SCA vs SAST

 

The more you use external dependencies like open source components in your application, the more you are increasing the attack surface of your application. With that in mind, SCA vs SAST is an important comparison, as they are both important for the security of the entire supply chain.

 

SAST is a deep, code-first method that analyzes the codebase to identify vulnerabilities like SQL injections. SCA examines the third-party and open-source components used in the application. When they are used together, they offer a complete picture of your application’s risk profile.

 

That’s where tools like DerScanner step in. DerScanner supports both SAST and SCA to give a comprehensive solution.

 

This article breaks down the differences between SCA and SAST and how they can be used to defend your codebase from the inside out, with help from tools like DerScanner.

 

What is SAST and SCA?

Both SCA and SAST are part of what’s called Application Security Testing. They are automated security techniques used during software development to address potential security issues. They are often integrated into CI/CD pipelines to identify vulnerabilities early in the Software Development Lifecycle SDLC.

 

Static Application Security Testing

Let’s start with Static application security testing. This is a white box testing method for finding security risk in the application code. In SAST, you inspect the source code, binaries, or bytecode of the application without running it.

 

The idea is simple: go through the code, line by line, and look for patterns that could open the door to things like SQL injection, cross-site scripting, or buffer overflows. SAST doesn’t care if the app is live—it works directly with the codebase.

 

The ability to integrate SAST tools into your CI/CD pipelines is where the real value lies. It gives your developers instant feedback. Bugs and security flaws get caught before they make it to staging, let alone production.

 

Software Composition Analysis

If you’re building software today, chances are most of it isn’t written by your development team. In fact, 80% to 90% of the code in modern applications comes from open-source libraries.

 

Software Composition Analysis (SCA) is an application security testing method that scans your third party components and manages your open source dependencies. It doesn’t analyze your custom code. Instead, it focuses on everything you’ve pulled in, such as external libraries, frameworks.

 

That last part matters. One of the hardest things about managing open source is tracking transitive dependencies—the libraries that your libraries rely on. These don’t appear in your code directly, and they’re easy to miss. But they’re behind nearly 80% of known vulnerabilities in open-source software.

 

SCA scanning maps your full dependency tree, including both direct and transitive packages, and checks them against public vulnerability databases. They flag outdated components, detect vulnerabilities in third-party components, and even handle license compliance checks to make sure you're not using packages under risky or incompatible terms.

 

Key techniques behind how SAST and SCA work

To really understand software composition analysis vs SAST, you need to look at the mechanics. They rely on specific techniques to catch what others miss.

 

Taint Analysis

SAST tools use taint analysis to track untrusted input. That could be user data or an API response. The tool follows the data through your app. If it hits sensitive areas, like a database query, without proper checks, it gets flagged. That’s how SAST spots risks like SQL injection before they’re exploited.

 

Control Flow Analysis

SAST scanning also looks at your code’s control flow. It maps the paths your app can take, such as branches, loops, and conditions. This helps catch bugs that only show up in edge cases.

 

Secure Coding Standards

SAST tools check for violations of secure coding standards, like the OWASP Top 10. These include things like hardcoded secrets or broken access controls. These are the issues attackers love to exploit.

 

While SAST looks at your own code, Software Composition Analysis SCA focuses on what you pull in from others.

 

Dependency Resolution

Your app depends on libraries, and those libraries have dependencies too. SCA maps out that full tree. You’ll see exactly what’s in your build, including the stuff buried deep.

 

Vulnerability Databases

SCA tools compare your dependencies against public databases like NVD or GitHub Advisories. If any component is tied to a known CVE, you’ll be alerted before it becomes a liability.

 

License Compliance

SCA also checks open source licenses. Some licenses are permissive and easy to work with. Others come with restrictions that could impact how you use or distribute your software. SCA scanning flags anything that might violate your policy or create legal risk.

 

SBOM

A Software Bill of Materials lists every component in your app. It’s now a must-have for audits, security reviews, and procurement. SCA tools can generate this list automatically and keep it up to date.

 

Key difference between SAST and SCA

We already discussed how SAST and SCA are different from each other based on what they do. However, to implement them properly, you would need to know many more facts about the difference between SCA and SAST, where they don’t behave similarly.

