How to Break Into DevSecOps in 2026: The Career Change Guide Nobody Talks About
The cybersecurity industry has a problem: there aren't enough people to fill the roles. The UK alone has over 100,000 unfilled cybersecurity positions, and that number is growing every year. Meanwhile, thousands of IT professionals, software developers, and career changers are trying to figure out how to get in. Most of the advice out there is outdated, gatekept, or just plain wrong.
DevSecOps has quietly become one of the most in-demand specialisations in cybersecurity. It sits at the intersection of development, security, and operations. Companies are desperate to hire people who understand all three. The median DevSecOps Engineer salary in the UK is £78,000 per year, with senior roles pushing well past £100,000. Entry-level positions start between £35,000 and £46,000, which means even your first role pays more than many mid-career jobs in other industries.
But here is what most people get wrong: you do not need a computer science degree, five years of experience, or a stack of certifications to start. You need the right skills, taught in the right order, with enough hands-on practice to prove you can actually do the job.
This guide breaks down exactly what DevSecOps is, why it matters more than ever in 2026, and how to transition into it. Whether you are coming from IT, software development, or a completely different career, there is a path forward.
What Is DevSecOps?
DevSecOps stands for Development, Security, and Operations. In traditional software development, security was bolted on at the end. Developers built the application, operations deployed it, and then a security team tried to find and fix vulnerabilities after the fact. This approach was slow, expensive, and left massive gaps that attackers could exploit.
DevSecOps flips that model. Security is integrated into every stage of the software development lifecycle, from the first line of code to production deployment. Instead of security being an afterthought, it becomes everyone's responsibility.
In practical terms, a DevSecOps engineer builds and maintains the automated pipelines that test, scan, and deploy code securely. They work with tools like Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, and AWS to create infrastructure that is secure by default. They write security policies as code, automate vulnerability scanning, and ensure that every release meets security standards before it reaches users.
This is why the role pays so well. A DevSecOps engineer needs to understand development, infrastructure, cloud platforms, and security all at once. That combination of skills is rare, and companies will pay a premium for it.
Why 2026 Is the Year to Make the Move
Three major shifts are making DevSecOps more critical and more accessible than ever before.
The AI Security Crisis Is Creating New Roles
Every company is rushing to deploy AI-powered applications, from chatbots to automated decision systems. But most organisations have no idea how to secure them. According to OWASP's 2025 Top 10 for LLM Applications, prompt injection is the number one critical vulnerability. It appears in over 73% of production AI deployments assessed during security audits.
Prompt injection attacks allow attackers to manipulate AI systems into leaking sensitive data, executing unauthorised commands, or bypassing safety controls entirely. Shadow AI, which refers to employees using unapproved AI tools with company data, is creating security blind spots that traditional cybersecurity teams are not equipped to handle.
This means the demand for professionals who understand both DevSecOps and AI security is exploding. Companies do not just need people who can secure traditional applications. They need people who can secure AI-powered ones too. If you learn both, you are not competing with the general cybersecurity talent pool. You are in a category of your own.
The Cybersecurity Skills Gap Is Getting Worse
The cybersecurity talent shortage is not improving. The industry is growing faster than universities and traditional training programmes can produce graduates. Employers are increasingly hiring based on demonstrated skills rather than degrees, because they simply cannot afford to wait for the traditional pipeline to catch up.
This is good news for career changers. If you can prove you have the skills through portfolio projects, hands-on experience, and practical knowledge, many employers will hire you regardless of your background.
Cloud Adoption Is Accelerating
More companies are moving their infrastructure to the cloud, and they need people who can do it securely. AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud all require security configurations that are fundamentally different from traditional on-premises setups. Misconfigured cloud environments are now one of the top causes of data breaches, and companies are hiring DevSecOps engineers specifically to prevent them.
The Skills You Actually Need to Get Hired
Forget the job listings that ask for ten years of experience in a tool that has existed for three years. Here is what actually matters when applying for DevSecOps roles in 2026.
Foundations First
Before you touch any security tools, you need to understand the basics of how software is built and deployed. This includes Linux fundamentals, networking basics, and how web applications work. You do not need to be an expert programmer, but you need to be comfortable reading code and writing scripts in Python, Bash, and YAML.
Cloud and Infrastructure
AWS is the most widely used cloud platform in the UK, so it is the best place to start. You need to understand how to provision and manage cloud resources, how Identity and Access Management (IAM) works, and how to configure security groups, VPCs, and encryption. Infrastructure as Code tools like Terraform let you define your entire cloud setup in files that can be version-controlled and audited. This is a core DevSecOps skill.
Containers and Orchestration
Docker and Kubernetes are non-negotiable. Nearly every modern application runs in containers, and Kubernetes orchestrates them at scale. You need to know how to build secure container images, scan them for vulnerabilities, and deploy them with proper security controls.
CI/CD Pipelines
Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines are where DevSecOps comes alive. This is where you automate security scanning, including static analysis, dependency checking, container scanning, and more. Vulnerabilities are caught before code reaches production. Tools like GitHub Actions, Jenkins, and GitLab CI are commonly used across the industry.
Application Security
Understanding the OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities is essential. You need to know what SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and broken access control look like, and how to test for them. This does not mean you need to be a penetration tester, but you need to understand the threats well enough to build defences against them.
AI Security (The Differentiator)
This is the skill that sets you apart from other candidates. Most cybersecurity training programmes have not caught up to the AI security landscape yet. If you understand LLM vulnerabilities, prompt injection attacks, the OWASP LLM Top 10, AI supply chain risks, and how to secure AI-powered applications, you will stand out from virtually every other candidate applying for the same roles.
