Contrast Security > Case Studies > Enhancing Application Security in Banking through Agile and DevOps Integration

Enhancing Application Security in Banking through Agile and DevOps Integration

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Technology Category
  • Cybersecurity & Privacy - Application Security
  • Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Application Development Platforms
Applicable Industries
  • Finance & Insurance
  • National Security & Defense
Applicable Functions
  • Product Research & Development
  • Quality Assurance
Use Cases
  • Experimentation Automation
  • Tamper Detection
Services
  • Testing & Certification
  • Training
About The Customer
The customer is one of the 10 largest banks in the world, undergoing a process of digital transformation to streamline its domestic and international business. The bank provides a fully integrated suite of financial products and services, including retail, business and institutional banking, funds management, insurance, investment and brokerage services. It operates more than 1,000 branches worldwide, 5,000 ATMs, and employs over 50,000 people. The bank serves millions of customers and is known for delivering seamless customer experiences in smart and innovative ways. It has a reputation for excellent customer service and leadership. As part of its growth strategy, the bank recognized the need to effectively navigate the rapid business and digital transformations taking place.
The Challenge
One of the world's top 10 banks was undergoing a digital transformation to streamline its domestic and international business. The bank, with over 1,000 branches worldwide, 5,000 ATMs, over 50,000 employees, and millions of customers, was facing challenges in integrating security into its software development process. The bank's Application Security (AppSec) team had been relying on static tools to ensure the security of the software they developed in-house. However, changes in technology and the evolving threat landscape necessitated a more robust, automated AppSec testing solution. The bank was also rapidly moving towards using microservices for its platforms, which were used across multiple business units. The bank's software had been developed and released at an increasingly rapid pace since the development team had combined Agile sprints with DevOps methodologies. This fast-paced rollout of software introduced potential vulnerabilities and greater business risk. The bank's current AppSec tools and processes were found to be inadequate in addressing these issues, causing code release delays, scalability concerns, manual testing delays in development, and time-consuming developer training and education.
The Solution
The bank adopted Contrast Assess to augment application security testing quickly and effectively. This solution enabled the bank to 'shift security to the left' and integrate it early in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). Contrast Assess provided highly accurate results for developers without the dependence on experts for triage. It seamlessly integrated into the bank's Agile and DevOps SDLC processes, enhancing their current security posture. The bank also used Contrast Assess to supplement its penetration testing, primarily focused on their major platforms. Results from Contrast's centralized management dashboard were shared with internal 'Red Teams' and penetration testers, highlighting key vulnerabilities and providing swift remediation. This approach reduced the time for penetration testing by about 50% and optimized resources required to conduct these tests.
Operational Impact
  • The implementation of Contrast Assess has significantly improved the bank's operational processes. The solution has empowered developers with tools to create secure code, thereby increasing their productivity. It has also enabled the bank to deliver accurate, continuous vulnerability detection and attack protection. The bank has been able to improve its development operational processes and reduce overall AppSec testing costs. The solution has also enabled the bank to accelerate its software time-to-market. By merging security with quality coding, the bank has increased the quality of its code and the overall performance of its developers. The bank has successfully implemented a continuous and efficient way to roll out secure code, enabling it to remain highly agile, develop quality code while mitigating software risk.
Quantitative Benefit
  • Reduced time to conduct penetration testing by 50%
  • Optimized resources required for penetration testing
  • Increased developers’ productivity

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