Which code review tools offer the most advanced security features to protect your codebase?

Tools are many - AppScan, Checkmarx, Veracode, Fortify, Sonarcube to name a few and the market is flooded with many more alternatives. This is a very crowded space with highly competitive features. Any new feature introduced by one, others literally catch up in 1-2 qtrs time. One must note that detection technologies have become extremely superior over the years, meaning all of them do a reasonably good job in automatically detecting vulnerabilities. However the real challenge comes after detection. All CISOs ans CIOs are sitting over huge number of vulnerabilities and what is needed is extremely important is to contextualise those vulnerabilities and strategise for faster and automated remediation, where the real game is headed for.

I dont believe it is the tool that protects your codebase but it is the security processes around it . It does not matter if you are using the next AI-driven million dollar solution or a free open source SAST .. if action is not being taken on these findings then the security posture of your codebase in not going to improve. Make sure you have security findings being tracked and reported with metrics so you can actually see the codebase security improving over time. Otherwise it just becomes another fancy solution that nobody is using !

For the real-time and CI/CD recommended to use SAST in the pipeline + install code review tools in IDE + analysis scanner for the developer's laptop I tried 2 paid tools 1- Covrity from Synopsys 2- fortify from OpenText Important points - integrations with vulnerability management - set an alert for a new critical vulnerability - make sure the developers are getting the look for security issues and that the IDE working with plugins and scanners very well

The code review has to be done by automated tools, static code review for code and dynamic code review for the application. SAST and DAST give different prospectives of the OWASP top 10 vulnerabilities, SAST gives the line number for the vulnerability present.

Exposure time = Time to detect + time to respond(remediate) . Automated testing tools held to detect early but audit & remediation is time taking process.

Veracode leads the pack with its comprehensive suite of security features, including static and dynamic analysis, AI-powered detection, and seamless CI/CD integration. Its powerful engine analyzes code for over 100 types of vulnerabilities, ensuring that your code is impenetrable to a vast array of threats. Coverity Scan stands out with its advanced static analysis capabilities, leveraging pattern recognition and machine learning to identify vulnerabilities beyond the scope of traditional checkers. Klocwork's strength lies in its unparalleled performance and scalability. Utilizing a distributed architecture, it can analyze large codebases with astonishing speed and efficiency.

Automated tools undoubtedly play a pivotal role in code review processes, but their limitations necessitate the incorporation of features tailored for manual review. Certain code review tools offer functionalities designed to facilitate manual inspection, including highlighting suspicious code segments, suggesting fixes, and fostering team collaboration. These features empower developers to meticulously scrutinize code for nuanced security vulnerabilities that automated scans might overlook, thereby bolstering defenses against cyber threats.

GitHub and GitLab offer robust integration capabilities, allowing you to integrate with various CI/CD tools, security scanners, and issue trackers to ensure security checks throughout the development lifecycle.

Code review tools with advanced security features include SonarQube, which provides comprehensive code quality analysis and vulnerability detection; Veracode, delivers automated static and dynamic analysis to identify security flaws; Checkmarx, known for its static application security testing and software composition analysis capabilities; GitLab, offering both static and dynamic security testing directly integrated into the CI/CD pipeline; Fortify, which combines static code analysis, dynamic application testing, and mobile security testing. These tools can excel in identifying vulnerabilities, ensuring compliance with security standards, and integrating into development workflows for seamless security checks.

I highly recommend Veracode for both static and dynamic testing 👍 But most importantly, don’t forget to establish a solid SDLC process where testing occurs in every stage starting from design.