As organizations increasingly adopt Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to automate and manage their cloud environments, ensuring the security of these configurations has become a critical priority.
IaC allows teams to define infrastructure using code, enabling rapid deployment and scalability, but it also introduces risks such as misconfigurations and vulnerabilities that can expose systems to attacks.
To mitigate these risks, specialized tools have emerged to scan IaC templates for vulnerabilities, enforce compliance with security standards, and ensure robust cloud infrastructure.
In 2025, leveraging these tools will be essential for maintaining secure and resilient systems in an ever-evolving threat landscape.
How It Works
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) scanning works by analyzing IaC configuration files to identify potential security vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and compliance violations before infrastructure is deployed. Here’s a breakdown of how it works:
- Policy Definition: IaC scanning tools use predefined or custom security and compliance policies based on industry standards (e.g., CIS Benchmarks) or organizational requirements. These policies define the rules against which the IaC code will be evaluated
- Integration into Workflows: IaC scanning tools are integrated into development workflows, such as CI/CD pipelines or version control systems. This ensures that scans are automated and run at critical points, such as during code commits or before deployment.
- Static Analysis: The tools perform static analysis of IaC templates (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation, Kubernetes manifests) to detect issues like insecure configurations, excessive permissions, unencrypted data, or non-compliance with policies. This process does not require executing the code but instead evaluates its structure and logic.
- Execution and Reporting: The scanning tools generate detailed reports highlighting vulnerabilities, their severity levels, and recommendations for remediation. These reports can be integrated into developer workflows to provide actionable feedback directly in tools like GitLab or GitHub.
- Continuous Improvement: As security requirements evolve, the policies and scanning processes are refined to address new threats and improve detection accuracy. This iterative improvement ensures that the infrastructure remains secure over time.
By embedding IaC scanning into the development lifecycle, organizations can proactively identify and address risks early, reducing the likelihood of deploying insecure infrastructure into production environments.
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) scanning works by analyzing configuration files to detect security vulnerabilities and compliance issues before deployment.
The process begins with parsing the IaC code, where the tool reads configuration files to understand the infrastructure setup.
Next, it performs static analysis and policy evaluation, comparing configurations against predefined security policies, best practices, and compliance frameworks such as CIS Benchmarks, NIST, GDPR, and HIPAA.
The tool then focuses on detecting misconfigurations, identifying risks such as overly permissive IAM roles, unencrypted storage, publicly exposed resources, weak security groups, and misconfigured networking.
Once vulnerabilities are identified, the tool provides reports and remediation guidance detailing severity levels, affected resources, and suggested fixes.
Finally, IaC scanning can be integrated into CI/CD pipelines, allowing automation within GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD, Jenkins, and other DevOps workflows to ensure continuous security monitoring.
Infrastructure as Code Scanning Tools
| Top 5 Tools to Scan Infrastructure as Code for Vulnerabilities In 2024 | Features |
|---|---|
| 1. Checkov | 1. Multi-Language Support 2. Comprehensive Rule Set 3. Custom Rule Development 4. Integration with CI/CD Pipelines 5.Always new information |
| 2. TFLint | 1. Terraform-Specific Analysis 2. Extensive Rule Set 3. Customizable Rule Configuration 4. Integration with CI/CD Pipelines 5.Open-source group that is active |
| 3. CloudSploit | 1. Security Checks 2. Compliance Monitoring 3. Real-time Monitoring 4. Vulnerability Assessment 5.Advice on How to Fix Things |
| 4. Accuris |
1. Language Understanding 2. Knowledge Base 3. Fact-Checking 4. OpenAI’s Continuous Improvement 5.Better World Generation |
| 5. Terrafirma | 1. Map of the World 2. Following resources 3. Following NPCs 4. Following a player 5. Points of interest |
Top 5 Tools to Scan Infrastructure as Code for Vulnerabilities in 2024
- Checkov
- TFLint
- CloudSploit
- Accuracy
- Terrafirma
1. Checkov
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This is one of the best tools to analyze static code which detects the cloud misconfiguration in Infrastructure as Code. This can scan the cloud infrastructure and manage Terraform, Kubernetes, CloudFormation, etc.
Since this is a Python-based software, it makes simple everything like writing, coding, managing, vision control, etc. Checkov can give the best practices and compliance for Google Cloud, AWS, and Azure.
Checkov is open-source software that gives output in different formats like JSON, CLI, Junit XML, etc. This also helps to make you handle dynamic code effectively.
Features
- Checkov’s built-in rules cover a number of law and best practice security guidelines.
- Checkov has many tools like Ansible, Kubernetes YAML, Terraform, CloudFormation, Dockerfile, Serverless Framework, and more.
- Checkov lets users make their own rules to make sure that their company’s security or safety rules are followed.
- Checkov is a command-line tool that can be used on its own or easily added to CI/CD processes.
| What is Good ? | What Could Be Better ? |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive Analysis | Limited Language Support |
| Customizable Policies | Lack of Real-time Monitoring |
| CI/CD Integration | |
| Fast and Lightweight |
Price
You can get a free trial and personalized demo from here…
Checkov – Trial / Demo
2. TFLint
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This is also known as Terraform Iinter, and its primary function is to ensure the highest level of security on the Infrastructure as Code platform through error checking.
