Modern Application Security: How Cybergen & Aikido Simplify Secure DevOps

In an era where software drives every business sector, ensuring secure application development has become not just a best practice but a critical requirement. As cloud-native architectures rise and digital transformation accelerates, vulnerabilities are increasingly being introduced during early stages of the software development lifecycle. Shockingly, over 85% of security issues originate in code written by developers (Veracode, 2023).

With supply chain attacks and zero-day exploits on the rise, organisations can no longer afford to bolt on security after the fact. They need solutions that integrate security into the developer workflow. That is why Cybergen has partnered with Aikido to deliver a modern, streamlined approach to application security (AppSec) tailored to today’s fast-moving development environments.

This blog is for IT professionals, developers, and decision-makers who are building or managing secure applications. Whether you're scaling a tech startup, running an in-house dev team, or aiming for compliance with ISO 27001 or SOC2, read on to learn how you can reduce risk and simplify security.

Application security refers to the practice of making applications more secure by identifying, fixing, and preventing security vulnerabilities throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC). It covers techniques like:

Think of it like building a house. You wouldn’t wait until it's fully constructed to install locks on the doors. Likewise, AppSec ensures that secure foundations are in place from the start. In today's environment of agile development and continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD), waiting to test at the end is simply too late.

As more organisations adopt microservices and containers, the attack surface has expanded, making secure code and infrastructure hygiene essential.

When it comes to securing modern software, three core techniques form the foundation of effective Application Security (AppSec): Static Application Security Testing (SAST), Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), and Software Composition Analysis (SCA). Each serves a unique purpose in identifying and mitigating risks throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC). Let’s explore how they work, why they matter, and how they complement each other.

SAST: Static Application Security Testing

SAST is akin to proofreading your code before you run it. This technique involves scanning the source code, bytecode, or binary of an application before it is executed. It helps developers catch vulnerabilities early, such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and hard-coded credentials.

Unlike dynamic testing, SAST doesn’t require a running application. It operates from within the developer’s environment or as part of a CI/CD pipeline. One of its biggest strengths is its ability to “shift security left,” meaning developers can fix issues during the coding phase, well before they reach production.

Example: A developer pushes a piece of JavaScript code with an insecure data validation method. A SAST tool immediately flags this, enabling the developer to address it before the application is built or deployed.

SAST is essential for catching logic flaws, input sanitisation issues, and insecure coding patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed until a security breach occurs.

DAST: Dynamic Application Security Testing

If SAST is like checking the blueprint of a building, DAST is equivalent to walking through the finished structure to look for weak doors and windows. DAST tests applications in their running state. It interacts with the application just as a user or attacker would, analysing inputs, responses, and behaviours to uncover vulnerabilities.

DAST is particularly useful for identifying runtime issues such as authentication flaws, misconfigured servers, or exposed APIs. It does not require access to the source code, which makes it ideal for black-box testing and third-party applications.

Example: A DAST scan of a deployed web app identifies that session cookies are being transmitted without the Secure flag, exposing users to man-in-the-middle attacks.

Because it operates on live applications, DAST can uncover vulnerabilities that only manifest during execution, complementing SAST by adding a runtime perspective to security testing.

SCA: Software Composition Analysis

Modern applications rely heavily on third-party libraries and open-source packages. While this accelerates development, it introduces hidden risks if those components are outdated or contain known vulnerabilities.

SCA scans the application’s dependencies and cross-references them against vulnerability databases like the National Vulnerability Database (NVD). It alerts teams to risks associated with specific versions of software components and suggests updated or patched versions where available.

Example: A developer includes an open-source logging library. SCA detects that the version in use is affected by a critical CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) and recommends an update to a secure version.

SCA is indispensable for maintaining software supply chain security, especially with the rise of attacks like Log4Shell and other zero-day exploits in open-source ecosystems.

Together, SAST, DAST, and SCA form a powerful triad that covers source code, runtime behaviours, and third-party components. When integrated effectively into a Secure DevOps strategy as Cybergen and Aikido enable these techniques help organisations reduce risk, boost developer confidence, and meet compliance with frameworks such as OWASP Top Ten and ISO 27001.

Despite the critical importance of Application Security (AppSec), many organisations find it challenging to implement effectively due to a variety of persistent issues. A major concern is developer friction, where traditional security tools disrupt development workflows and slow down productivity.

Compounding this is the prevalence of false positives generated by legacy scanners, which overwhelm teams with alerts, most of which lack relevance or actionable insight. Additionally, many security tools are not built to integrate seamlessly with modern CI/CD pipelines, meaning they are often overlooked or underutilised.

