The adoption of DevOps, DevSecOps and many other approaches also tools in software development had planted believes in software engineers for their ability to deliver powerful software applications. Undeniably, it is in our nature to have those mindsets, as we put everything in order topped with using great tools and methods. However, how much trust can be put into these approaches? Let’s be reminded in the number of vulnerabilities and threats to software applications that is appearing until recently – It is massive and sadly, expanding. Subsequently, the approaches that were viewed as promising had gradually lost it touch hence failed to deliver innovation rapidly and lack of agility in responding to defect. This leads to the need for Software engineering leaders to again change their strategies and start moving beyond their approaches to software quality and build digital immunity or in more specifically saying beginning to embrace Digital Immune System. What are the key elements in implementing Digital Immune System?
The key elements in implementing Digital Immune System relies heavily on the role of software engineering leaders in creating vision, building digital immunity and removing inefficient testing.
1. Creating vision for digital immunity
The checklist for a successful software delivery is growing. The list now no longer about including meeting the specification, having resiliency and offering more functionalities but should also be focusing on having innovation mindset that focuses on building quality into the product in addition with plan for defect. In other way of elaboration, it is all about building a product that blends in every aspect in high software quality which include creating superior user experience (UX) that will not be interrupted by defects or system failures through continuously keeping the system health in check.
2. Building digital immunity
In order to build a strong digital immunity, the software teams should adopt six important practices and technologies which include:
- Observability for visibility to software to improve UX.
- AI-augmented testing for a more independent software testing.
- Chaos engineering that involves experimental testing to detect vulnerabilities and weaknesses within a complex system.
- Autoremediation that automatically monitor application and remediate issues.
- Site reliability engineering (SRE) which includes principles and practices in engineering related in enhancing customer experiences (CX) and retention.
- Software supply chain security for solving risk of software supply chain attacks.
3. Removing Inefficient Testing Practices
While testing is essential in software development process, it has been the biggest hindrance in achieving the objective set by the DevOps Team. Inefficient testing practices should be evaluated to determine the most constructive approach for transforming these testing assets to increasingly autonomous levels of automated testing. Additionally, there are various types of manual testing that can be and should be leveraged its utilisation to support automation testing.
All in all, the results of implementing Digital Immune System are beneficial. Given the right way of embarking into the implementation of this technology, software engineering leaders are offered with roadmaps to autonomously mitigate and react to operational and security risks.
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Other post you may be interested in:
1. What is digital immune system and its importance?
2. Why does Digital Immune System matter in enhancing CX
3. Understanding Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) and Its Principles