Pipeline Coverage Chart

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1. Day in the Life of an AppSec Engineer Using This Chart

An Application Security (AppSec) Engineer would use this Pipeline Coverage dashboard to monitor security vulnerabilities across different stages of the software development lifecycle. Here’s how it fits into their daily workflow:

• Morning Security Review:

  • The engineer checks each pipeline stage (Application, Code, Build, Packages, Cloud) to identify where the highest number of critical vulnerabilities exist.

  • If the Code stage has 12 critical vulnerabilities, they focus on securing repositories and source code first.

• Vulnerability Prioritization & Assignment:

  • Works with developers to address code-related vulnerabilities.

  • Collaborates with DevOps teams to fix build and cloud security issues.

• Security Operations Meetings:

  • Uses this dashboard to brief security teams and engineering leadership on the current security posture.

  • If a specific stage (e.g., Build Security) has multiple critical vulnerabilities, they discuss whether additional security automation is required.

• Compliance and Audit Preparation:

  • Ensures that vulnerabilities across all pipeline stages are being tracked and addressed before a security audit (e.g., SOC2, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS).

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2. Impact on AppSec Operations

This chart provides a structured approach to tracking vulnerabilities across different security layers. Its impact on AppSec operations includes:

• End-to-End Security Visibility:

  • Ensures vulnerabilities are monitored across the entire software pipeline, reducing the chances of security gaps.

• Improved Security Collaboration:

  • Helps align security efforts across developers (Code stage), DevOps (Build, Cloud stage), and security engineers (Application stage).

• Optimized Resource Allocation:

  • If Code security has 12 critical vulnerabilities but Cloud security has only 4, security teams can allocate more resources to fixing repository issues first.

• Faster Incident Response:

  • Helps security engineers prioritize patches for the most vulnerable pipeline stages, reducing the risk of exploitable security weaknesses.

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3. What Decisions Does This Chart Drive?

• Which security stage needs immediate attention?

  • If Code (12 critical vulnerabilities) and Build (8 critical vulnerabilities) are the most affected, teams should prioritize fixing those issues first.

• Are vulnerabilities distributed evenly across all pipeline stages?

  • If one area (e.g., Application Security) has fewer vulnerabilities while another (Packages Security) has more, it suggests a need for additional security measures in that area.

• Should additional security tools or automation be introduced?

  • If Build Security and Cloud Security have recurring vulnerabilities, it might indicate a need for automated security scanning tools during deployment.

• Which teams should take responsibility for fixing security issues?

  • Developers → Fix Code security vulnerabilities.

  • DevOps → Address Build and Cloud security issues.

  • Security Engineers → Handle Application-level security concerns.