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The Role of Code Scanning Tools in Security

Josh Rank
December 13, 2023

Code scanning tools play a critical role in data security by providing reliable support for locating and preventing vulnerabilities.

Why It Matters: Manual processes are subject to human error. And while this can bring negative consequences for every process, it can be catastrophic for data security. Automated code scanning tools are a must-have for Salesforce data security teams.

The average cost of a data breach in the US was $9.48 million in 2023.
Every year, poor-quality software costs US companies $2.08 trillion.

Here are 6 ways code scanning tools impact Salesforce data security:

Early Detection of Vulnerabilities
Elimination of Bugs
Developer Training
Security Check Automation
Risk Mitigation
Compliance Enforcement

1. Early Detection of Vulnerabilities

The most obvious goal of every data security strategy is to locate security vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. This way, an organization can avoid the costly consequences and wasted time spent cleaning up the mess.

Code scanning tools provide automated checks of updates and applications in the design phase so errors can be flagged and fixed long before they enter a live environment.

Along with preventing a data loss event, early detection also drastically reduces the cost of fixing errors compared to post-deployment identification.

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2. Elimination of Bugs

A properly-functioning update or application works to maintain adequate levels of security while also providing the best possible experience for the end user—whether that’s a team member or a customer. Unchecked updates lead to functional errors, otherwise known as bugs.

Unchecked bugs have the potential to create back doors for cybercriminals to gain access to critical data.

Scanning the code of an application prior to release locates these bugs so developers can work out the kinks long before the end user has a chance to interact with the product.

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3. Developer Training

While most of the capabilities of code scanning tools in data security have direct consequences, not all the benefits will be seen immediately. These tools provide alerts to developers when an error is entered into the coding repository, giving them actionable feedback.

Developers learn from their mistakes when they are directly alerted to coding errors so they can avoid making the same mistake in the future.

The best way to avoid errors in a live environment is reducing the number of errors ever entering the repository, and this becomes more likely as developers continue growing in their roles. Getting alerts to fix coding errors mitigates the likelihood of the same thing happening again.

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4. Security Check Automation

The most direct function of code scanning tools in security is automated security checks. There are a variety of types of scans these tools can perform, including code health, technical debt assessments, and vulnerability scans.

A quality code scanning tool can perform automated checks beyond the quality of your code, including how your team members interact with your platform and permission settings.

Code quality is a crucial consideration, but it’s not the only one. Leveraging a scanning tool to verify these other factors is an immense help in securing your Salesforce environment.

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5. Risk Mitigation

A Salesforce data security strategy will include a series of practices aimed at minimizing potential threats and vulnerabilities that exist within your system. These can arise during development, deployment, or even maintenance of updates and applications.

Automated code scans proactively identify vulnerabilities throughout the application development life cycle.

This involves identifying, assessing, and addressing risks with automated tools that won’t tire or make simple mistakes. The result is a reduction in risks that threaten the integrity of the user’s platform.

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6. Compliance Enforcement

Companies and organizations that operate in regulated industries have heightened requirements for how their data is handled, managed, and stored. The stability of an organization’s updates and applications can have huge impacts on their ability to comply with regulatory requirements.

Code scanning tools can enforce coding standards and best practices established by compliance frameworks such as OWASP, PCI-DSS, or HIPAA.

Scanning code ensures that it adheres to security guidelines and industry standards, reducing the likelihood of unintentional security gaps.

Data security is a constant concern for organizations in every industry. Code scanning tools give Salesforce users the support they need to remain secure and compliant in the face of emerging threats.

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Next Step…

Code scanning tools are an essential aspect of a complete Salesforce data security strategy. And now that we understand why we need to integrate these tools into our DevOps pipelines, let’s look at how to find the best solution for you.

Check out our blog, What to Look for in a Salesforce Code Scanner, to learn more.

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FAQs

Do code scanning tools slow down the development process?

Nope! In fact, they will end up speeding things along when compared to manual code reviews. The time saved in the elimination of going back and reworking lines of code because an issue was found in a later stage increases the overall speed of developing an application or update. Developers are given immediate alerts when a problem is found so they can quickly fix it and move to the next task.

How often should code be scanned for quality and security issues?

A static code analysis tool can be run alongside every developer as they work in their IDE. However, this is not the only point at which code can be checked for quality and security issues. A continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipeline will verify each code commits to the larger branch. These periodic scans will also provide a layer of protective verification to a DevOps project.

Are generic code scanning tools available?

Yes, there are plenty of options for sourcing your code scanning capabilities. However, we recommend you source a solution that has specific capabilities relating to your development environment. Generic code quality tools might save money up front but end up costing more in the long run because of missed errors, unreliable reports, and insufficient coverage for Salesforce DevOps. Learn more about why generic tools don’t provide the coverage you need in our blog here.

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The Role of Code Scanning Tools in Security

1. Early Detection of Vulnerabilities

2. Elimination of Bugs

3. Developer Training

4. Security Check Automation

5. Risk Mitigation

6. Compliance Enforcement

Next Step…

FAQs

Develop high quality, secure code!

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