How DevSecOps Is Evolving in India and Why It’s One of the Most In-Demand Roles in Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity today isn’t just a technical challenge, it’s a constant tug-of-war between defense and disruption. Each breach sends shockwaves through industries, exposing vulnerabilities and testing resilience. Yet, as cybercriminals evolve their tactics, organizations are taking a different approach. They’re no longer relying on static defenses. Instead, they’re embedding security directly into the fabric of their operations, and the people making that happen are DevSecOps professionals.

It’s a role that demands both foresight and agility, making DevSecOps one of the most sought-after roles in cybersecurity today. Their influence is no longer just a part of the system, it’s at the core of how organizations build, secure, and sustain their digital operations.

From Siloed Defenses to Seamless Integration

For years, cybersecurity resembled a construction project with misaligned teams. Developers laid the groundwork, operations ensured systems ran smoothly, and security specialists arrived at the eleventh hour, inspecting for flaws. By then, vulnerabilities were baked into the infrastructure and fixing them often meant tearing down what had already been built. DevSecOps dismantled this reactive model.

DevSecOps professionals can think like both architects and adversaries. They see the code as attackers would, spotting weaknesses before malicious actors can exploit them. But they also see the business landscape, understanding what’s at stake and why proactive security is not just a safeguard, but a competitive advantage. They build automated response mechanisms and maintain fail-safe protocols that ensure any damage is contained. Downtime is minimized, disruption is controlled, and operations are swiftly restored.

Why DevSecOps Is the Shield Organizations Need

Cyberattacks are no longer static. They morph and adapt, exploiting vulnerabilities the moment they arise. In this dynamic landscape, DevSecOps brings a critical edge, the ability to contain threats in real time.

While traditional defenses often rely on periodic vulnerability assessments, DevSecOps introduces continuous security validation. By reducing mean time to detect (MTTD) and mean time to respond (MTTR), two pivotal cybersecurity metrics, they ensure threats are identified and mitigated swiftly. Automated security scans detect flaws as code is written, providing instant feedback to developers. Instead of waiting weeks for manual reviews, organizations gain immediate insights into potential risks. And when vulnerabilities are identified post-deployment, automated remediation tools apply patches within minutes, preventing exploitation.

However, it’s not just about automation, it’s about context. AI-driven analytics and predictive modeling allow DevSecOps professionals to interpret data streams in real time. A surge in network traffic could indicate an impending attack, or it could be a harmless system update. Knowing the difference is what makes DevSecOps indispensable. Their human insight ensures false positives don’t trigger unnecessary disruptions, while genuine threats are contained before they escalate.

The Rising Value of DevSecOps in a High-Stakes Cybersecurity Landscape

In a world where regulations shift as quickly as threats evolve, traditional security frameworks often leave organizations exposed. DevSecOps professionals change that dynamic. Through Policy as Code (PaC), they embed compliance into the software development lifecycle, ensuring every deployment aligns with regulatory standards, not as an afterthought, but as an inherent part of the process.

This proactive approach is especially critical in sectors like finance and healthcare, where non-compliance can lead to millions in fines and irreversible reputational damage. According to recent findings, by 2026, 40% of organizations will adopt DevSecOps practices to enhance security and compliance. With regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and the evolving AI Act imposing stricter standards, companies are relying heavily on DevSecOps to remain audit-ready at all times.

Nevertheless, the demand for DevSecOps professionals goes beyond compliance. As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, companies seek experts who not only defend but also predict and preempt attacks. Market reports suggest that the global DevSecOps market is projected to grow by 28.5% in 2025, as compared to last year.

DevSecOps professionals understand cloud architecture, possess fluency in AI-driven analytics, and operate with a strategic business mindset. This combination is why enterprises across sectors are aggressively competing to attract and retain DevSecOps talent.

Moreover, the talent gap has created an upskilling race. Companies are investing in reskilling programs, certifications, and internal learning pathways to build DevSecOps capabilities within their existing teams. Platforms offering cybersecurity training courses have reported a surge in enrollments, further emphasizing the increasing recognition of DevSecOps as a career-defining role.

DevSecOps and the Future of Cybersecurity

The future belongs to those who secure it, not through fear or reaction, but through foresight and preparation. DevSecOps professionals embody this ethos, operating as both defenders and innovators. For organizations seeking not just protection but long-term growth, investing in DevSecOps isn’t optional. It’s the foundation of a secure, agile, and competitive future.

In a world where cyber threats evolve by the second, DevSecOps professionals stand as the first, and often the last, line of defense. And that’s precisely why they’re the most in-demand leaders in cybersecurity today.

Authored by Prashanth Nanjundappa, VP of Product Management at Progress.