Why You Should Scan Your Applications in the Repository

Historically, if organisations wanted to automate and enforce application security testing, the best place to do that was within CI/CD pipelines. As time went on, while pipeline scanning has its place in securing applications, it doesn't scale as more and more plugins are needed and with that, the task of managing them becomes its own headache.

In addition, development teams within a cybersecurity company don't typically work in pipelines. They work with code repositories, commits, merges, and pull requests. To get closer to being truly part of a development team's native workflow, application security needed to be in the code repository ecosystem.

Learn why scanning applications in the repository is the best and most effective way to secure your applications and reduce any risk of cybersecurity breach!

Secure Coding Culture

To reduce application security risk, organisations must focus on remediation, and any remediation efforts should automate as much of the security testing process as possible. 

If developers are expected to own the security of their newly written code, security can not be a roadblock to development. Security needs to be integrated so that it is invisible to the developer experience. To achieve this, the best place to arm developers to take on security tasks is where they live and breathe – in the repository.

Scanning applications in the repository also allows you to take a proactive approach to risk mitigation. By leveraging automated scanning tools, you can identify potential security risks, such as outdated dependencies, known vulnerabilities, or insecure coding practices. 

Addressing these issues promptly reduces the likelihood of encountering security incidents and protects sensitive user data. Regular scanning provides an opportunity to enhance the overall security posture of your applications.

Repository Level Scanning

By scanning in the repository, developers receive feedback in their native development environment at the exact moment they are asking for information and before they have moved on to new coding tasks. By giving instant feedback when a pull request is made, developers are given the ability to fix any security issues before they are merged. 

Furthermore, by giving results within the repository, you avoid the context switching of moving to a different UI, which saves time and resources and reduces the friction between developers and security teams. By scanning and providing instant feedback in the repository, organisations are able to implement and fine-tune policies that help automate the security process. 

Detailed prioritisation and remediation advice at this point in development also helps lessen the burden placed on developers.

The Benefits

Scanning in the repository brings a few benefits, such as:

• Ease: The earlier you scan by shifting left, the more incremental and the smaller the changes.
• Speed: When developers get instant feedback, they can act upon it faster and remediate vulnerabilities more quickly.
• Agility: Security processes are integrated into the way developers work. There’s no need for them to switch to different tools and learn a new user interface, so they can scan and take action more decisively and with less friction.
• Automation: When the process is automated, ease, speed, and agility are optimised. Vulnerabilities can be most efficiently prioritised and remediated, without interrupting developers’ workflow or slowing their productivity.
• Overcomes SDLC integration weakness: Scanning and testing can be done with browser integration, integrated development environment (IDE) integration, and continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) integration but there are drawbacks to each. Usage or policies cannot be enforced in browser and IDE integrations, while scanning at the CI/CD phase is later in the process, making it harder and more expensive to fix vulnerabilities.
• Developers first approach: For developers to embrace security scanning and remediation, it must be as simple and seamless as possible. Scanning at the repository enables them to easily perform these processes within their native environments. They’re less likely to neglect security in the interest of productivity, and they’re more likely to adopt security best practices when it’s made easy for them to do so.

Staying Compliant

Compliance with industry regulations and standards is crucial for organisations that handle sensitive data. Scanning applications in the repository helps ensure compliance with relevant security frameworks such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS. 

By identifying vulnerabilities from cyber threats and addressing them promptly, organisations can maintain compliance, avoid potential legal repercussions, and safeguard their reputation.

Collaborative Development

Scanning applications in the repository fosters a culture of collaborative development within teams. It allows developers to share insights and findings regarding vulnerabilities or potential risks. 

With the help of scanning tools, teams can collaborate to address identified issues and improve the overall security of the codebase. Moreover, by encouraging knowledge sharing and continuous learning, regular scanning cultivates a secure development and cybersecurity management environment.

In Conclusion

The importance of scanning applications in the repository cannot be overstated. By adopting a proactive approach to application security, developers can build robust and trustworthy software solutions that meet the ever-increasing demands of the modern digital landscape. Incorporating regular scanning practices into the development process is an essential step toward safeguarding applications, protecting user data, and establishing a strong foundation for success in today's technology-driven world.

At Xcidic, we recognise the integral link between our services and application security. Our goal is to excel in the field of application security, prioritising the protection of our clients' applications. We are committed to deliver expertise and assistance to ensure the security of your valuable applications. Discover how we can effectively safeguard your business operations and provide the peace of mind you deserve.