tech·nic·al·ly agile class·i·fic·at·ion

Shift Left Strategy: Building Quality and Security into Development from Day One

Proactively integrating testing, security, and compliance early to reduce risk, accelerate feedback, and deliver reliable software faster.

A Shift-Left Strategy brings testing, security, and compliance earlier in development, reducing defects, accelerating feedback, and improving quality for faster, more reliable delivery.

Image
https://nkdagility.com/resources/shift-left-strategy/
Subscribe

Overview

In modern software development, waiting until the end to test, secure, or review compliance is a costly mistake. The Shift-Left Strategy eliminates these risks by integrating critical activities—testing, security, and compliance—early in the development lifecycle.

By shifting left, teams detect defects sooner, reduce rework, and accelerate feedback loops. This approach enhances software quality, speeds up delivery, and ensures reliability from day one. Whether through automated testing, security as code, or continuous integration, embracing a Shift-Left Strategy is a fundamental step towards high-performing, agile, and DevOps-driven teams.

Don’t wait—shift left and build quality in from the start.

Learn More about Shift Left Strategy

Videos

Security by Design Building Secure Software

Explains how integrating security and quality early in software development—using practices like TDD, pair programming, and continuous feedback—builds robust, reliable systems.
Videos

Unlocking the Superpower of Software Development: How Shifting Left Transforms Quality Assurance

Explains how adopting a shift-left approach in software development improves quality, speeds up delivery, reduces costs, and fosters collaboration by involving QA early.
Blog

Your Evolving Definition of Done

Explains how the Definition of Done evolves in Scrum, aligning team practices with organisational standards to ensure consistent quality, compliance, and business value delivery.
Tags

Test First Development

Test First is a practice that defines success before implementation. It supports manual and automated testing, with a strong preference for automation to improve flow and quality.
Videos

Code Reviews for Quality Assurance

Explores modern code review practices, emphasising automation, pre-reviewed code, and shift-left strategies to improve software quality, speed, and team collaboration.
Blog

Quality enablement with Visual Studio 2012

Explores how Visual Studio 2012 supports continuous quality enablement, automated testing, and rapid delivery in modern software development for higher user satisfaction.
Videos

NKD Agility: Your partner in developing engineering excellence

Learn how NKD Agility supports organisations in building engineering excellence through modern practices like performance engineering, testing in production, and leadership.
Blog

You are doing it wrong if you are not using test first

Explains how adopting test-first practices in software development improves quality, reduces bugs, and enables confident continuous delivery by validating requirements early.
Tags

Automated Testing

Ensure software quality and reliability with Automated Testing. Detect issues early, reduce manual effort, and accelerate delivery.
Subscribe

Connect with Martin Hinshelwood

If you've made it this far, it's worth connecting with our principal consultant and coach, Martin Hinshelwood, for a 30-minute 'ask me anything' call.

Concepts


Categories


Tags

GitHub (4)
Scaling (15)
Windows (97)

Our Happy Clients​

We partner with businesses across diverse industries, including finance, insurance, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, technology, engineering, transportation, hospitality, entertainment, legal, government, and military sectors.​

Freadom Logo
Brandes Investment Partners L.P. Logo
Xceptor - Process and Data Automation Logo
YearUp.org Logo
Emerson Process Management Logo
Schlumberger Logo
Lean SA Logo
Philips Logo
DFDS Logo
Flowmaster (a Mentor Graphics Company) Logo
Kongsberg Maritime Logo

NIT A/S

Alignment Healthcare Logo
Higher Education Statistics Agency Logo
Capita Secure Information Solutions Ltd Logo
Deliotte Logo
Slicedbread Logo
ProgramUtvikling Logo
Nottingham County Council Logo
Ghana Police Service Logo
Department of Work and Pensions (UK) Logo
Washington Department of Enterprise Services Logo
New Hampshire Supreme Court Logo
Washington Department of Transport Logo
Bistech Logo
Capita Secure Information Solutions Ltd Logo
Lockheed Martin Logo
Deliotte Logo
Milliman Logo
Freadom Logo