Developers are the custodians of modern software systems. Their actions—whether human or AI-assisted—directly shape security outcomes across the software development lifecycle.
Developer Posture reflects the security impact of how developers work:
what actions they take, what tools they use, and how risk enters the codebase over time.
By managing Developer Posture effectively, organizations can reduce risk, establish governance, and create a security-first approach to software development.
In practice, Developer Posture is governed through Developer Security Posture Management, which links scan results, security signals, and policy violations directly to developer identity and actions across the SDLC.
Developer Security Posture Management enables organizations to:
Trace vulnerabilities and scan results to specific developers and AI agents
Govern developer and CI/CD tool usage across environments
Monitor security risks introduced by developer actions
Maintain audit-ready records tied to developer identity and actions
Developer risk emerges when vulnerabilities are introduced without clear visibility into who made a change, what action occurred, or how risk entered the codebase.
Without developer-aware visibility, organizations face ongoing exposure from insider threats, unapproved tools, and insecure development practices.
Common Developer Posture risks include:
Insider Threats
Malicious or unintentional insider activity can expose proprietary code, introduce vulnerabilities, or compromise sensitive data. Strong identity- and behavior-level visibility is essential to mitigate these risks.
Unauthorized Tools
Shadow IT practices, such as using unapproved tools or environments, create blind spots across the SDLC. Managing Developer Posture ensures compliance with approved tools and workflows.
Risky Developer Behaviors
Actions such as integrating insecure dependencies, mishandling sensitive data, or relying on flawed AI-generated code often lead to exploitable vulnerabilities. Developer-level monitoring highlights these risks early for remediation.
Without effective Developer Posture management, these issues accumulate into exploitable weaknesses and make compliance increasingly difficult to maintain.
Several incidents underscore the dangers of unmanaged Developer Posture:
Identity Mismanagement and Insider Risks, Uber Breach (2022): Compromised developer credentials allowed a hacker to access Uber’s internal systems, exposing sensitive user and driver data. This incident emphasized the need for robust identity and access controls in development environments.
AI-Driven Code Vulnerabilities, GitHub Copilot Flaw (2024): Researchers found that GitHub’s Copilot AI tool occasionally suggested insecure code, such as functions prone to SQL injection or XSS, especially when paired with vulnerable codebases.
These examples highlight the necessity of monitoring Developer Posture as part of a secure development strategy.
Archipelo supports Developer Posture by creating a historical record of developer actions across the SDLC, tied directly to developer identity and activity.
By embedding developer-aware visibility into existing security workflows, Archipelo ensures that software security is informed not just by artifacts, but by the actors behind them.
Archipelo integrates seamlessly with existing ASPM and CNAPP platforms, strengthening security programs with developer-level attribution, accountability, and context.
Key Archipelo Capabilities:
Developer Vulnerability Attribution
Trace CVE and scan results to the developers and AI agents who introduced them.Automated Developer & CI/CD Tool Governance
Scan developer and CI/CD tools to verify tool inventory and mitigate shadow IT risk.AI Code Usage & Risk Monitoring
Monitor AI code tool usage to ensure secure and responsible software development.Developer Security Posture Insights
Monitor security risks tied to developer actions and generate visibility into individual and team-level security posture.
Ignoring Developer Posture creates continuous risk across the SDLC—from ungoverned tools and insecure AI usage to vulnerabilities with no clear owner.
Developer Posture makes developers observable—human and AI—so organizations can address root cause, not just patch symptoms.
Contact us to learn how Archipelo strengthens your existing ASPM and CNAPP stack with Developer Security Posture Management.