Snyk vs GitHub Advanced Security vs Cycode: 3 Key Differences, Pros & Cons, and How to Choose the Best Solution

Application Security Testing (AST) tools are critical for ensuring software applications remain secure against vulnerabilities. When comparing AST tools, Snyk and GitHub Advanced Security are two prominent options for teams focused on secure development practices. This article highlights their respective capabilities, key differences, strengths, and weaknesses to help you make an informed decision.

For enterprises requiring a complete solution that combines superior scanning capabilities (including SAST, SCA, Secrets, and more) with integrations and platform extensibility, read on to the end to learn why Cydode’s Complete Application Security Posture Management (ASPM) platform may be the best GitHub Advanced Security and Snyk alternative for your needs.

What is Snyk?

Snyk is a developer-first security platform designed to integrate security into developer workflows. Initially focused on Software Composition Analysis (SCA) for identifying vulnerabilities in open-source dependencies, Snyk has expanded to include scanning for code, container images, infrastructure as code (IaC), and more. 

Snyk’s emphasis on developer workflows and “shift-left” security has led to wide adoption among agile DevOps teams.

What is GitHub Advanced Security?

GitHub Advanced Security is a security suite integrated into the GitHub platform. It includes SAST, SCA, and secret scanning to identify vulnerabilities, prevent exposed secrets, and secure third-party dependencies.

Built for teams already leveraging GitHub Enterprise, GitHub Advanced Security simplifies integrating security into the GitHub ecosystem and developer workflows.

What is Cycode?

Cycode is a Complete Application Security Posture Management (ASPM) platform. It combines native application security testing (SAST, SCA, IaC, and Container) and pipeline security scanning (Secrets, Code Leak Detection, CI/CD) with extensive third-party integrations, deep risk intelligence (including exposure path analysis and owner mapping), and automated remediation to shorten the lifecycle of high-risk vulnerabilities at scale.

For enterprises managing risk across complex environments, Cycode consolidates and supplements security tools to deliver more resilience and a lower cost of ownership.

Key Features of Snyk

Snyk’s strength lies in its developer-first approach. It integrates well with IDEs, CI/CD pipelines, and repositories to provide fast feedback to developers. This makes it well-suited for organizations looking for an agile security solution with a good developer experience.

  • Dependency scanning: Identifies vulnerabilities in open-source libraries and dependencies, helping teams proactively address risks.
  • Developer-friendly integrations: Embeds security seamlessly into developer workflows, ensuring minimal disruption and maximum adoption.
  • Fast feedback: Delivers actionable insights in real-time, enabling developers to fix vulnerabilities faster and more efficiently.
  • Container and IaC security: Analyzes container images and infrastructure configurations to secure the entire development environment.

Key Features of GitHub Advanced Security

GitHub Advanced Security’s strengths lie in its native integration with the GitHub environment and workflows. The Advanced Security offering enhances development workflows with built-in security capabilities.

  • Seamless GitHub Integration: Built directly into the GitHub platform for easy adoption by development teams.
  • CodeQL for Static Analysis: A query-based code analysis tool that ide