation with built-in security features, helping simplify processes while allowing teams to focus on innovation rather than integration.

By providing real-time insights into vulnerabilities, compliance, and performance, teams can monitor security continuously without slowing development.

Securing innovation at every stage with DevSecOps

As the demand for secure and scalable Agentforce and AI app development grows, Salesforce Platform embraces DevSecOps principles to integrate security into every development lifecycle stage.

By providing tools that infuse security into development workflows, Salesforce supports teams in delivering innovative solutions while maintaining trust. For example, automated testing, continuous monitoring, and compliance tracking help teams streamline workflows and reduce risks.

Additionally, source tracking and data masking make auditing every step of the development lifecycle easier. And with sign-offs and traceability built into the lifecycle, auditors can easily follow the flow of commits, ensuring security and compliance at every stage.

With Salesforce, teams can support each phase of their development lifecycle with integrated, dedicated tools:

• Plan: Tools like Salesforce Backup and Data Detect help manage environments and protect sensitive information
• Build: Low-code builders and platform encryption ensure secure and efficient app creation
• Test: Data Mask, Event Monitoring, and Sandboxes help safeguard data integrity during testing
• Release: Hyperforce is a secure cloud-based architecture by default, with least-privileged control, zero-trust principles, and encryption of customer data at rest and in transit
• Observe: Field Audit Trail, Security Center, and Privacy Center provide real-time insights for ongoing compliance

Building trust through DevSecOps

In modern Agentforce and AI app development, security is a given. It must be integrated into every part of your operations, ensuring no process or app is left unprotected. A robust DevSecOps strategy makes privacy and security a natural part of your development and data pipelines.

By embedding security from the start, you're not just safeguarding your systems but protecting the trust your customers expect.

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Amanda has an MBA from Georgetown. Before Salesforce, she worked at PwC, Verizon, and the KIPP Foundation.

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