TL;DR:

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) makes provisioning infrastructure faster and more scalable—but it also introduces security risks. IaC Scanners detect configuration errors and policy violations before your infrastructure goes live. If your Terraform or Kubernetes manifests have security holes, attackers will find them.

• Protects: Cloud environments, infrastructure, containers, Kubernetes, Terraform, CloudFormation
• Type: Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM)
• Fits in SDLC: Build, Test, and Deploy phases
• AKA: IaC Security, Infrastructure Code Scanning
• Support: Terraform, Kubernetes, AWS CloudFormation, Ansible, Helm, Pulumi

What is an IaC Scanner?

IaC Scanners analyze IaC scripts to catch security misconfigurations before deployment. Since IaC defines how infrastructure is set up (cloud instances, networking, storage, permissions), scanning helps prevent:

• Open S3 buckets – No more accidental data leaks.
• Excessive IAM permissions – Apply least privilege from the start.
• Exposed secrets – Hardcoded access keys in IaC scripts are a hacker’s dream.
• Unpatched software images – Running outdated container images is asking for trouble.

IaC Scanners integrate into DevOps workflows, blocking insecure configurations before they reach production.

Pros and Cons of IaC Scanners

Pros:

• Prevents misconfigurations early – Stops security issues before deployment.
• Automates security checks – No need to manually review IaC scripts.
• Compliance enforcement – Ensures configurations meet SOC 2, CIS Benchmarks, and NIST.
• Works with DevOps workflows – Scans fast-moving cloud environments without slowing down deployment.

Cons:

• False positives – Some flagged issues require developer judgment.
• Configuration complexity – Fine-tuning scanning policies prevents unnecessary alerts.
• Limited runtime visibility – Scanners check code but don’t monitor live infrastructure.

What Does an IaC Scanner Do Exactly?

IaC Scanners check IaC scripts for:

• Security misconfigurations – Open ports, weak IAM roles, exposed secrets.
• Compliance issues – Ensures adherence to security benchmarks.
• Dependency risks – Flags outdated software and container images.
• Network security flaws – Identifies overly permissive firewall rules.
• Policy violations – Enforces scanning policies to prevent insecure deployments.

Popular IaC Scanners include tfsec, TFLint, and Terrascan, which detect misconfigurations in Terraform, CloudFormation, and Kubernetes.

What Does an IaC Scanner Protect You From?

• Cloud misconfigurations – Prevents security breaches caused by bad settings.
• Data leaks – Blocks open databases, public S3 buckets, and unsecured storage.
• Privilege escalation – Detects excessive IAM permissions that could be exploited.
• Non-compliant infrastructure – Ensures your cloud setup meets security standards.

How Does an IaC Scanner Work?

IaC Scanners integrate into DevOps pipelines and work by:

1. Parsing IaC scripts – Reads Terraform, Kubernetes, CloudFormation, and Helm files.
2. Applying security policies – Checks configurations against security benchmarks.
3. Highlighting vulnerabilities – Flags misconfigurations, compliance issues, and secrets exposure.
4. Blocking risky deployments – Enforces policies to prevent insecure infrastructure.
5. Providing remediation guidance – Suggests fixes for improved security posture.

Why and When Do You Need an IaC Scanner?

You need an IaC Scanner when:

• You use Terraform, Kubernetes, or CloudFormation – IaC is powerful but prone to security risks.
• You deploy workloads in the cloud – AWS, Azure, and GCP environments require tight security controls.
• You must comply with security regulations – SOC 2, CIS, and NIST demand secure configurations.
• You automate deployments – IaC Scanners fit into DevOps pipelines to enforce scanning policies before production.

Where Does an IaC Scanner Fit in the SDLC Pipeline?

IaC Security should be enforced in the Build, Test, and Deploy phases:

• Build Phase: Scan IaC scripts in repositories before merging.
• Test Phase: Run security checks in CI/CD pipelines before infrastructure is provisioned.
• Deploy Phase: Monitor live environments for drift and misconfigurations.

How Do You Choose the Right IaC Scanner?

A strong IaC Scanner should:

• Support multiple IaC frameworks – Works with Terraform, Kubernetes, CloudFormation, Helm, etc.
• Integrate into CI/CD pipelines – Runs automated checks in GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins, etc.
• Offer compliance benchmarking – Ensures compliance with SOC 2, NIST, CIS, and ISO 27001.
• Provide clear remediation guidance – Helps developers fix issues without guesswork.
• Work with open source tools – Many security teams use tfsec, TFLint, and Terrascan alongside commercial scanners.

Best IaC Scanners 2025

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like Terraform and CloudFormation are powerful—but risky if misconfigured. IaC scanners such as Aikido Security catch issues like open S3 buckets, overly permissive IAM roles, or public-facing databases before deployment.

What to expect from top IaC scanners:

• Support for Terraform, Pulumi, CloudFormation, etc.
• Shift-left scanning directly in Git repos
• Context-aware misconfiguration detection
• Integration with CI/CD and policy engines

Aikido scans IaC templates natively, flagging real risks while minimizing alert fatigue.
Explore our guide to the Best IaC Scanners in 2025.

IaC Scanner FAQs

1. What’s the biggest security risk in Infrastructure as Code?

The biggest risk? Configuration errors. One wrong setting in a Terraform file can make an entire cloud environment publicly accessible. IaC makes deployments faster, but that also means mistakes happen faster. If you’re not scanning your infrastructure code, you’re rolling the dice on security.

2. Can an IaC Scanner fix security issues automatically?

Most scanners won’t auto-fix issues because changes could break infrastructure. However, tools like tfsec, TFLint, and Terrascan suggest fixes to help developers remediate risks quickly.

3. Do IaC Scanners replace cloud security monitoring?

No. IaC Scanners only check infrastructure code before deployment. You still need runtime security tools to monitor live cloud environments for configuration drift and real-time threats.

4. How do IaC Scanners help with compliance?

They automatically check IaC scripts against security frameworks like CIS Benchmarks, NIST, SOC 2, and ISO 27001. This makes passing security audits much easier since your infrastructure already follows best practices.

5. Do I need an IaC Scanner if I only use managed cloud services?

Yes! Even managed services like AWS RDS, Azure App Service, or Google Cloud Run need proper security configurations. If your cloud environment relies on IaC scripts to deploy resources, then an IaC Scanner is just as critical as it would be for fully self-managed infrastructure.