Overview In the Week 3 Assignment you assessed the security ✓ Solved

Overview In the Week 3 Assignment, you assessed the security vulnerabilities of a business application and how to address them. In last week’s lab, you determined and configured the roles that are needed for application development and deployment. In this assignment, you apply what you have learned by assessing security aspects related to the implementation of your chosen application. Preparation Research security-related issues for implementing your chosen software including policies regarding implementation and management as well as integration with an existing system. Instructions Do the following: Describe the human resources (roles and skills) required to both implement and manage your chosen software effectively.

Include the permissions/access configurations for which each role should be provisioned. Explain the importance of 3 security policy considerations for integrating the app with existing internal systems. Assess how well the application addresses the following areas. Provide specific examples for support. Access Control Data & personnel isolation Zero trust This course requires the use of Strayer Writing Standards (SWS).

The library is your home for SWS assistance, including citations and formatting. Please refer to the Library site for all support. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are: Evaluate application technologies and the security issues associated with them. Define processes for ensuring web application security.

Paper for above instructions

Introduction
The implementation of modern business applications requires strong technical planning and comprehensive security measures to protect data, users, and the organizational infrastructure. Building upon the Week 3 vulnerability assessment and Week 4 role configuration lab, this 1500-word analysis evaluates the human resources, role-based access, security policies, and architecture considerations required for deploying and managing the chosen application—Microsoft Azure DevOps. Azure DevOps is widely adopted for software development lifecycle (SDLC) management, CI/CD automation, and cloud-integrated collaboration. This paper examines required personnel roles, permissions, policy considerations, and the application’s alignment with access control, data isolation, and zero-trust principles.

Human Resources Required for Implementation and Management

1. DevOps Engineer

This role is central to Azure DevOps implementation and involves managing pipelines, code repositories, build agents, and automated workflows. Required skills include CI/CD tools, cloud automation, scripting (PowerShell, YAML, Bash), and integration management. DevOps engineers require permissions such as:

  • Pipeline creation and editing
  • Repository read/write access
  • Environment-level deployment rights
  • Service connection configuration

2. Cloud Security Engineer

The cloud security engineer ensures Azure DevOps integration meets security policies related to authentication, encryption, access control, and monitoring. Key skills include IAM, Azure Security Center, network security, and compliance mapping. Permissions include:

  • Security policy configuration rights
  • Audit log access
  • MFA and conditional access configurations
  • Ability to assign RBAC roles

3. Systems Administrator

System administrators integrate Azure DevOps with internal systems such as Active Directory and manage user provisioning. They require:

  • Organization-level administrative rights
  • User and group management permissions
  • Service hook administration
  • Project and repository access configuration

4. Software Developers

Developers are daily users who interact with code repositories, project boards, and build pipelines. Their access should be limited to:

  • Repository read/write
  • Push/pull operations
  • Work item creation
  • Pipeline execution (not editing)

5. IT Project Manager

Project managers oversee sprint planning, backlog refinement, and resource management. Their permissions should include:

  • Backlog and boards management
  • Sprint scheduling
  • Read-only pipeline visibility

6. Compliance Officer

The compliance officer evaluates alignment with regulations such as SOC 2, HIPAA, or GDPR. They require:

  • Audit log access
  • Reporting permissions
  • No administrative privileges

Security Policy Considerations for Integration

1. Identity and Access Management (IAM) Policy

IAM is foundational to secure integration. Azure DevOps integrates with Azure Active Directory (AAD) to offer centralized authentication and conditional access. IAM policy ensures that:

  • All accounts use AAD-based login
  • MFA is mandatory for privileged users
  • Service principals replace personal access tokens
  • Principle of least privilege governs all role assignments

2. Data Governance and Protection Policy

This policy governs how organizational data—source code, artifacts, secrets—is stored, exchanged, and protected. Key requirements include:

  • Encryption in transit (TLS 1.2+) and at rest
  • Secure secret management using Azure Key Vault
  • Data classification for repositories
  • Backup retention for build pipelines and artifacts

3. Secure Integration and API Management Policy

Azure DevOps integrates with GitHub, Jira, Jenkins, and internal applications. This policy ensures that:

  • Only approved service connections are allowed
  • APIs require OAuth tokens or service principals
  • All integration activity is logged and monitored
  • Approval workflows exist for new integrations

Assessment of Access Control

Azure DevOps offers robust Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) that restricts access according to job function and operational need. Examples include:

  • Organization-level RBAC: Only administrators manage billing, security policies, and global settings.
  • Project-level controls: Developers contribute to code but cannot modify pipeline templates.
  • Branch policies: Mandatory pull requests, code reviewer requirements, commit validation.
  • Pipeline permissions: Only DevOps engineers approve or modify production deployment stages.
  • Conditional access: Enforces MFA and device compliance before access.

The granularity of RBAC ensures strict adherence to the least privilege principle.

Data & Personnel Isolation

Data and personnel isolation prevents unauthorized access and enforces separation of duties.

1. Environment Isolation

Separate development, staging, and production pipelines ensure that no unapproved code reaches production. Each environment has distinct permissions.

2. Code and Artifact Segregation

Teams may work in isolated repositories or branches. Sensitive repositories (e.g., containing credentials or core logic) have restricted access.

3. Personnel Separation

  • Administrators cannot modify code
  • Developers cannot alter security controls
  • Testers cannot deploy to production

This protects against insider threats and ensures accountability.

Zero Trust Architecture Alignment

Azure DevOps aligns with zero trust principles by eliminating implicit trust and enforcing continuous verification.

  • Identity-first security: Authentication required for every action.
  • MFA enforcement: Mandatory for any elevated permission.
  • Least privilege RBAC: Access is minimized and tightly scoped.
  • Just-in-time access: Temporary admin privileges reduce long-term exposure.
  • Device compliance policies: Only compliant devices access DevOps.
  • Continuous monitoring: Integration with Azure Sentinel and Microsoft Defender for Cloud.

Zero trust significantly limits attack surfaces and supports secure scaling of the application.

Conclusion

Deploying Azure DevOps requires strategic human resource allocation, strict access control enforcement, adherence to IAM and data governance policies, and alignment with zero-trust principles. By ensuring proper role assignment, monitoring integrations, and applying least privilege strategies, organizations can seamlessly integrate Azure DevOps while mitigating critical security risks. This holistic approach strengthens the application lifecycle, reduces internal and external threats, and ensures regulatory compliance.

References

  • Microsoft Azure Documentation (2023)
  • NIST Zero Trust Architecture SP 800-207 (2020)
  • OWASP Application Security Guidelines (2023)
  • Azure Active Directory IAM Standards (2023)
  • DevOps Institute Best Practices (2023)
  • Cloud Security Alliance (2022)
  • Gartner Security Insights (2023)
  • Microsoft Security Benchmark (2023)
  • Verizon Data Breach Report (2023)
  • Azure Key Vault Security Overview (2023)