 

Who runs the tests

SAST is usually run by developers or AppSec engineers. People who know the code inside out. SCA is more often owned by DevOps, security analysts, or compliance teams. It's less about business logic and more about external risk.

 

When they run

SAST happens during development. Think coding, pre-commit, or code review. You can hook it into your IDE or CI pipeline. SCA runs later during builds, packaging, or when you're containerizing an app.

 

Fixing the issues

SAST issues often require a rewrite. The tool points to a line of code, but the fix is on the developer. SCA issues are usually fixed by upgrading a package. It sounds simple, but version bumps can break things. Some even change the license, which can cause compliance problems.

 

Strategic value in security

SAST makes your codebase healthier. It pushes secure coding habits and reduces future bugs. SCA protects your supply chain. It also helps you stay compliant with standards like ISO or NIST.

 

Code access requirements

SAST needs access to your source code or binaries. SCA doesn’t. It works off metadata like package.json or requirements.txt.

 

False positives

SAST can throw a lot of false positives. It warns you about potential risks, but not all are real. SCA is more accurate. It’s based on known CVEs. The downside is that if a vulnerability isn’t public, it won’t be caught.

 

Speed and performance

SAST can be slow, especially in big projects with complex code paths. SCA is faster. It’s not digging through logic, just scanning dependencies.

 

When to use SAST vs SCA scan?

SCA and SAST are not interchangeable tools. They solve very different problems, and as a result, you need to know when to use what.

Use SAST when:

• You need to uncover logic bugs, injection points, or data leaks in your custom code.
• You want security feedback during development, not after.

Use SCA when:

• Your codebase includes open-source libraries.
• You need to enforce or audit license compliance.
• You want to identify and manage known CVEs in third-party packages.
• You’re building or maintaining a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM).

 

Use both when:

• Your application combines open-source and proprietary code.
• You want true end-to-end AppSec coverage in your SDLC.
• You’re embedding security in CI/CD workflows.
• You need to meet compliance standards like SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and FedRAMP.

 

Implementation considerations for SAST vs SCA

Rolling out SCA and SAST tools across a development organization requires thoughtful integration. Below is a breakdown of practical factors to consider when implementing scans in SCA and SAST.

 

Integrating SCA tools

Language and Package Manager Compatibility - SCA tools must support the languages and package managers your teams are using, such as npm for JavaScript, Maven for Java, and pip for Python. If the tool doesn’t accurately parse and resolve dependencies in your project’s ecosystem, it will miss critical vulnerabilities or generate incomplete SBOMs.

 

CI/CD Integration - To maximize value, SCA tools should be embedded directly into your CI CD pipelines. This allows you to block builds, fail deployments, or raise alerts when high-risk dependencies are introduced.

 

Developer Feedback Loops - The faster developers get actionable security feedback, the more likely they are to resolve issues. SCA tools that offer inline pull request scanning or IDE plugins help developers to see dependency vulnerabilities right where they code. 

 

Automated Dependency Updates - Modern SCA tools can go beyond alerting by automatically suggesting or even opening pull requests with safe version upgrades for vulnerable dependencies. 

 

Integrating SAST tools

Language Support and Code Coverage - Before choosing a SAST solution, confirm that it supports all the programming languages and frameworks used across your codebase. 

 

Static vs. Dynamic Rulesets - A SAST tool typically relies on rule-based engines to detect vulnerabilities. Some come with predefined rules, while others allow dynamic ruleset tuning. The ability to adjust or extend these rules based on your application’s specific logic or threat model is key to reducing false positives.

 

Custom Rule Creation - In more advanced use cases, especially for organizations with unique architectures or proprietary APIs, you’ll want the ability to create and maintain custom detection rules. 

 

Developer Education and Result Interpretation - One of the most overlooked parts of a successful SAST rollout is teaching developers how to interpret and act on findings. Without this, they may ignore or misclassify issues, or introduce fixes that cause regressions.

 

If you’re just starting to integrate this into your pipeline, check out our SAST Scanning Guide for more in-depth information.

