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As businesses advance through new stages of digital maturity, cybercrime continues to grow in both volume and sophistication. The rapid pace of digital transformation has heightened the need for robust cybersecurity measures, but a persistent talent shortage is making it increasingly difficult to safeguard critical assets such as data and cloud environments.
Amid this evolving threat landscape, frameworks like DevSecOps have emerged as essential tools for embedding security into the development process. By addressing vulnerabilities from the outset, DevSecOps aims to make applications more resilient. However, implementation remains challenging. The rise of ransomware attacks, unclear data boundaries, and the proliferation of citizen developers have shifted significant responsibility to development teams. Without adequate training or resources, IT leaders often face a daunting tradeoff: ensuring security without compromising development speed.
These challenges underscore a key question for IT managers: Is security an obstacle to innovation, particularly in low-code application development
KPMG’s recent research named security as one of the top obstacles to adopting low-code. The concern arises from the perception that low-code platforms, by abstracting code, compromise security—such as vulnerability, threat, and error prevention—in favor of speed. Furthermore, since many low-code platforms rely on model interpretation rather than generating visible code, IT teams may find it challenging to inspect for potential vulnerabilities.
Another challenge is the belief that low-code development demands even more specialized cybersecurity expertise than DevSecOps. This raises concerns about time lost in training development teams on low-code security while IT backlogs continue to grow.
However, low-code platforms have a valid and important role in today’s software development security landscape. Contrary to popular belief, traditional application development often overlooks security considerations, which are sometimes addressed only after the fact.
In contrast, even basic low-code platforms today come with built-in security measures. These include controlled development environments, pre-vetted components and integrations, automated security checks, and a reduced attack surface, all of which help protect against malware and ransomware. Additionally, low-code platforms can automatically test for vulnerabilities and performance, reducing manual security tasks and significantly boosting developer productivity.
Moreover, many low-code platforms come with pre-established governance and controls, ready to be applied before development begins. These platforms often include built-in authentication methods, standardized encryption, automated session management to prevent unauthorized access, hijacking, and data privacy issues. They also reduce security incidents from misconfigurations by offering pre-configured templates and standardized settings, minimizing the need for manual intervention. Furthermore, built-in compliance features, standardized processes and documentation, and easier implementation of security controls help prevent failed audits.
While low-code platforms provide robust security measures, not all solutions are created equal. For enterprise use cases particularly in highly regulated industries like finance or healthcare, basic low-code platforms may fall short.
Enterprise-grade low-code platforms offer advanced security features tailored to meet stringent compliance standards. For example, they align updates with an organization’s security policies and provide detailed documentation to support audits. On the other hand, more generic low-code platforms may lack the flexibility or compliance capabilities needed to handle sensitive data or regulatory requirements.
Organizations with a large number of citizen developers face additional challenges. While these individuals may possess technical skills, they often lack the expertise to manage interdependencies between applications or to anticipate complex security risks. To address these gaps, enterprises should consider separating security oversight from the standard development process. Dedicated security teams or specialized platforms can monitor vulnerabilities and enforce compliance, allowing developers to focus on innovation without compromising safety.
As cyber threats evolve and the talent shortage persists, organizations must adopt forward-thinking strategies to bridge the gap between innovation and security. Investments in training programs, collaborative partnerships, and scalable technologies such as enterprise-grade low-code platforms are essential. By leveraging such tools, IT leaders can transform security challenges into opportunities. The right platform empowers organizations to not just fast-track application delivery but deliver scalable, secure and reliable solutions.
