As software development and IT operations continue to evolve, the days of DevSec are beginning to set. At the same time, platform engineering is gaining popularity for its ability to seamlessly integrate and secure cloud-native applications throughout its full lifecycle.

Companies striving for better scalability, efficiency, and agility need more robust security measures. However, with such commitment to DevSec and the inherent dangers in tinkering with existing system, how does this new approach ensure secure coding practices and security testing are integrated throughout the development lifecycle?

What is Platform Engineering?

Platform engineering focuses on creating tools and systems that make it easier for developers to do their job. Instead of worrying about setting up and managing complicated tech infrastructure, developers can focus on building new features and improving products. This streamlined approach is designed to manage the scale of developments and deployments, including within an Internal Development Platform (IDP).

Think of it as a natural progression of DevOps, with a stronger emphasis on simplifying the technical stuff behind the scenes. It ensures developers have ready-to-use, secure, and efficient environments to work in, so they can be more productive and spend less time on setup and maintenance.

The AppSec Opportunity for Platform Engineering

Platform engineering focuses on streamlining developer workflows by providing easy access to the tools they need to be productive.

While its primary goal isn’t security, platform engineering has a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between DevOps and security teams. By integrating top-notch security tools into the development platform, platform engineers can help ensure that security checks and automations are seamlessly embedded into the standard developer workflow. This proactive integration shifts security from being an afterthought to a natural part of the development process.

In this way, platform engineering can play a pivotal role in enabling DevSecOps, fostering collaboration between teams and creating a development environment that is not only efficient but also secure by design.

How Checkmarx Integrates Into Platform Engineering

Checkmarx, a leading AppSec platform, provides an automated and scalable way to identify vulnerabilities in code. It integrates seamlessly into the pipeline, making security a natural part of the workflow without slowing down the development process.

We help teams remain always ready to run with:

• Checkmarx One
  Utilizing the cloud-based Checkmarx One platform, developers can access a full suite of enterprise AppSec solutions in a unified manner, allowing them to secure applications from the first line of code to deployment in the cloud. By eliminating the need for multiple tools and fragmented workflows, teams now rapidly identify and remediate vulnerabilities 55% faster.

• Code to Cloud Protection
  While many approach cloud-native application security from an infrastructure, network, or workload perspective and then shift left, comprehensive security must start from the very first line of code. Our industry leading Checkmarx One platform offers all the capabilities you need to secure every stage of the SDLC, correlate security findings, and then prioritize remediation for developers to make the biggest business impact.

• #DevSecTrust
  The responsibility to secure applications is now shared between AppSec managers and developers. The trust between CISOs, development, and security teams – called #DevSecTrust – is critical if the enterprise is going to reduce the business risk of vulnerable applications successfully. Checkmarx meets developers where they are and helps improve the developer experience to build this #DevSecTrust.

• Secure Developer Platforms
  Platform engineering aims to provide standardized environments for developers. By embedding security into these environments through tools like Checkmarx, security becomes an inherent part of the platform. Developers using the platform are assured that security checks are built in, reducing the likelihood of deploying insecure code.

• Comprehensive Coverage Across Technologies
  In platform engineering, the tools and systems that developers use are constantly evolving, and the platforms themselves often span various technologies. Checkmarx’ ability to cover a wide range of programming languages, frameworks, and environments makes it an ideal solution for diverse platforms.

The Synergy of Platform Engineering and Security

It’s clear that security must be an active part of the development process and not an afterthought. By directly integrating security tools like Checkmarx One, organizations can ensure they are proactively addressing vulnerabilities while maintaining the speed and agility that platform engineering aims to achieve.

The synergy between platform engineering and security tools creates a development environment where security is embedded into the process, streamlined, and – eventually – automated. This proactive security approach not only reduces risk but also increases the efficiency of the development process, empowering development teams to deliver high-quality, secure software at scale.

Empowering Developers and Strengthening Security: The Future of Platform Engineering

Platform engineering isn’t just about making life easier for developers—it’s about transforming how teams collaborate, innovate, and build secure, scalable applications. By streamlining access to tools and integrating security into everyday workflows, platform engineers have the power to align DevOps and security teams in ways that were once siloed and inefficient.

This approach creates a seamless developer experience while embedding security as a fundamental part of the process, not an afterthought. As organizations continue to prioritize productivity and security, platform engineering stands at the forefront, poised to drive the evolution of DevSecOps and redefine how we build the future of technology.

If you’re ready to let your developers work, see the platform work by booking a demo.