The Ultimate CI/CD Security Checklist for GitLab Users

Mar 6

4 min read

Ultimate CI/CD Security Checklist for GitLab Users

If you’re running CI/CD pipelines on GitLab, you already know that security isn’t just a “nice-to-have”—it’s the backbone of your entire workflow. But let’s be real: Security can feel overwhelming. There are a million things that could go wrong, and figuring out where to start is half the battle.

That’s where this checklist comes in. It’s not just another generic security guide (because let’s be honest, you’ve seen enough of those). This is a practical, GitLab-focused checklist tailored for engineers who want to lock down their CI/CD pipelines without losing their sanity.

1. Secure Your GitLab Runners

Your CI/CD pipeline is only as secure as the runners executing your jobs. If an attacker gains access to your runners, they essentially have the keys to your infrastructure. Here’s how to keep them safe:

Use isolated runners for sensitive workloads. Shared runners are convenient, but they also introduce risk if other jobs running on them aren’t secure.
Lock your runners to your project. This prevents unauthorized jobs from executing on your runners.
Keep your runners updated. Security patches are released regularly—don’t ignore them.
Run runners in an isolated environment. Use containers or virtual machines with minimal privileges.
Limit network access to your runners. Ensure they can only communicate with necessary resources, not the whole internet.

2. Harden Your GitLab Configuration

A misconfigured GitLab instance is like leaving your front door wide open. Here’s how to make sure you’re not an easy target:

Enforce two-factor authentication (2FA). All users should have 2FA enabled—no excuses.
Restrict project visibility. Not everything needs to be public. Keep repositories private unless absolutely necessary.
Disable unused features. If you’re not using a GitLab feature, disable it. Less attack surface = fewer security risks.
Review access permissions regularly. Users who no longer need access should be removed immediately.

3. Lock Down Your CI/CD Variables

Environment variables often hold secrets—API keys, database credentials, and access tokens. If they’re not secured, they can be exploited.

Use GitLab’s masked variables feature. This hides sensitive values from logs.
Store secrets in a vault instead of defining them in .gitlab-ci.yml.
Set variables at the group or project level to control access more effectively.
Restrict who can view or modify variables. Not every user should have access to sensitive credentials.

A Forrester study revealed that 57% of organizations experienced security incidents due to secrets being exposed to insecure DevOps processes in the past two years. That’s a risk you don’t want to take.

4. Control Pipeline Execution

Not every commit should trigger a CI/CD pipeline. Controlling when and how your pipelines run is crucial.

Define protected branches so that only approved commits can trigger deployments.
Use pipeline rules to control execution, such as only running jobs on specific branches or for merge requests.
Limit who can trigger pipelines manually. This prevents unauthorized users from executing potentially harmful jobs.
Set up pipeline quotas to avoid denial-of-service attacks from excessive job execution.

5. Secure Dependencies (Because Supply Chain Attacks Are Real)

Your CI/CD pipeline relies on third-party packages, but not all dependencies are trustworthy. Here’s how to stay safe:

Use GitLab’s Dependency Scanning to identify vulnerabilities in your dependencies.
Pin dependencies to specific versions to avoid unexpected updates that introduce security risks.
Only use trusted package sources. Avoid random GitHub repositories unless they’re verified.
Regularly audit dependencies for vulnerabilities and remove unused packages.

6. Implement Code Scanning and Security Checks

Prevention is better than cure. Running automated security checks ensures that vulnerabilities are caught early. The Continuous Delivery Foundation's 2024 State of CI/CD Report found that incorporating security tests in CI/CD workflows isn't just good practice—it directly enhances organizational outcomes by reducing vulnerabilities and strengthening overall pipeline resilience.

Enable GitLab’s Static Application Security Testing (SAST). This scans your code for vulnerabilities before it’s deployed.
Use Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) to find vulnerabilities in running applications.
Enable container scanning if you’re using Docker to detect security issues in images.
Regularly review security reports and act on findings immediately.

7. Protect Your Artifacts and Build Outputs

CI/CD artifacts (like built binaries, logs, and reports) can contain sensitive data. If they’re not secured, they become an easy target.

Use GitLab’s artifact expiration policy to automatically delete old artifacts.
Encrypt stored artifacts. If an attacker gains access, they shouldn’t be able to read them.
Restrict who can download artifacts. Not every user needs access to every build output.

8. Monitor and Audit Everything

Security isn’t just about prevention—it’s about detection. Keeping an eye on what’s happening in your GitLab environment is critical.

Enable GitLab audit logs to track changes in your projects and pipelines.
Set up alerts for suspicious activity, like failed login attempts or unexpected pipeline triggers.
Review logs regularly. Don’t wait for a breach—be proactive in detecting issues.
Use GitLab’s security dashboard to get a centralized view of security risks.

The VivaOps Advantage for Secure GitLab CI/CD

Security in CI/CD isn’t something you “set and forget.” It’s an ongoing process that requires regular updates, monitoring, and adaptation. The good news? GitLab provides a ton of built-in security features to make your life easier. And if you need expert guidance in setting up a bulletproof CI/CD pipeline, VivaOps is here to help.

So, what’s next? Take this checklist, start applying the steps, and make sure your GitLab CI/CD pipelines are as secure as they can be. Because at the end of the day, secure pipelines = better sleep at night.

Still not sure where to start? Connect with our security experts today.