Modern software development relies on CI/CD pipelines to streamline deployment, but this speed comes with risk. Security can no longer be an afterthought in 2025’s fast-moving development environments. This article explores practical steps and best practices to ensure your CI/CD pipeline is secure while maintaining agility.
Attackers frequently target CI/CD pipelines because they provide access to critical systems, sensitive code, and deployment credentials. According to the 2024 Sonatype State of the Software Supply Chain report, 12% of open-source components downloaded contained known vulnerabilities, highlighting the risks posed by weak supply chain security.
Insecure CI/CD workflows often allow attackers to compromise production systems. A recent report by IBM Security found that the average cost of a data breach in 2024 reached $4.45 million globally—a 15% increase over the past three years. These statistics underscore the critical need to embed security throughout the CI/CD lifecycle.
As software supply chain attacks increase, implementing security controls throughout your CI/CD pipeline is non-negotiable. The goal is to embed security into the entire lifecycle—from coding and testing to deployment—without slowing down the process.
1. Shift Security Left
Integrating security early in the development lifecycle—a practice known as “shifting left”—reduces the risk of vulnerabilities reaching production. According to Veracode’s 2023 State of Software Security report, organisations that integrate security testing earlier in development resolve vulnerabilities 60% faster.
While SAST tools can help identify some vulnerabilities during code development, they often fall short in detecting issues related to runtime or complex interactions. Complement SAST with dynamic analysis and thorough security testing to achieve comprehensive coverage.
2. Enforce Least Privilege
The principle of least privilege ensures that users, systems, and processes only have the minimum access needed to perform tasks. Implement role-based access control (RBAC), protect credentials using secure vault tools, and avoid hardcoding secrets into your CI/CD pipelines.
3. Adopt Secure Build Environments
CI/CD servers are high-value targets. Use hardened, containerised environments to isolate builds and reduce exposure. A report by Palo Alto Networks found that 75% of cloud security incidents in 2023 were due to misconfigurations—emphasising the need to secure build infrastructure.
Regularly patch CI/CD tools and infrastructure, and monitor for misconfigurations or suspicious activity.
4. Secure the Supply Chain
Modern pipelines rely heavily on third-party components. AppCheck’s platform takes a first principles approach to security, applying dynamic fuzzing technology to uncover vulnerabilities overlooked by traditional tools. This ensures validation of dependencies and detection of hidden issues in your attack surface. Research from the Linux Foundation in 2023 revealed that 82% of organisations consider software supply chain security a top priority due to the rise in dependency attacks.
5. Automate Security Testing
Automated security testing ensures consistent checks without compromising delivery speed. Use AppCheck’s advanced DAST capabilities for runtime vulnerabilities and scan complex APIs, single-page applications, and modern web apps for thorough security testing. AppCheck’s API scanning supports configurations like Swagger (OpenAPI), GraphQL, and SOAP to ensure full coverage.
6. Continuous Monitoring and Logging
Visibility is critical for detecting and responding to threats. AppCheck’s vulnerability management platform allows you to identify your complete attack surface and detect misconfigurations and vulnerabilities that attackers might exploit. The platform scales seamlessly to accommodate growing estates and complex infrastructures.
As development practices evolve, so too must CI/CD security strategies:
Gartner predicts that by 2025, 70% of organisations will require robust supply chain security as a critical component of their DevOps workflows to mitigate increasing threats.
Securing your CI/CD pipeline requires embedding robust controls throughout the software development lifecycle. By integrating security early, enforcing least privilege, and automating testing, organisations can significantly reduce risks without compromising speed or innovation.
At AppCheck, we help organisations identify and address vulnerabilities across their entire CI/CD pipeline.
Get in touch with our team to learn how AppCheck can secure your development workflows and protect your software supply chain in 2025 and beyond.
AppCheck is a software security vendor based in the UK, offering a leading security scanning platform that automates the discovery of security flaws within organisations websites, applications, network, and cloud infrastructure. AppCheck are authorized by the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) Program as a CVE Numbering Authority (CNA).
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AppCheck is a software security vendor based in the UK, offering a leading security scanning platform that automates the discovery of security flaws within organisations websites, applications, network and cloud infrastructure. AppCheck are authorized by te Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) Program aas a CVE Numbering Authority (CNA)
