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TL;DR - Checkov

  • Free open-source infrastructure-as-code security scanner by Bridgecrew (Prisma Cloud)
  • 1000+ built-in policies for Terraform, CloudFormation, Kubernetes, and Dockerfile
  • Graph-based scanning for CIS, NIST, HIPAA, GDPR compliance with CI/CD integration
Pricing: Free forever
Best for: Individuals & startups

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • IaC security scanning
  • Many frameworks
  • Open source
  • Policy as code
  • CI/CD integration

Cons

  • False positives
  • Learning curve
  • Output verbose
  • Custom policies complex
  • Documentation gaps

Key Features

IaC scanningPolicy as codeMulti-frameworkCI/CD integrationCustom policiesOpen source

Pricing Plans

Open Source

Free

  • 750+ built-in policies
  • CIS, PCI, HIPAA compliance
  • Custom policies (Python/YAML)
  • CLI and VS Code extension
  • CI/CD integration
  • Free forever

Prisma Cloud

Contact sales

  • All open source features
  • Runtime scanning
  • Pull request annotations
  • Repository badges
  • Compliance reports
  • Enterprise support

What is Checkov?

Editorial review
Checkov is an open-source static analysis tool for infrastructure as code. Scan Terraform, CloudFormation, Kubernetes, and Dockerfiles for security and compliance issues. 1,000+ built-in policies cover common misconfigurations. Custom policies extend coverage to your organization's requirements. Integrates with CI/CD pipelines to prevent insecure infrastructure. Shift security left by catching issues before they reach production.

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Checkov FAQ

What is Checkov?

Checkov scans infrastructure as code (Terraform, CloudFormation, Kubernetes, etc.) for security misconfigurations before deployment.

Is Checkov free?

Yes, Checkov is completely free and open-source under the Apache 2.0 license, developed by Bridgecrew/Palo Alto.

What IaC does Checkov support?

Checkov supports Terraform, CloudFormation, Kubernetes, Helm, ARM templates, Serverless Framework, and more.

Source: checkov.io