Scrum teams often focus on delivering working software quickly. However, when security is treated as an afterthought, teams expose themselves to costly risks. Integrating security into every stage of development—also known as DevSecOps—helps build secure software without slowing down delivery. This post explores how Scrum teams can embed security into their workflows, improve accountability, and work more effectively with InfoSec teams.

Why Security Can’t Be a Phase

Traditional software development often treated security as a separate phase handled near the end of the project. This approach doesn’t work in Agile. Sprint cycles are short, and software is released frequently. Delaying security checks until the final stages can result in vulnerabilities going unnoticed until production, increasing the cost of fixing them.

With DevSecOps, the aim is to “shift security left”—bringing it into sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and development practices. For Scrum teams, this means making security a shared responsibility instead of handing it off to a separate team.

Building a Security Mindset in Scrum Teams

Security integration starts with awareness. Teams need training to understand secure coding practices, common vulnerabilities, and how their work affects overall system security. Scrum Masters play a vital role in guiding teams to adopt this mindset.

To get started, consider:

• Running regular threat modeling sessions during backlog refinement
• Adding security acceptance criteria to stories
• Including security tasks in the Definition of Done

These adjustments reinforce the message that security isn’t optional. It’s part of delivering quality work.

Security in Sprint Planning

During sprint planning, Scrum teams should identify potential security considerations in each story. For example, a story involving user authentication might raise questions about password hashing or session management.

Ask questions like:

• Does this story introduce or handle sensitive data?
• Are there authorization or access control implications?
• Are we using third-party libraries, and are they vetted?

When security work is estimated alongside functional tasks, it prevents it from being cut due to time constraints.

Incorporating Security into the Definition of Done

The Definition of Done (DoD) is a powerful tool for integrating security. Add items like:

• No hardcoded credentials
• Input validation completed
• Security code scan passed
• Threat model reviewed (if applicable)

This practice enforces consistency and ensures developers aren’t skipping security checks under pressure. Teams following strong DoDs tend to reduce technical debt and improve long-term maintainability.

Security Automation in DevSecOps

Automation is essential in DevSecOps. Scrum teams should use automated tools in CI/CD pipelines to detect vulnerabilities early. These tools might include:

• Static Application Security Testing (SAST)
• Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)
• Software Composition Analysis (SCA)

Integrating these tools into pipelines ensures feedback is immediate and actionable. Developers receive alerts during pull requests, not after release. This reduces cycle time and improves confidence in code quality.

Daily Scrum and Continuous Security Feedback

The daily stand-up is an opportunity to surface blockers related to security, such as unclear requirements or failing security tests. Scrum Masters should encourage transparency around security work, treating it as a team goal rather than a niche concern.

Security feedback loops should also be short. Teams can achieve this by:

• Including security linter checks in pre-commit hooks
• Pairing developers with security engineers for high-risk features
• Creating a Slack channel for real-time discussions around security issues

Working with Security Champions

One successful model is appointing a Security Champion within the Scrum team. This person isn’t a security expert but acts as a bridge to the InfoSec team. They raise awareness, monitor compliance with security policies, and advocate secure coding practices within the team.

Rotating this role across sprints builds distributed knowledge and reduces reliance on a single expert.

Cross-functional Collaboration and InfoSec Integration

Security integration requires effective collaboration between developers and security professionals. Scrum Masters must facilitate this collaboration without disrupting velocity. One approach is to invite InfoSec representatives to Sprint Reviews and Product Increment (PI) Planning (in SAFe environments).

Additionally, engaging in Security Backlog Grooming sessions helps align on priorities. These sessions involve reviewing security-related stories, clarifying requirements, and identifying high-risk areas early.

Tracking and Managing Security Technical Debt

Just like functional technical debt, security debt needs to be visible and prioritized. Logging known vulnerabilities or incomplete hardening tasks in the backlog ensures they are tracked and addressed. Make them part of capacity planning instead of letting them grow silently.

Scrum Masters trained through certified scrum master training are often better equipped to facilitate these conversations around security and backlog transparency.

SAFe Scrum Masters and DevSecOps in Larger Organizations

For organizations using SAFe, the role of the SAFe Scrum Master certification is critical in promoting DevSecOps culture at scale. SAFe Scrum Masters coordinate across multiple Agile teams to ensure that security standards are consistently applied in large Agile Release Trains (ARTs).

They work closely with Release Train Engineers (RTEs) and System Architects to ensure that every feature meets compliance and security guidelines before it enters production.

Real-World Tools That Help

Here are some tools commonly used by Scrum teams integrating security:

Tool	Purpose	How it helps Scrum teams
OWASP Dependency-Check	SCA	Alerts teams to known vulnerable libraries
SonarQube	Code quality + SAST	Flags security vulnerabilities during PR reviews
ZAP (OWASP)	DAST	Simulates attacks on running applications
Snyk	SCA + SAST	Finds vulnerabilities in dependencies and code

Conclusion

Integrating security practices into Scrum isn’t about slowing down—it’s about building smarter and safer. By involving security in sprint planning, enhancing the Definition of Done, and embracing automation, Scrum teams can address security concerns proactively and continuously.

Professionals trained through csm certification and SSM certification are better positioned to lead these changes. They understand how to balance delivery goals with security needs, ensuring that agility doesn’t come at the cost of safety.

To dive deeper into DevSecOps, explore trusted sources like OWASP DevSecOps Maturity Model or Snyk’s DevSecOps guides for practical advice.

 

Also read - Handling Platform Upgrades and Tech Refresh in Scrum Projects

Also see - Applying Scrum for Microservices-Based Architecture Projects