Security isn’t a feature you add—it’s a design constraint you respect from day one. After 25+ years building and operating systems in regulated and high-risk environments, I approach DevSecOps as a discipline of engineering judgment, not tooling.
DevSecOps isn't just DevOps with security bolted on. It's a fundamental shift in how we think about building and operating software. My approach centers on three foundational principles:
These principles guide every architectural and operational decision I make.
Security policies, configurations, and controls are defined in code, versioned, tested, and deployed just like application code. This ensures consistency, repeatability, and auditability.
Find and fix security issues as early as possible in the development lifecycle, but never stop monitoring in production. Security is a continuous process, not a one-time check.
Break down the walls between development, security, and operations. When teams work together from day one, security becomes an enabler, not a blocker.
DevSecOps fails when organizations implement tools before understanding risk. My methodology is intentionally ordered to reduce noise, prevent rework, and ensure security controls align with real business and threat models.
Before implementing any DevSecOps practices, I conduct a comprehensive assessment:
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is the bedrock of modern DevSecOps. I use Terraform to define infrastructure with security built-in from the start:
Security scanning shouldn't be a separate process—it should be part of every pipeline:
I configure pipelines to block deployments with critical vulnerabilities, but provide clear, actionable feedback. Developers get security findings in their pull requests, not weeks later in a security audit. This creates a feedback loop that improves security over time.
Manual security processes don’t scale—and blind automation can increase risk. I automate repeatable, high-confidence workflows while preserving human review where engineering judgment is required:
Security doesn't end at deployment. I implement continuous monitoring:
SAST, DAST, dependency scanning, infrastructure scanning, and container scanning work together to catch vulnerabilities at every layer.
Security policies defined in code, versioned, and enforced automatically. No manual exceptions or one-off configurations.
Never hardcode secrets. Use AWS Secrets Manager, Parameter Store, or similar tools with proper rotation and access controls.
IAM roles and policies follow the principle of least privilege. Every access is justified and auditable.
Data encrypted at rest and in transit. TLS for all connections, encryption for all storage.
Track security metrics: vulnerability counts, mean time to remediation, security test coverage, compliance scores.
Controls are mapped to realistic threat scenarios. Not all risks are equal, so effort is focused where impact is highest.
Too many organizations treat security as a gatekeeper that slows things down. I design security processes that make development faster and more reliable. When security is automated and integrated, developers can move quickly without sacrificing safety.
I don't implement security frameworks just to check boxes. I focus on the security controls that actually reduce risk for your specific environment. Sometimes that means starting small and iterating, rather than trying to implement everything at once. Perfect security that never ships is still failure.
Security isn't just about tools—it's about people. I work with teams to build security awareness and skills. When developers understand security, they write more secure code. When operations teams understand security, they configure systems more securely.
I track metrics that matter: reduction in vulnerabilities, time to remediation, security test coverage, compliance scores. You can't improve what you don't measure.
In my work with clients, I've seen 85% reduction in security vulnerabilities, SOC 2 compliance achieved in 6 months, and security incidents reduced to near zero—all while development velocity increased. Security and speed aren't opposites when done right.
Tools are important, but they're not the solution. I choose tools that fit the problem and
integrate well with existing workflows:
Tools evolve. These represent what I’ve used most extensively in production—not the limits of my capability.
This approach is designed for teams that want security and reliability to improve delivery—not slow it down.
If security is treated as an afterthought or a compliance-only exercise, the outcomes tend to be brittle. Durable security requires shared ownership and continuous improvement.
If you're looking for someone who understands that security and development can work together, let's talk. I help organizations build DevSecOps practices that actually work in practice, not just in theory.