SAST
Static Application Security Testing seamlessly integrated into your development workflow.
SAST — Static Application Security Testing
SAST tools are only as good as the rules they run and the workflow they are embedded in. Intelliroot's SAST service goes beyond tool deployment: we select the right tool for your stack, tune rulesets to eliminate the noise that causes developer fatigue, integrate findings into your CI/CD pipeline and issue tracker, and build a triage workflow that ensures high-severity findings are acted upon before code merges. We work with Semgrep, SonarQube, CodeQL, Checkmarx, and Fortify across GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins, Azure DevOps, and CircleCI.
DevSecOps is not a product — it is a culture shift. We deliver hands-on developer training so your engineering teams understand the vulnerability classes being caught, can remediate findings confidently, and adopt secure coding practices that prevent vulnerabilities from being introduced in the first place. The end result is a measurable reduction in security debt across every sprint.
Why Automated SAST Belongs in Every Pipeline
Find Flaws Before They Merge
SAST runs on every commit and pull request — catching injection flaws, crypto misuse, and dangerous function calls before they reach staging, let alone production. The cost to fix drops by 100x compared to post-deployment discovery.
Default Tooling Creates More Noise Than Signal
Out-of-the-box SAST configurations generate thousands of false positives. Without expert tuning, developers disable alerts entirely. Our rule curation targets a false positive rate under 5% — keeping the pipeline trusted.
Developer Adoption Requires Training
Tools without understanding create compliance theatre. Our developer workshops translate scanner output into genuine security knowledge — reducing time-to-fix and improving code quality beyond the immediate finding.
Regulators & Auditors Expect It
PCI DSS 6.3.2, ISO 27001 Annex A.8.28, and SOC 2 CC8.1 require automated security testing in the development process. A well-configured SAST pipeline with documented results satisfies these requirements.
What the Engagement Covers
Tool Selection & Configuration
- Stack-specific tool recommendation (Semgrep, CodeQL, SonarQube, Checkmarx)
- Ruleset selection and custom rule authoring
- False positive baseline and suppression strategy
- Severity thresholds and pipeline gate configuration
- Licence and deployment model advisory
CI/CD Pipeline Integration
- GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins, Azure DevOps, CircleCI
- Pull request comment and inline annotation setup
- Blocking vs advisory gate configuration
- Incremental scanning for large monorepos
- Baseline suppression for legacy code isolation
Triage & Findings Management
- Finding prioritisation framework (CVSS + business context)
- Jira / GitHub Issues / Azure DevOps integration
- SLA definitions by severity class
- Triage workflow documentation for security team
- Metrics dashboard for MTTR tracking
Developer Training & Enablement
- Workshop on top vulnerability classes found in your codebase
- Secure coding cheat sheets per language
- IDE plugin configuration for local developer scanning
- Champion programme for security-aware engineers
- Ongoing rule update and tuning cadence
Our Implementation Approach
Discovery & Stack Assessment
Inventory your technology stack, existing security tooling, CI/CD platform, and developer workflow. Identify the repositories and branches that require scanning, any legacy code to isolate, and the teams who will act on findings.
Tool Selection & Proof of Concept
Run candidate tools against a representative sample of your codebase. Evaluate finding quality, false positive rate, language coverage, and CI/CD integration complexity. Produce a tool recommendation with supporting evidence.
Ruleset Tuning & Baseline Suppression
Configure selected rules for your stack and suppress known-safe patterns and legacy code noise. Establish a clean baseline so developers only see actionable new findings from day one — eliminating the "alert flood" that kills adoption.
CI/CD Integration & Pipeline Gating
Embed the SAST scanner into your pipeline with appropriate gate logic: blocking on Critical/High in new code, advisory for Medium, and informational for Low. Configure PR annotations, Slack/Teams notifications, and issue tracker auto-creation.
Developer Training Workshop
Deliver a half-day workshop covering the top vulnerability classes identified in your codebase — with secure-by-default coding patterns, live remediation examples, and IDE plugin setup so developers can catch issues before committing.
Handover, Metrics & Ongoing Tuning
Document the full configuration, triage workflow, and SLA definitions. Establish a quarterly rule-refresh cadence and provide a metrics dashboard tracking mean time to remediation, finding trends, and pipeline pass rates over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Deliverables
Tool Selection Report
Evaluated comparison of candidate SAST tools against your stack with a documented recommendation, licensing guidance, and deployment architecture diagram.
Configured Pipeline Integration
Working SAST scanner embedded in your CI/CD pipeline with tuned rulesets, gate logic, PR annotations, and issue tracker integration — ready for day-one use.
Initial Findings Report
Risk-rated report of all findings from the initial full codebase scan, with false positives removed, suppressions documented, and remediation prioritisation guidance.
Triage & Workflow Runbook
Documented triage process, SLA definitions by severity class, escalation paths, and suppression approval workflow for your security and engineering teams.
Developer Training Deck & Cheat Sheets
Workshop slide deck and per-language secure coding cheat sheets covering the top vulnerability classes found — a durable reference for ongoing developer education.
Metrics Dashboard Template
Pre-built dashboard (compatible with your CI/CD platform or Grafana) tracking finding trends, mean time to remediation, and pipeline pass rates across sprints.
Request a Security Assessment
Tell us about your environment and security objectives. We'll design a bespoke assessment and deliver a detailed proposal within 48 hours.