GitHub Copilot is an artificial intelligence tool developed by GitHub in collaboration with OpenAI, designed to help developers write code faster and more efficiently. GitHub Advanced Security (GHAS) is a security suite integrated with GitHub that offers advanced tools for maintaining code security, including static analysis, dependency scanning, and proactive security reviews. When combined, GitHub Copilot and GitHub Advanced Security can enhance the capabilities of a development team in terms of security, productivity and code quality.

1. Improving the quality of the code from the development phase

GitHub Copilot assists in development by suggesting code based on good practices and recognized industry standards. This includes suggestions that meet security standards, which can reduce the number of accidentally introduced vulnerabilities. Integrating this dynamic with GHAS makes it possible to identify security problems immediately after the code is entered into the repository.

By identifying insecure code patterns while writing, GitHub Copilot helps developers avoid common errors that could result in critical vulnerabilities, such as SQL injections, cross-site scripting (XSS), and authentication handling errors.

2. Optimization in the creation of security tests

The use of GitHub Copilot can also be extended to the creation of automated tests. It can suggest security tests based on OWASP standards and help developers cover scenarios that could be exploited by attackers. This complements GHAS's automated scans, helping to ensure that the code is not only well-structured, but also well-tested from a security standpoint.

3. Reducing vulnerability correction time

The integration of GitHub Copilot with GitHub Advanced Security can significantly reduce the time between the detection of a vulnerability and its correction. GHAS identifies vulnerabilities and GitHub Copilot assists in the rapid correction of these, suggesting solutions based on safe practices. This is especially useful in large projects where dependencies and code can contain multiple vulnerabilities that require quick fixes.

4. Ongoing security training for developers

GitHub Copilot also serves as an educational tool for developers, especially those with less security experience. As GitHub Copilot suggests secure code and integrates with GHAS warnings, developers learn, in real time, how to write more secure code. This raises the team's overall security level without the need to rely solely on cybersecurity experts.

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In my experience in GitHub migration projects for our clients, integrating GitHub Copilot, I have seen a significant increase in efficiency and security. In particular, during the centralization and reuse of workflows in pipelines, GitHub Copilot allowed my team and me to quickly generate custom scripts and automations that saved hours of manual work. At the same time, GHAS helped us to maintain a clean and secure code, integrating tools such as Trivy and Dependabot to continuously scan vulnerabilities in dependencies and containers, and the GitHub Copilot features, enabled within GHAS, allow us to use the power of AI within the GHAS security suite.

The combination of GitHub Copilot with GitHub Advanced Security creates an ecosystem where productivity and security go hand in hand. GitHub Copilot helps developers write faster code, while GHAS ensures that this code meets the highest security standards. Together, they improve code quality, reduce the number of vulnerabilities, and allow development teams to remain proactive in protecting their software against security threats.

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