Source Code Analysis Tools Vs Review Service: What?s the Difference?

Posted by Riyana Moss on January 28th, 2017

Organisations are increasingly making code security a mandatory requirement as opposed to just a nice bonus. As a result, there are numerous options for companies when it comes to securing their source code.

But do you invest in a third party to run the necessary tests, or do you buy the tools and learn how to do it yourself?

First up. What is a source code review service?

A source code review is the investigation of a computer source code. The investigation delves into a program’s code and performs several types of analysis upon the code. These include static code analysis, dynamic analysis, and software composition analysis to name a few.

The results of these can uncover glitches in the code before an application is unleashed on the public and causes widespread issues. They also help software buyers to know potential vulnerabilities in a program before they make a purchase.

The ‘service’ part comes into play when an enterprise offers a package that includes the programmers to execute this review. One such company that offers this is Veracode. They use a cloud-based service to perform multiple analysis on a single platform.

And how about source code review tools?

Source code review tools are used to investigate code to ensure its security. Users purchase these tools and then implement them themselves in-house. Basically, they are the DIY version of what a source code review service does. The tools, without the programmers.

HP Fortify is one leading supplier of such tools.

What’s the difference?

Source code review services are more cost effective. If you choose to purchase the source code analysis tools, you must install and run those tools yourself. This can cost organisations a lot of time and money as they will have to invest in training their programmers on how to use them properly.

Using a source code review service like Veracode will save your business money in the long run. These ‘as a service’ options were introduced as a cost effective alternative to in-house code analysis.

They also don’t require a source code

Well, Veracode doesn’t anyway. They also offer binary code analysis. This means that even if you don’t have the source code for an application you can still run tests on it. And if you do, all of the code in an application is investigated, thus assessments are more exhaustive.

Source code analysis tools are more flexible

Although costlier, investing in the materials and training to perform code analysis locally affords you the ability to make use of the tools entirely on your company's own terms. Making it easier to run investigations ‘on the fly’ when compared to cloud-based services that incorporate outside expertise.

When it comes down to it, both options offer invaluable security assurance that your organisation can’t (or at least shouldn’t) do without. While a company with a large App-sec department may prefer to keep code analysis in-house. Those with fewer resources may benefit from awarding a service this responsibility.