 

Best SAST and SCA tools

Choosing the right SAST and SCA tools is never simple. Most companies start with a key decision. Should you pick a standalone SAST or SCA tool, or go with a platform that does both?

 

Plenty of tools claim full coverage. But the reality is, each has trade-offs. Features vary. So do integrations, language support, and pricing. It's not about grabbing the most expensive option. It's about choosing what fits your workflow and tech stack.

 

Here are some of the strongest players in the space.

 

DerScanner - DerScanner is a newer option gaining attention. It’s lightweight, cost-effective, and supports SAST for 43 languages. It helps developers catch and fix issues early in the development process. The SCA module offers solid support for managing open-source risks. DerScanner also includes DAST, which detects vulnerabilities that appear only during runtime.

 

Checkmarx - Checkmarx is widely trusted by large dev teams. It supports SAST across more than 35 languages and 80 frameworks. It also handles SCA, flagging risks in open-source libraries. 

 

Veracode - Veracode runs in the cloud. It’s designed for scanning large codebases without slowing down delivery. It supports multiple languages and frameworks. It also includes SCA and blocks known malicious packages with strong accuracy. 

 

Fortify - Fortify is another veteran in the field. It supports more than 33 languages and their ecosystems. It catches vulnerabilities with solid precision and offers developers direct coding advice. 

 

Challenges in implementing SAST and SCA

Adopting SAST and SCA scans is a smart move. But in practice, getting them up and running isn’t always straightforward. You need to plan ahead and understand where the challenges lie.

 

SAST: When tools start slowing you down

False positives remain one of the biggest roadblocks. Developers get flooded with alerts, many of which don’t matter. Over time, that leads to alert fatigue and missed real threats.

 

SAST also struggles with complex security issues. It’s great at spotting code-level flaws, but things like misconfigurations, broken authentication, or access control bugs are often out of reach. Static analysis doesn’t run the code, so it misses anything that depends on runtime behavior.

 

Performance is another factor. Large codebases slow things down, and not every tool scales well. Language coverage can also be a problem, especially in mixed or legacy stacks.

 

SCA: Ownership, blind spots, and noise

SCA brings its own challenges. One is ownership. Open-source components often get added by different teams, and it’s not always clear who’s responsible when something goes wrong.

 

Visibility is also limited. Deep or nested dependencies can hide real risks. If a tool can’t map the full tree, it may miss vulnerable code. 

 

Like SAST, SCA tools also generate false positives, which can erode developer trust if not properly managed.

 

Build a Secure SDLC with DerScanner

There are many tools that support SCA testing or SAST, but often they are fragmented. DerScanner delivers both Software composition analysis and SAST in a single platform built for modern development. It doesn’t just test. It understands your application, from source code to supply chain.

 

SAST: Secure your code from the start

DerScanner’s Static Application Security Testing analyzes your open source code bytecode or binary code without execution. It detects issues like SQL injections, hardcoded secrets, and logic flaws early, right where they’re easiest to fix. With support for 43 languages (including COBOL and Delphi), DerScanner fits into both modern stacks and legacy systems.

 

Its CI/CD integration ensures code is scanned continuously during development, while the Confi AI engine reduces false positives, helping developers focus on real issues instead of wasting time on noise.

 

SCA: Know your components, control your risk

DerScanner’s Software Composition Analysis inspects all open-source and third-party components, flags known vulnerabilities, and checks for license compliance. It also generates an SBOM and provides visual dependency maps for full transparency.

 

SCA Reachability Analysis is another key feature. It helps teams understand whether vulnerable code paths are actually used in the application, so they can focus on the risks that matter most.

 

Together, this hybrid SAST/SCA approach gives teams a complete picture, from code to components, and secures the entire software supply chain.

 

Final thoughts

SAST and SCA are not just tools. They are essential parts of a modern AppSec strategy. One secures the code you write. The other protects the code you rely on.

 

Used together, they give you full visibility. Not just into bugs, but into risk.

 

But tools alone are not enough. You need the right fit. You need real integration. And you need clarity over who owns what.

 

If you're serious about securing your SDLC, invest in both. Do it early. Do it smart.

And if you want one platform that handles both, with less friction and more accuracy, DerScanner is worth a closer look.