Finally, the absence of proper risk context and prioritisation means that teams struggle to distinguish between low-level issues and high-impact vulnerabilities, ultimately diluting their focus and leaving critical weaknesses unaddressed.

The result? Alert fatigue, ignored reports, and increased risk exposure.

Introducing Aikido: Dev-Friendly Security Automation

Aikido is a modern security platform designed with developers in mind. It integrates seamlessly into your existing tools and workflows, providing comprehensive security coverage without the overhead.

What Aikido covers:

Aikido is a modern, developer-centric security platform designed to make secure development a natural part of the software lifecycle. It offers a comprehensive suite of automated security capabilities that seamlessly integrate into existing development environments, removing many of the traditional barriers that slow teams down. At its core, Aikido provides powerful code scanning through Static Application Security Testing (SAST).

This feature enables early detection of vulnerabilities within the source code, helping developers address security issues at the earliest and most cost-effective stage of development. By surfacing flaws such as injection risks, logic errors, and unsafe coding practices as code is written or committed, teams are empowered to remediate issues before they ever reach production.

In addition to SAST, Aikido also includes Software Composition Analysis (SCA) to address the growing threat of vulnerabilities in open-source software. Modern applications often rely heavily on external libraries and dependencies, which can introduce unpatched or unmaintained code into even the most well-structured applications.

Aikido scans these components against industry-recognised vulnerability databases, alerting teams when a known issue exists within a particular version and providing guidance for remediation—typically by recommending safer versions or patches. This capability is essential in guarding against supply chain risks like Log4Shell and other vulnerabilities that have made headlines in recent years.

Aikido also supports the security of cloud-native environments through Infrastructure as Code (IaC) misconfiguration detection. As organisations increasingly use IaC tools like Terraform or AWS CloudFormation to automate infrastructure provisioning, misconfigurations in these scripts can lead to serious security lapses, such as publicly accessible S3 buckets or permissive IAM roles. Aikido scans these configuration files and flags insecure defaults or dangerous settings, offering actionable fixes that align with industry standards like the CIS Benchmarks or best practices from AWS and Azure. This ensures that security is enforced at the infrastructure level, even before deployment.

Another key feature is Secrets Detection, which protects against one of the most common yet overlooked security threats: the accidental exposure of credentials. Developers often inadvertently commit API keys, passwords, or tokens to source control repositories, especially when moving quickly. Aikido actively scans for these secrets in real-time, preventing them from being exposed to threat actors. This layer of protection is vital in environments where fast iteration cycles can lead to shortcuts that compromise long-term security.

What truly sets Aikido apart is its ability to integrate effortlessly with platforms that developers already use, such as GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket. This means there is no need for disruptive context-switching or learning new tools, Aikido fits naturally into existing workflows. Its intuitive dashboard goes beyond simply listing vulnerabilities by providing prioritised, contextualised, and actionable insights. Developers are not left to sift through noise or false positives; instead, they are equipped with clear, relevant information that enables faster, smarter decision-making.

By covering code, dependencies, infrastructure, and credentials, Aikido delivers a holistic approach to application security that empowers development teams to build secure software without sacrificing speed or agility.

At Cybergen, we understand that security is only effective if it is practical. Our integration of Aikido into your DevOps workflows is frictionless and fully supported by our expert team.

Our approach includes:

Initial Setup & Onboarding: We help configure Aikido within your CI/CD pipeline.
Continuous Monitoring: Issues are identified in real-time as developers commit code.
Human-Led Triage: Our security analysts review and prioritise alerts for you.
Integration with Penetration Testing & CTEM: Aikido feeds into your wider security posture.

With Cybergen, you gain both automation and human expertise, giving you the clarity and confidence to act on what matters most.

Feature	Benefit
Git-native Integration	Zero disruption to developer workflows
Automated Scanning	Real shift-left security without manual work
Triage Support	No more alert fatigue or false alarms
Custom Rulesets	Tailored alerts based on your risk profile

Application security is no longer optional, it’s a fundamental part of developing trustworthy, resilient software. With rising threats and tightening regulations, businesses must act now.

Cybergen’s partnership with Aikido makes it easier than ever to integrate security into development. Through smart automation, seamless integrations, and expert support, you gain a solution that works with your team, not against them.

Let Aikido handle the heavy lifting, so your developers can focus on building great software

Secure your apps from the first line of code. Book a FREE Aikido demo or trial today via our Application Security Services page.