AppSec guides, not gates: Introducing secure guardrails with Semgrep

Security teams are experiencing difficulties with the "shift left" approach in code security, which was intended to distribute security responsibilities to developers but has instead overwhelmed them with alerts and strained their relationship with security teams. Successful teams have addressed this issue by implementing secure guardrails that guide developers toward secure coding practices without obstructing their workflow, thereby reducing vulnerabilities and restoring trust between developers and security. Unlike traditional "shift-left" methods that block processes, secure guardrails offer suggestions and automatic remediations within developers' native workflows, allowing them to maintain control while adhering to organizational standards. Tools like Semgrep are enhancing this approach by integrating directly into development environments, providing immediate feedback, and allowing customization to align with specific security policies. Semgrep's new features, including a reporting dashboard, secure defaults ruleset, and Assistant Memories, further support teams in measuring and enhancing their security efforts, demonstrating how a well-implemented guardrails program can help break the "doom loop" of endless security backlogs.