Designing Security for Developers, Not Around Them
Generative AI (GenAI) is improving productivity across many roles, especially for developers. There is no question about that.
Designing Security for Developers, Not Around Them
Generative AI (GenAI) is improving productivity across many roles, especially for developers. There is no question about that. In fact, a 2023 study by McKinsey found that with GenAI, developers can document code in half the time, write new code nearly twice as fast and optimize existing code in about one-third the time. Further, 83% of organizations have already adopted AI for code creation, and 57% now rely on AI-powered coding tools as a standard part of their development process. But there are risks. Traditional security models that rely on perimeter, infrastructure or access controls do not protect the data itself. These methods add extra steps for developers and often delay security until the end of the development process. This raises a question: Why is security still handled this way, and should it be? A better approach would be to integrate data protection into systems that developers can use easily, addressing today’s security challenges with practical solutions. The Hidden Risks of GenAI-Generated Code GenAI tools have enabled developers to produce code at unprecedented speed, but this convenience often comes at the cost of security. A study conducted in November found that nearly half of the code snippets generated by five popular AI models contained vulnerabilities, highlighting a widespread issue in automated code generation. In addition, incidents such as Samsung’s 2023 ban on ChatGPT following a sensitive code leak exemplify the risks of using GenAI without proper safeguards. While cloud providers secure the infrastructure behind these platforms, developers remain responsible for the data they input and the code they generate. GenAI does not inherently account for the sensitivity of underlying data, which means developers must proactively integrate security tools from the beginning of their workflows to ensure data protection and reduce exposure to potential breaches.
“Developer-First” Security in the Age of GenAI Developer-first security reimagines how data protection is handled during the software development lifecycle. Instead of treating security as a final step, this approach embeds protective measures into the earliest stages of development, allowing developers to work with secure, tokenized data from the start. This shift helps avoid the inefficiencies of retrofitting code after security reviews, which traditionally occur at the end of a project. By integrating security tools directly into existing workflows, developers can maintain momentum without sacrificing safety. This model also reflects a broader change in mindset where data is no longer a secondary concern but a core element of the build process. As GenAI becomes more prevalent in coding, embedding security early ensures that sensitive data is protected before it enters AI pipelines, reducing the risk of leaks and vulnerabilities. Protecting Sensitive Data Before it Hits Your AI Pipeline To protect sensitive data before it enters an AI pipeline, developers must ensure that the data used for training and generation is secure from the outset. This involves applying techniques such as synthetic data and tokenization. Synthetic data is generated to mimic the statistical properties of real datasets without containing any actual personal information, embedding security into the development process and reducing the risk of exposing sensitive details. Tokenization replaces identifiable data with non-sensitive placeholders that cannot be reverse-engineered, allowing developers to work with realistic inputs while keeping the original data safe. These methods help developers maintain control over the data flowing through AI systems, especially since cloud providers secure the infrastructure but leave data protection responsibilities to the users. By integrating these safeguards early, developers can reduce the likelihood of leaks and ensure that privacy is preserved throughout the lifecycle of AI development. As GenAI continues to reshape how developers build and deploy software, a proactive approach to security will reduce risk for developers and allow for greater trust in GenAI. The traditional model of adding security at the end of a project no longer meets the demands of fast-paced development environments. Instead, security must be integrated from the beginning, with tools that support secure data handling without slowing down innovation. By shifting security to the forefront of development, organizations can better safeguard their data while empowering developers to work efficiently and responsibly.
About Author
