DeepCode (Snyk) - Detailed Review

Advantages of DeepCode AI (Snyk)

Speed and Efficiency

DeepCode AI, powered by Snyk, stands out for its exceptional speed and efficiency. It runs Static Application Security Testing (SAST) scans that are 50 times faster than legacy tools and 2.4 times faster than other modern SAST tools. This rapid analysis enables developers to identify and fix security issues early in the development cycle, directly within their Integrated Development Environment (IDE), thereby enhancing development velocity and reducing context-switching.

Accuracy and Reliability

DeepCode AI boasts a high degree of accuracy, with an OWASP Benchmark accuracy nearly 20 percentage points higher than other well-known SAST solutions. This is achieved through a hybrid AI approach that combines symbolic and generative AI, along with extensive human expert fine-tuning. This method significantly reduces false positives and false negatives, providing more reliable and streamlined scan results.

Comprehensive Security Fixes

The DeepCode AI Fix feature generates multiple fix suggestions for identified security issues, which are then automatically screened for security by Snyk Code’s rules-based symbolic AI before being presented to the developer. This ensures that the suggested fixes do not introduce new security problems, allowing developers to apply fixes confidently with a single click.

Multi-Language Support and Extensive Data

DeepCode AI supports over 19 programming languages and has been trained on more than 25 million data flow cases from millions of open source projects. This extensive training data, curated by top security researchers, enhances the AI’s ability to find, autofix, and prioritize vulnerabilities effectively.

Developer Productivity

By integrating security checks directly into the IDE, DeepCode AI helps developers maintain their workflow without interruptions. The tool provides real-time analysis and fix suggestions, which can be applied instantly, thus improving developer productivity and reducing the time spent on security issues.

Reachable Vulnerability Analysis

DeepCode AI can quickly analyze Snyk’s Vulnerability Database to determine if a vulnerable function from an open source package is being used in the application, thereby identifying potential security risks more accurately.

Disadvantages of DeepCode AI (Snyk)

Limitations of AI Models

While DeepCode AI uses a hybrid approach to mitigate the limitations of single-model AI, it still relies on AI models that can potentially have drawbacks such as hallucinations. However, Snyk’s approach of combining multiple AI models and security-specific training sets helps to minimize these issues.

Dependence on Training Data

The effectiveness of DeepCode AI is heavily dependent on the quality and breadth of its training data. Although it is trained on a vast amount of open source code, any gaps or biases in the training data could potentially affect its performance.

Potential for Over-Reliance

Developers might become too reliant on the auto-fix features, which could lead to a lack of deep understanding of the underlying security issues. However, Snyk’s approach ensures that developers can review and adjust the suggested fixes, promoting a balanced use of automation and human oversight.

Availability and Access

Some features, such as the reachable vulnerability analysis, are currently in closed or open beta, which might limit immediate access for all users. However, Snyk is continually updating and expanding its offerings.

In summary, DeepCode AI by Snyk offers significant advantages in terms of speed, accuracy, and developer productivity, while also addressing some of the inherent limitations of AI models through its hybrid approach. However, it is important for developers to maintain a balanced use of these automated tools to ensure comprehensive security practices.