DevOps is regarded as practice that can drive performance advantages. Artificial intelligence is showing very real promise across the security market. Most public and private-sector organizations know that they must explore new and different ways of defending their networks against modern threats. These three factors make it clear that DevOps, AI and security are ripe for convergence.
Defining AI
Anyone reading this post doesn’t need me to explain to them what DevOps and security are; both of these categories are well-defined. However, AI is really in an emergent stage, with different types in use and many definitions floating around. Because of this, I think it is important to let readers know that in this post, AI refers to a class of technology that can:
- Consume data, learn and get smarter on its own
- Automatically identify and solve problems
- Operate independently, without human supervision
- Scale massively
- Move at near real-time speed
- Achieve levels of accuracy that are beyond human capabilities
DevOps and Security are United
DevOps and security have merged. For several years now, organizations have been leveraging automation technologies and DevOps practices to continuously deliver security and compliance policies across data centers and clouds.
Further legitimizing the union is the fact that leading DevOps and automation players such as Puppet, Chef and Ansible have formed numerous partnerships that deliver effective security capabilities to their customers.
There are, of course, other signs that show how successful the DevOps and security marriage has been. One of which is the emergence of the term “rugged DevOps.” It is now so widely recognized that it commands its own section on this site and is often the subject of discussion at several notable security conferences.
DevOps and AI are Dating
The relationship between DevOps and AI is in the early stages, with the courtship between the two well underway. Examples of its progress are found in numerous blogs and articles, several of which include:
- Loom Systems Extends Reach of AI into DevOps Realm, by Mike Vizard at DevOps.com
- Machine Learning, AI Driving DevOps Evolution, by Tony Bradley at DevOps.com
- How artificial intelligence will transform IT operations and devops, by Ronald Van Loon at ReadWrite
DevOps and AI have certainly not yet intertwined as deeply as DevOps and security have. These examples (and others out there) do show they the two will continue to integrate beyond what we are currently witnessing.
DevOps, Security and AI
DevOps and security are wed. DevOps and AI are moving closer toward each other. It’s only a matter of time until all three get together.
Because several DevOps leaders are already in the business of security, it’s logical to assume that a partnership between one of them and an AI-driven security provider will be what ultimately leads to a marketable solution.
DevOps provider candidates with the potential to move on a partnership that can combine DevOps, security and AI have a raft of new and established security providers available to work with. Several of the startups in this class are recognized in the CB Insights AI 100 2017 infographic. Companies such as Cloudera (NYSE: CLDR), which is using AI and machine learning to solve security problems, are among the more established providers that may make for a perfect partner.
How quickly will the market see such a partnership? That remains to be seen. However, with DevOps now fully accepted as a methodology that can positively impact bottom lines, AI coming into its own, and the need for new and different ways of defending organizations against attacks at a critical stage, it seems almost certain that the convergence will be upon us sooner rather than later.
