Table of Contents

Security Best Practices for Documentation as Code

This guide outlines security considerations and best practices when implementing a Documentation as Code (DaC) workflow with DocFX and Azure DevOps.

Access Control and Authentication

Repository Access Management

  • Fine-grained Permissions: Configure repository permissions based on roles (contributor, reviewer, maintainer)
  • Branch Protection: Require pull requests and code reviews for changes to main branches
  • Service Account Management: Use dedicated service accounts with limited permissions for automated processes

Authentication Best Practices

  • Use Azure AD Authentication: Integrate with your organization's Azure Active Directory
  • Enable MFA: Require multi-factor authentication for all team members
  • Token Management: Rotate access tokens regularly and use scoped tokens for specific functions

Content Security

Sensitive Information Protection

  • Secret Detection: Implement scanning for accidentally committed secrets
  • PII Management: Use content scanning to prevent exposure of personally identifiable information
  • Information Classification: Establish clear guidelines for content classification

Secure Documentation Pipelines

  • Pipeline Security: Configure pipeline permissions with least-privilege access
  • Dependency Scanning: Regularly scan for vulnerabilities in documentation dependencies
  • Build Validation: Validate all documentation PRs with automated security checks

Infrastructure Security

Secure Hosting

  • Azure App Service Security: Configure Web Application Firewall for documentation sites
  • Network Security Groups: Restrict access to build and deployment resources
  • HTTPS Enforcement: Ensure all documentation is served over HTTPS

Backup and Recovery

  • Content Backups: Implement regular backups of documentation repositories
  • Disaster Recovery: Create a disaster recovery plan for documentation infrastructure
  • Retention Policies: Define content retention policies that balance compliance and security

Compliance and Governance

Regulatory Compliance

  • Audit Trails: Maintain detailed logs of documentation changes and access
  • Compliance Requirements: Document how your DaC implementation meets regulatory requirements
  • Security Reviews: Schedule regular security reviews of your documentation platform

Security Governance

  • Security Policies: Document security policies specific to documentation workflows
  • Training: Provide security training for documentation contributors
  • Incident Response: Create an incident response plan for documentation security issues

Implementation Checklist

  • [ ] Configure Azure AD integration for repository access
  • [ ] Implement branch protection rules for documentation repositories
  • [ ] Set up automated scanning for secrets and sensitive information
  • [ ] Configure secure CI/CD pipelines for documentation
  • [ ] Enable HTTPS for all documentation endpoints
  • [ ] Document security policies specific to the DaC workflow
  • [ ] Establish regular security reviews for documentation infrastructure

Additional Resources

For questions or concerns about documentation security, contact your organization's security team.

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