Tackling App Testing in Organizations that Favor a DevSecOps Approach
App testing is a significant part of the SDLC. But agile frameworks and the need to deliver quality software at a fast pace create challenges for teams using traditional testing methods and tools.
One of the benefits of a DevSecOps approach is that testing isn’t just an afterthought, but a core component across every stage of the development process. DevSecOps prioritizes security from the initial stages of development, allowing teams to catch issues sooner and avoid wasting valuable time and resources down the line.
Developers, security teams, and operations work together to create a well-integrated environment for quickly producing high-quality, and secure software. Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and tools like Terraform play a big part in supporting this integration by automating the provisioning of consistent and scalable environments for development, testing and production.
This article will explain more about how to optimize app testing for DevSecOps, and use IaC effectively to streamline workflows while maintaining security, consistency, and scalability.

How to Optimize Test Environments for DevSecOps
The core feature of a well optimized testing environment is consistency. A consistent test environment replicates production-like conditions, so that test results accurately reflect how the application will perform in the real world.
As applications scale, the testing environment should also adapt to handle changing project needs and support a growing number of tests and users.
Version control and collaboration also play a big part in DevSecOps. Code should be stored in a version-controlled repository like Git. There, team members from all functions can collaborate, track changes over time, and facilitate rollbacks if necessary.
When a test fails, developers and testers can trace back to the specific commit that introduced the issue. Additionally, the test scripts themselves can be stored in a version control system (VCS) where the team can ensure they’re consistent across environments and can update them as the application evolves.
All of these requirements are precisely why DevSecOps relies heavily on infrastructure as code (IaC). With IaC tools like Terraform, you can define and version-control environment configurations uniformly across development, staging, and production.
Terraform’s declarative approach and automation capabilities streamline infrastructure provisioning, allowing teams to quickly deploy and manage testing environments with minimal manual intervention.
Utilizing Terraform Backend Configurations
One of the main reasons Terraform is so effective for DevSecOps workflows is its backend configurations, providing a centralized and reliable way for ensuring consistency and tracking changes between environments.
Essentially, backend configurations store the Terraform state files, which are central to maintaining a clear view of the current infrastructure setup. That’s why managing the backends effectively can help avoid conflicts during testing.
There are two types of backends: local and remote.
Remote backends are most beneficial for multi-environment DevSecOps workflows, as teams can store the state files in a centralized location, such as an S3 bucket or a Hashicorp Consul Server. This approach enforces consistency between the environments and helps with state sharing across teams.
Given the sensitive nature of the data stored in state files, security also plays a big part in effective backend management. The Terraform S3 backend supports encryption at rest when the encryption option is enabled. Additionally, IAM policies and logging can be used to identify any invalid access.
All of these features come together to support secure, consistent, and scalable app testing where teams can confidently identify issues and vulnerabilities, knowing that their testing environments mirror production accurately.
Continuous Testing and Feedback Loops
DevSecOps embraces testing throughout the SDLC. This continuous testing is integrated in CI/CD pipelines, where teams can identify and address issues well before they reach production.
There are several tools that make this possible. Jenkins is among the most popular, as it’s an open-source automation server that runs automated tests at every stage of development.
Integrating tools like Jenkins into the CI/CD pipeline allows for immediate feedback for developers as code is pushed into the repository, triggering an automated test. The feedback encompasses various testing stages, whether it’s unit and integration tests or security scans.
To bolster the security aspect of continuous testing, consider integrating static and dynamic security testing tools (SAST and DAST), which can be easily incorporated into Jenkins to scan the code for vulnerabilities during the build process.
By repeating this process on a regular basis, teams can address issues in real time and reduce the cost and effort associated with fixing bugs and vulnerabilities later in the development cycle.
Conclusion
DevSecOps has revolutionized modern app testing by integrating security, development, and operations into a cohesive workflow. In an era dominated by rapid software delivery and security threats, DevSecOps serves as a beacon of stability, where the quality and security of applications aren’t sacrificed for speed.
IaC plays a huge role in app testing, particularly when it comes to enabling consistent, scalable, and automated testing environments. More organizations should consider the DevSecOps and IaC approach to testing to make their process more efficient while ensuring applications are tested under realistic, production-like conditions.Â