The Logic of Testing: How Speed, Security, and Quality Form a Perfect Script

In Ridley Scott’s 2012 film Prometheus, a starship sets out to be complimented by a crew of experts in several scientific fields. When they reach their destination, a distant unknown planet, the crew of experts all seem to make critical errors totally out of the nature of their learned characters. The most egregious is when a character removes his glove to interact with a space cobra of some sort. Suffice it to say that does not end well for him.

As we will see, these illogical decisions appear in many famous movies and mirror the fast-paced world of software development and delivery. Velocity has been king for some time, and organizations must achieve that speed without sacrificing quality and security.

The logic of testing starts with speed and security.

• Continuous testing automates testing throughout the development and delivery process, integrating with CI/CD pipelines and helping teams shift left to identify defects early in the process.
• Application security inserts security into apps at the build phase, hardening them against reverse engineering and creating apps that automatically react to threats with Runtime Application Self-Protection (RASP).

The Unnecessary Tornado

Zack Snyder’s 2013 film Man of Steel deals with how Clark Kent, aka Superman, revealed himself to the world to face the grave threat of General Zod. Kevin Coster’s portrayal of Jonathan Kent is characterized by great empathy and stoicism. This comes to a head when he gets stuck in a tornado and wordlessly gestures for Clark not to save him. He then reveals himself to the few dozen witnesses. He chooses to die when there are multiple ways to solve the issue without revealing Clark’s powers.

A lapse in logic when developing a DevSecOps process can cost organizations dearly, which is why it is so important to plan and prepare processes and methodologies before any software development and delivery projects.

Three Testing Pillars

1. Automating Efficiency with Continuous Testing: Traditional testing happens at the end of the development process. Continuous testing changed those archaic practices by integrating with iterative development practices to test constantly throughout the SDLC. It helps catch defects early and ensures smooth performing accessible applications.
2. Security Is a Priority: Organizations cannot afford to leave security as an afterthought. Application security embeds security measures directly within applications from the start. Code obfuscation makes it harder for attackers to unearth vulnerabilities, and RASP secures applications by constantly monitoring application activity even after it is deployed.
3. Collaboration and Balance: All elements must come together seamlessly to achieve speed and security in software development. In screenwriting terms, continuous testing is like the script editing process, which constantly catches errors and inconsistencies early on. Application security ensures the script avoids predictable plot holes and vulnerabilities. This process requires more than great tools. Effective communication and collaboration are essential. What will help these teams work together is that developers need to understand security best practices, testers need to be aware of potential vulnerabilities, and security professionals should clearly understand the development process. It leads to DevSecOps, which breaks down silos and fosters a culture of collaboration, ensuring everyone works together towards a common goal – secure and efficient software development.

Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight series is universally praised for its hyperrealistic portrayal of a world where Batman could exist. However, in The Dark Knight Rises, when Bane attempts to take over Gotham City, he can trap the city’s entire police force in the sewer by luring them in and collapsing the tunnels. This makes almost no sense in that there is no reason why a whole city’s police force would enter the sewers at the same time. What makes matters worse is that no officer speaks up to point out the folly of the decision.

When building a strong DevSecOps process with continuous testing and application security, several teams must work together to accomplish tasks and build processes. If any team member can find a fault or a weak link, they must speak up to ensure the project’s success. Heading blindly into the sewers en masse is not an option for global organizations trying to deliver great web and mobile applications.

The Benefits of Logic

Integrating continuous testing and application security unlocks a powerful combo for businesses that deliver significant benefits:

• Early Advantages: Inserting application protections early in the process helps secure applications. Once an application is hardened, it can still be tested as part of the CICD pipeline.
• Strong Foundations: Continuous testing identifies and addresses functional and performance issues early in development. This reduces the risk of defects and makes the product more reliable.
• Increasing Velocity: Continuous testing and application security integration make speeding up development cycles and improving time to market easier. Development testing and security can all shift left, allowing apps to go to market faster while maintaining robust security.

The ultimate peace of mind: Reducing the risk of security breaches and data loss is most important. A proactive process that addresses security and testing minimizes the chances of being exploited by threat actors. This protects customer data, maintains compliance, and avoids the financial and reputational damage of a security breach.

The Logical Script for Success

Thrilling movies need well-written scripts to avoid plot holes and logical inconsistencies. An integrated development security and testing process gives the delivery process a clear and logical approach to achieving both speed and security. Improving processes with DevSecOps fosters collaboration and prevents blind spots, ensuring everyone contributes to a secure and efficient development process.

The benefits of a logical testing approach are substantial. Early identification of vulnerabilities, strong software foundations, faster development cycles, and reduced security risks empower businesses to deliver high-quality applications quickly and securely. Adopting a logical testing strategy with Continuous Testing and AppSec helps organizations achieve a win-win scenario – delivering secure, high-performing software at optimal speed. Embrace the logic and watch the development process reach new heights of efficiency and security.

For more information on how Digital.ai can help test and secure your apps, visit our Continuous Testing and Application Security product pages.