Security breaches are at an all-time high, with human error responsible for 68% of incidents, according to Verizon’s 2024 Data Breach Investigation Report. From cloud misconfigurations to secrets management mishaps and phishing scams, the risks are everywhere. However, platform engineering and internal developer platforms (IDPs) offer a proactive approach to eliminating vulnerabilities at their source.
What is Platform Engineering?
Platform engineering is a strategic discipline that creates secure, scalable tools and workflows, enabling developers to access cloud resources safely and efficiently. By breaking down silos between development, security, and operations teams, platform engineering integrates security into the development process without slowing innovation.
At the core of this practice is an Internal Developer Platform (IDP)—a structured system that automates security, compliance, and operational best practices. An IDP provides six essential functions:
- Security – Automates and enforces compliance policies.
- Pipeline – Streamlines CI/CD processes for efficiency.
- Provisioning – Standardizes cloud resource deployment to prevent misconfigurations.
- Connectivity – Ensures seamless and secure communication between components.
- Orchestration – Manages and optimizes workloads dynamically.
- Observability – Enhances monitoring and rapid response to issues.
How an IDP Reduces Risk
An IDP reduces human error by enforcing consistency, automating security policies, and minimizing the risk of misconfigurations. It also:
- Improves efficiency – Developers release software faster and more reliably.
- Strengthens security – Prevents vulnerabilities before they arise.
- Bridges the gap – Aligns security and development teams through structured workflows.
IDPs and Cloud Resource Provisioning
Cloud provisioning is one of the most error-prone steps in deployment. With over 200 AWS services alone, selecting and configuring resources manually introduces high risk. An IDP simplifies provisioning by offering pre-approved templates and configurations, ensuring security without requiring developers to navigate complex security policies manually.
Bridging Development and Security Goals
Traditionally, developers focus on speed and cost, while security teams prioritize risk reduction. Without a unified approach, these teams operate in conflict. An IDP eliminates this friction by embedding security into developer workflows, ensuring compliance without disrupting agility.
Shifting Left: Preventing Risk Early
A “shift left” strategy integrates security checks and best practices earlier in development. An IDP implements this by leveraging:
- Golden images and modules – Pre-approved secure configurations.
- Automated tests and checks – Detecting vulnerabilities early.
- Policy-as-code gates – Enforcing security rules automatically.
By integrating security from the start, organizations enforce policies seamlessly, reducing last-minute security fixes and compliance gaps.
Start Mitigating Risk Today
Platform engineering is the key to reducing human-driven security risks at scale. By implementing an IDP, organizations create a structured, automated, and secure cloud operating model. To explore how an IDP can transform your security posture, reach out to our team today!
