Aikido vs Checkmarx vs Veracode: AppSec Testing for Compliance (SOC 2 / ISO)
Compliance with SOC 2 and ISO 27001 is vital for any organisation handling sensitive data. These standards ask businesses to have strong security controls. This includes using a secure software development lifecycle (SDLC). Application security (AppSec) testing is mandatory for generating evidence for auditors.
When selecting an AppSec testing tool for compliance, organisations often compare popular options such as Checkmarx and Veracode. They also look at newer platforms like Aikido Security. Each tool offers different approaches that can affect your long-term security and development. Seeing these differences is important. It helps you choose a partner who can support audits and strengthen your security posture.
This comparison looks at how Checkmarx, Veracode, and Aikido Security perform in AppSec testing for SOC 2 and ISO 27001 compliance.
The Role of AppSec in SOC 2 and ISO 27001
SOC 2 (specifically CC7) and ISO 27001 (Annexe A controls) require organisations to identify and remediate software vulnerabilities. For more details, see the AICPA’s SOC 2 resources and the ISO 27001 guidelines.
Auditors will look for proof that you:
- Regularly scan your code and dependencies for vulnerabilities.
- Have a process for prioritising and fixing findings.
- Integrate security into change management and development.
- Can provide reports and documentation of these activities.
The right AppSec tool should make evidence generation easy and repeatable.
The Contenders for Compliance
- Checkmarx: A top-tier AppSec platform famous for its strong static application security testing (SAST) engine. It excels in deep code analysis.
- Veracode: A comprehensive AppSec platform with tools for SAST, DAST, and SCA. It’s known for its policy-driven approach and strong reporting.
- Aikido Security: A modern platform designed for developers. It automates evidence collection and emphasises practical security controls.
Comparing Compliance Capabilities
1. Evidence Generation and Reporting
Checkmarx and Veracode are well-established in the compliance space. They offer detailed reports for auditors. These include thorough scan results and vulnerability trends. They usually need a dedicated security team. This team manages configurations, runs scans, and interprets reports. This can be time-consuming.
For more insights on evidence management, see the NIST’s Guide to Security Control Assessments.
Aikido Security takes a different approach by focusing on automation and simplicity. The platform is designed to make compliance a continuous, low-friction activity. It automatically generates the evidence needed for audits by tracking vulnerabilities from detection to remediation.Aikido reveals a history of vulnerability. It shows when the issue was found, who handled it, and when the fix was added. This automated evidence trail is what auditors seek and requires minimal manual effort.
2. Breadth of Security Coverage
Compliance frameworks like ISO 27001 need a broad security approach. Just scanning proprietary code isn’t enough.
Checkmarx and Veracode offer tool bundles, including SAST for code and SCA for dependencies. While this provides broad coverage, it often involves managing multiple products.
To understand the importance of layered security for compliance, review the ISO/IEC 27001 overview.
Aikido Security provides holistic coverage in a unified platform. It includes nine scan types: SAST, SCA, Infrastructure as Code (IaC) scanning, and secret detection. You can show auditors that you have controls throughout your software supply chain. Plus, it’s all managed from one dashboard.
3. Integration with the SDLC
Auditors need to see that security is part of your development process, not just a one-time check.
Checkmarx and Veracode integrate with CI/CD pipelines and IDEs. Their complexity can create noisy alerts. This makes them seem like “gates” run by a different security team. This can create friction and may not reflect a culture of developer-integrated security.
Aikido Security fits into the developer’s workflow. Its integration with Git and CI/CD tools makes it reliable. The “zero-noise” approach helps developers trust the tool. For auditors, this shows a mature “shift-left” culture. Security scanning is included in every pull request. Developers are involved in fixing issues.
Who is Each Tool For?
- Choose Checkmarx or Veracode if you have a big company and a security team. You need detailed control over scanning and can manage the volume of findings generated by these tools.
- Choose Aikido Security if you’re an agile organisation. It helps you stay compliant while keeping your development fast. You want a single platform that automates evidence collection. This helps compliance fit smoothly into your security program.
Conclusion: Compliance as a Feature, Not a Burden
Checkmarx and Veracode are capable tools for compliance, but they follow a traditional approach. Aikido Security offers a modern solution. It combines compliance with a developer-friendly, automated security process. Aikido provides complete coverage and automates evidence collection. This helps organisations pass audits and build a stronger engineering culture.
