Security Brutalism Approach to Securing a CI/CD Platform

Steve Z. asked: How would you apply the Security Brutalism approach to securing a CI/CD platform?

Here’s how you would apply Security Brutalism "function-first" way to a CI/CD platform prioritizing fundamental, enforceable controls, transparency, and resilience:

Establish Clear, Enforceable Baselines

• Define strict security baselines for every component: source code repositories, build servers, runners, artifact stores, etc.
• Enforce these baselines with automated checks and fail builds or deployments that deviate from them.

Lock Down Access Relentlessly

• Apply the principle of least privilege everywhere: limit user, service, and process permissions to only what is absolutely necessary.
• Require strong authentication (MFA/2FA) and short-lived credentials for all access, including developers and automation.
• Regularly audit and revoke unused or excessive access, using automation to detect and remove stale accounts.

Mandate Transparency and Visibility

• Log every action in the pipeline: code changes, build triggers, deployments, and access attempts.
• Make logs immutable and centrally stored for forensic analysis.
• Implement real-time monitoring for anomalies, such as unexpected code changes, privilege escalations, or unapproved deployments.

Enforce Code and Artifact Integrity

• Require signed commits and protected branches; never allow direct pushes to main branches, even by senior staff.
• Use automated tools to verify code and artifact integrity at every stage—validate signatures, hashes, and provenance.
• Integrate tools and checks for end-to-end supply chain integrity.

Minimize Attack Surface

• Remove unnecessary services, plugins, and integrations from the CI/CD environment.
• Harden build hosts and runners: restrict network access, use minimal OS images, and run builds in isolated sandboxes.
• Forbid direct internet access from build systems unless absolutely necessary.

Automate Security Gates and Guardrails

• Place non-bypassable security gates at every critical stage: code merge, build, artifact storage, and deployment.
• Fail fast and visibly on any violation—no exceptions, no manual overrides.

Continuously Monitor and Adapt

• Set up automated, scheduled scans for vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and drift in both pipeline components and deployed environments.
• Treat security as a continuous process, not a one-time setup.

Reject Complexity for Its Own Sake

• Avoid “clever” but opaque solutions; prefer simple, auditable, and easily understood controls.
• Document every security control and make its rationale clear to all stakeholders.

To Close

This answer might come across as a "no-brainer" or just common sense, but you'd be surprised how often most of these points go overlooked or not enforced.

Security Brutalism for CI/CD makes sure you focus on building a pipeline that is hardened by default, transparent in operation, and intolerant of ambiguity or unnecessary privilege. Every control is visible, auditable, and strictly enforced, with no room for exceptions or silent failures.

“A brutalist approach to security can be harsh yet highly effective. At times, it might be unforgiving, but by prioritizing simplicity, transparency, and resilience over elegance and convenience, the program offers a more robust approach to handling security.”