The Career Change Roadmap: Where to Start Based on Your Background
If You Are Coming From IT or Sysadmin Roles
You already have a foundation in infrastructure, networking, and systems management. Your path is about adding cloud, automation, and security layers on top of what you know. Focus on learning AWS, Terraform, and Docker first, then move into CI/CD pipelines and security scanning.
If You Are Coming From Software Development
You have the strongest starting position. You already understand code, version control, and how applications are built. Your path is about deepening your infrastructure knowledge and learning to think like a defender. Focus on cloud security, container security, and integrating security tools into the pipelines you are already familiar with.
If You Are a Complete Beginner
Do not let anyone tell you it is impossible. The key is learning in the right order. Start with Linux and networking fundamentals, move to basic scripting, then cloud and infrastructure, then security concepts, then DevSecOps pipelines. It takes effort and commitment, but it is entirely achievable with structured, hands-on training.
Three Portfolio Projects That Get You Hired
Certifications show you studied something. Portfolio projects show you can do something. Build these three projects and you will have more to show than most junior candidates.
Project 1: Secure CI/CD Pipeline. Build an automated pipeline that scans code for vulnerabilities, builds a Docker container, and deploys it to AWS with proper security configurations. This demonstrates you understand the full DevSecOps workflow.
Project 2: Cloud Infrastructure with Terraform. Provision a secure AWS environment with proper IAM roles, encrypted storage, and network segmentation. Use Infrastructure as Code so everything is repeatable and auditable.
Project 3: AI Security Assessment. Demonstrate you can identify and mitigate LLM vulnerabilities, including prompt injection and data leakage risks. This project alone will set you apart from 95% of other candidates.
These three projects cover the full spectrum of what employers are looking for, and they give you something concrete to discuss in interviews.
DevSecOps Salary Breakdown for 2026 (UK)
Based on current UK market data from January 2026:
Entry-level (0 to 3 years experience): £35,000 to £46,000 per year. Junior roles with security clearance bonuses can push this to £40,000 to £50,000.
Mid-level (3 to 5 years experience): £56,000 to £65,000 per year. This is where most professionals land within two to three years of focused learning and practice.
Senior level (5 to 8 years experience): £72,000 to £81,000 per year. Senior DevSecOps Engineers with cloud and AI security expertise are consistently in the top salary brackets.
Principal and Lead roles (8+ years experience): £100,000 to £133,000 per year. The highest earners combine deep technical skills with team leadership and strategic security planning.
For comparison, the UK average salary across all industries is approximately £35,000. Even an entry-level DevSecOps role matches or exceeds the national average, and the career trajectory from there is steep.
What Most Training Programmes Get Wrong
Most cybersecurity bootcamps and courses share the same problems. They are either entirely self-paced with pre-recorded content and no real support, or they cost £4,000 to £8,000 and still do not cover AI security. Many of them teach outdated tools and approaches that do not reflect what companies are actually hiring for in 2026.
The best training combines live instruction from someone who actually works in the field, hands-on labs using real production tools, and ongoing mentorship that continues after the course ends. It should cover the full DevSecOps stack, from cloud infrastructure to CI/CD pipelines to AI security, because that is what the job requires.
Frequently Asked Questions About Breaking Into DevSecOps
Do I need a degree to get a DevSecOps job? No. While some employers prefer candidates with a degree in computer science or cybersecurity, many companies now hire based on demonstrated skills and portfolio projects. The cybersecurity skills gap means employers cannot afford to filter out capable candidates based on formal education alone.
How long does it take to transition into DevSecOps? With structured, full-time training, most people can build the foundational skills in 6 to 12 weeks. Landing your first role typically takes 3 to 6 months after that, depending on your starting background and how aggressively you apply.
What certifications help for DevSecOps roles? CompTIA Security+, AWS Cloud Practitioner, and Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) are commonly requested. However, portfolio projects demonstrating real-world skills often carry more weight with hiring managers than certifications alone.
Is DevSecOps a good career for career changers over 30? Absolutely. Many successful DevSecOps engineers transitioned from unrelated fields in their 30s and 40s. The industry values problem-solving ability, attention to detail, and willingness to learn over age or traditional career paths.
What is the difference between DevOps and DevSecOps? DevOps focuses on streamlining the software development and deployment process. DevSecOps adds security into every stage of that process. A DevSecOps engineer does everything a DevOps engineer does, plus integrates security scanning, vulnerability management, and compliance automation into the pipeline.
Why is AI security important for DevSecOps engineers? AI-powered applications introduce new attack surfaces that traditional security tools cannot detect. Prompt injection, data poisoning, and model manipulation are real threats that require specialised knowledge. DevSecOps engineers who understand AI security are significantly more valuable to employers than those who do not.
Taking the First Step
The gap between where you are now and a DevSecOps career is smaller than you think. The industry is actively looking for people who are willing to learn, who can demonstrate practical skills, and who understand that security is not optional. It is fundamental.
Whether you are an IT professional looking to specialise, a developer who wants to add security to your skillset, or someone starting from scratch who is ready for a career that actually pays well, the path exists. The question is not whether you can do it. The question is whether you are ready to start.
Cyber Agoge runs the UK's only live DevSecOps and AI Security bootcamp, taught by Charlie Banyard, an active CISO with over 10 years of experience building DevSecOps teams across Government, Finance, and Consulting. The 6-week programme covers everything from cloud security foundations to AI red teaming, includes 3 portfolio projects, and comes with 6 months of post-bootcamp mentorship. Over 400 students have already launched their DevSecOps careers through the programme.
Ready to start? Visit cyberagoge.com/bootcamp to learn more.