Applying Checkov: Static Application Security Testing (SAST) to Infrastructure as Code with Terraform

Summary This article explains how to apply static application security testing (SAST) to an infrastructure-as-code project using the Checkov tool in conjunction with Terraform. Through a brief practical guide, you will learn what Checkov is, how to install it, how it scans your .tf files, and what kinds of security issues it can detect before you deploy your infrastructure to the cloud. The tool is easy to use, automatable, and compatible with multiple environments, making it ideal for improving security from the early stages of development. Introduction Infrastructure as code (IaC) has revolutionized how we deploy cloud environments, but it has also brought new security challenges. Misconfigurations in Terraform files can expose critical vulnerabilities even before a server is launched. This is why it’s important to integrate tools that allow us to detect these issues before deployment. In this article, we will explore how to apply a SAST tool called Checkov to analyze our infrastructure code created with Terraform. We’ll go through the installation process, how to use it in a real project, and what types of errors it can help prevent. What is SAST and Why Apply It to IaC?

Apr 21, 2025 - 07:21

Applying Checkov: Static Application Security Testing (SAST) to Infrastructure as Code with Terraform

Summary

This article explains how to apply static application security testing (SAST) to an infrastructure-as-code project using the Checkov tool in conjunction with Terraform. Through a brief practical guide, you will learn what Checkov is, how to install it, how it scans your .tf files, and what kinds of security issues it can detect before you deploy your infrastructure to the cloud. The tool is easy to use, automatable, and compatible with multiple environments, making it ideal for improving security from the early stages of development.

Introduction
Infrastructure as code (IaC) has revolutionized how we deploy cloud environments, but it has also brought new security challenges. Misconfigurations in Terraform files can expose critical vulnerabilities even before a server is launched. This is why it’s important to integrate tools that allow us to detect these issues before deployment.

In this article, we will explore how to apply a SAST tool called Checkov to analyze our infrastructure code created with Terraform. We’ll go through the installation process, how to use it in a real project, and what types of errors it can help prevent.

What is SAST and Why Apply It to IaC?