Three Reasons Developers Struggle with AppSec (and How to Make it Easier)

Integrating application security (AppSec) into the developer workflow often leads to friction due to outdated security concepts and tools that are difficult for developers to learn and use effectively. Training developers in AppSec can be challenging, as it involves complex terminology and tools that do not align with developers' primary focus on feature delivery. This situation is exacerbated by security teams' excitement over finding vulnerabilities, which results in a disconnect between security and development teams, often leading to an adversarial relationship. Developers need security tools that integrate seamlessly into their workflow, allowing them to identify and prioritize security vulnerabilities alongside the development process. Companies like StackHawk aim to provide developer-friendly AppSec tools that integrate into the build pipeline, enabling developers to address security issues early in the development cycle. To succeed in AppSec, collaboration between security and development teams is essential, with developers taking ownership of code quality and security being a joint responsibility.