JFrog announced a new machine learning (ML) lifecycle integration between JFrog Artifactory and MLflow, an open source software platform originally developed by Databricks.
The previous chapter in this WhiteHat Security series examined the security component of step four of the Twelve-Factor methodology - backing services. Twelve-Factor suggests treating these as attached resources, but from a security standpoint it's important to understand the security posture of the backing service, as well as proactively securing communications and encapsulating security checks within the Resource abstraction.
Start with Security and the Twelve-Factor App - Step 1
Start with Security and the Twelve-Factor App - Step 2
Start with Security and the Twelve-Factor App - Step 3
Start with Security and the Twelve-Factor App - Step 4
This next chapter highlights the build, release and run stages within the app-building process, which step 5 recommends separating.
Defining Build, Release, Run in the Twelve-Factor App
Factor 5 of the Twelve-Factor App relates more to processes and advises strictly separating the build and run stages. The emphasis is on identifying and separating each stage of app development, and encouraging automation between each so as to accelerate the process.
To explain in more detail, a codebase is transformed into a (non-development) deploy through three stages:
■ The build stage is a transform which converts a code repository into an executable bundle known as a build. Using a version of the code at a commit specified by the deployment process, the build stage fetches vendors dependencies and compiles binaries and assets.
■ The release stage takes the build produced by the build stage and combines it with the deploy's current configuration. The resulting release contains both the build and the configuration and is ready for immediate execution in the execution environment.
■ The run stage (also known as “runtime”) runs the app in the execution environment, by launching some set of the app's processes against a selected release.
The twelve-factor app uses strict separation between the build, release, and run stages.
Applying Security to the Build, Release, Run Stages
From a security point of view, keep in mind these key activities during the build, release and run stages:
■ Build - enforce security policy. The Build Stage is responsible for automating enforce of the security policy, and breaking builds that fail the said policy.
■ Release - security go/no-go. The Release Stage should provide a consolidated view of the application's risk, thereby allowing for a "go/no-go" decision with respect to Release.
■ Run - production protection. The Run Stage should provide capabilities to reduce business impact of exploited vulnerability (whether known or unknown).
Read Security and the Twelve-Factor App - Step 6 about processes, which encourages executing the app as one or more stateless processes by using small programs that communicate over the network, and the security implications of this step.
Industry News
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mabl announced the addition of mobile application testing to its platform.
Spectro Cloud announced the achievement of a new Amazon Web Services (AWS) Competency designation.
GitLab announced the general availability of GitLab Duo Chat.
SmartBear announced a new version of its API design and documentation tool, SwaggerHub, integrating Stoplight’s API open source tools.
Red Hat announced updates to Red Hat Trusted Software Supply Chain.
Tricentis announced the latest update to the company’s AI offerings with the launch of Tricentis Copilot, a suite of solutions leveraging generative AI to enhance productivity throughout the entire testing lifecycle.
CIQ launched fully supported, upstream stable kernels for Rocky Linux via the CIQ Enterprise Linux Platform, providing enhanced performance, hardware compatibility and security.
Redgate launched an enterprise version of its database monitoring tool, providing a range of new features to address the challenges of scale and complexity faced by larger organizations.
Snyk announced the expansion of its current partnership with Google Cloud to advance secure code generated by Google Cloud’s generative-AI-powered collaborator service, Gemini Code Assist.
Kong announced the commercial availability of Kong Konnect Dedicated Cloud Gateways on Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Pegasystems announced the general availability of Pega Infinity ’24.1™.