However, while this is a fantastic resource for IaC, it only serves to confirm the problems and is tied solely to one service provider.If you have TFLint on hand, you’ll be in a better position there.
Installing these tools for Windows, macOS, and docker is essential, as are regular updates to provide the best possible results.In addition to Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, it will support a few other providers.
Features
- Extensive Terraform-specific rules are available in TFLint.
- Users of TFLint have the option to modify the program’s analysis criteria.
- TFLint is compatible with the JSON and HCL Terraform languages.
- Use TFLint on its own or include it into your existing pipelines for continuous integration and delivery.
| What is Good ? | What Could Be Better ? |
|---|---|
| Terraform-Specific Analysis | Limited to Terraform |
| Comprehensive Rule Set | Dependency on Rule Updates |
| Customizable Rule Configuration | |
| CI/CD Integration |
Price
You can get a free trial and personalized demo from here…
TFLint – Trial / Demo
3. CloudSploit
If you want to scan Cloudformation templates within seconds then you need to utilize CloudSploit.Scanning for 95 vulnerabilities across AWS services is possible with this.
This instrument aids in the efficient detection of risk, and the user must deploy the security feature prior to launching the cloud infrastructure.In addition, it provides a plugin-based scan that varies its security measures according to the type of resource being protected.
Only CloudSploit offers API access, demonstrating the company’s dedication to its customers’ needs.Even better, you’ll have access to a drag-and-drop interface that yields instant results.
The scanner will compare each resource setting and de-analyze the values when you upload the template.After that, it will provide you feedback in the form of a warning, a failing grade, or a passing grade.
In addition, you can examine each result to identify the impacted resource.
Features
- CloudSploit is always looking for security holes and wrong settings in the cloud.
- CloudSploit works with a number of cloud companies, such as AWS, Azure, and GCP.
- CloudSploit can look for holes in S3 buckets, EC2 servers, IAM, security groups, VPC, and other places.
- You can follow GDPR, HIPAA, CIS Benchmarks, and PCI DSS with CloudSploit’s help.
| What is Good ? | What Could Be Better ? |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive Security Coverage | Potential False Positives |
| Continuous Security Posture Management | Customization Complexity |
| Compliance Automation | |
| Remediation Guidance |
Price
You can get a free trial and personalized demo from here…
CloudSploit – Trial / Demo
4. Accurics
You can prevent misconfigurations and policy violations in your cloud infrastructure by employing correct cs.It will also have potential data. Code scanning for Terraform, Dockerfile, OpenFaaS YAML, etc. is also available for accuracy.
Finding the problem is the first step in fixing it with Infrastructure as Code.Make sure there are no hiccups in the infrastructure configuration while you run this precision.
You must safeguard everything in the cloud, from containers to servers to infrastructure.In addition to its primary function of preventing and identifying drift, this system also generates postural drift.
Issues with workflow applications like Slack, email, Splunk, JIRA, and many others can be reported to the developers with this tool.Depending on your needs, you may either use the hosted version or install it on your own server and use it in the cloud.
Features
- The Terraform, CloudFormation, Kubernetes YAML, and Helm map IaC files that we scan are correct.
- Accurics keeps an eye on infrastructure deployments 24 hours a day, seven days a week to find and stop changes, drift, and security holes.
- Accurics helps businesses meet standards like CIS Benchmarks, GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and more.
- Businesses can use Accurics to write security rules that make sure all of their infrastructure is secure in the same way.
| What is Good ? | What Could Be Better ? |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive Security Coverage | Complexity for New Users |
| Continuous Security Posture Management | Cost Considerations |
| Compliance Automation | |
| Remediation Guidance |
Price
You can get a free trial and personalized demo from here…
Accurics – Trial / Demo
5. Terrafirma
Again, the best tool for static code analysis.For Terraform’s purposes, it excels.Insecure settings are identified and remedied.
If used correctly, it can produce identical results to those obtained from JSON.This has no flaws whatsoever, making it a joy to use.
You’ll want to use virtualenv and wheels during the installation process.
Features
- The Terraform, CloudFormation, Kubernetes YAML, and Helm map IaC files that we scan are correct.
- It’s easier to meet industry standards like CIS Benchmarks, NIST SP 800-53, GDPR, HIPAA, and more when you have correct data.
- Agcurics lets businesses write their security rules and best practices.
- Constant monitoring by Accurics stops infrastructure release configuration drift and unauthorized changes.
| What is Good ? | What Could Be Better ? |
|---|---|
| Full Map of the World | Some people might think it’s cheating. |
| Following resources | Problems with Mod Compatibility |
| Your Own Waypoints | |
| Support for multiplayer |
Price
You can get a free trial and personalized demo from here…
Terrafirma – Trial / Demo
Final Thoughts:
In this era, infrastructure as code is becoming famous for every industry. This has also made the necessary changes in IT infrastructure and made it more robust and better.
As a user, you need to practice IaC, or else you will get many security loopholes. But you should not worry because these tools get scan IaC for vulnerabilities.