For as fast as the software development process can go, it’s all too easy for application security to become an afterthought. However, the right code scanning tools can make app hardening an organic part of the development lifecycle and protect your team’s time, money, and reputation.
Discover more about source code scanning tools, as well as features to look for when searching for solutions that can make securing your code easier and faster than ever.
Also known as source code analysis tools, source code scanning tools are designed to read and analyze your source code to identify security vulnerabilities. Code scanning and static analysis tools allow developers to detect issues during the software development lifecycle.
Multiple types of code scanning tools can be valuable for developers and testers, including software composition analysis tools (SCA) and static application security testing tools (SAST).
SCA tools are designed to find and fix issues in open-source components within code. SAST tools detect security vulnerabilities within proprietary or first-party source code without running the program or using a test case. By identifying problems early on, both tools allow developers to harden their applications and streamline the development lifecycle.
Applications across all platforms and device types are constantly threatened by attacks from malicious actors. Whether your app uses open-source code, other third-party resources, or even code that was written from scratch, hackers know how to find vulnerabilities in it.
While no developer necessarily wants to write vulnerable code, it can be easy for bad habits during the development process to have disastrous effects down the line. For example, many developers skip rigorous security tests to save time during development sprints.
Open-source code can also be a source of trouble for application security. While it isn’t inherently unsafe, and many developers pride themselves on being thorough and meticulous, failing to scan for security updates can make your code easier to exploit.
Bad actors can use these “soft targets” in your code to breach security measures and do as they please. Some of the most common prizes for hackers can access within your app include:
There are also numerous historical instances of hackers using code vulnerabilities to steal user data or hold it for ransom using a command or SQL injection. This can lead to millions of dollars in damages, as seen in the MOVEit hack of July 2023 or the infamous Equifax data breach of 2017.
As a baseline, the most effective source code scanning should include SAST and open-source static code analysis (SCA) tools. However, other features should be considered when determining which products are best for your team.
These are some of the key components your tool of choice should have.
Open-source and proprietary software components come in dozens of different programming languages. The code analysis tools you use to protect your application should account for this, making it easier to detect potential security risks and obsolete code in your software.
Robust static code analysis tools like Kiuwan allow developers and testers to find coding errors across over 30 major programming languages and frameworks.
The developer community as a whole follows a series of industry standards for application security, in addition to federal regulations for protecting users. At the very least, your code security tools should help you maintain compliance with security standards like CERT, CWE, OWASP, and SANS to ensure your users and their data are safe when using your application.
Among its growing list of security standards, Kiuwan covers:
An effective suite of source code scanning tools should integrate with your CI/CD pipeline rather than disrupt or slow down your processes. Not only does this streamline your processes during the development lifecycle, but it also makes your code higher quality earlier in the process. At a glance, the right code scanning tools allow you to implement best practices into your pipeline, such as:
All of these steps can reduce the time it takes to release your software and increase the quality of your product overall.
Most projects using third-party or open-source tools—and, therefore, the vast majority of applications—must ensure that the code they use complies with licensing requirements.
Powerful tools like Kiuwan SCA can search far and wide for software licenses, outdated code dependencies, and other potential avenues hackers can exploit within your application. This allows your team to ensure your project uses the code within the terms and conditions of its license and determine whether your open-source modules align with your project’s licensing policies.
The best code quality tools on the market will also be user-friendly for everyone on your team—from your newest member fresh out of onboarding to your most experienced lead developer. Some of the best tools in terms of user-friendliness will offer the following:
Kiuwan’s SAST and SCA tools notify developers about potential vulnerabilities in their code the second it is introduced. This not only allows your team to catch potential security issues before they go too far with a shift-left approach to software testing but also helps them stay up to speed with coding best practices using contextual remediation advice.
Kiuwan has been providing high-quality, comprehensive code security tools for developers for more than twenty years. Review platforms like G2 recognize us for our rigorous standards in regular evaluations.
In a recent report, Kiuwan ranked among the top five tools for the Relationship Index for Static Application Security Testing (SAST) and the Implementation Index for Static Application Security Testing (SAST). We earned these honors because our software offers:
We were also named as a high performer with elevated user satisfaction in the Grid Report for Static Application Security Testing (SAST).
Our G2 Grid rankings are based on the experiences of real users in the development community. At Kiuwan, we pride ourselves on instilling more confidence in the security of all your applications while setting up and using the software as easily as possible.
Ready to try a code scanning tool trusted by software developers and testers worldwide? Request a free trial of Kiuwan today and see how we can protect your app.
