Dependency scanning audits third-party libraries for known CVEs, while Static Application Security Testing (SAST) analyses source code for security vulnerabilities without executing it. Together they cover two complementary attack surfaces: vulnerabilities in code you imported versus vulnerabilities in code you wrote. Both run in the CI pipeline and provide developers with actionable, file-level findings before code reaches production.
Analogy🏏Cricket
🏏 Think of it like cricket: A batting coach who only reviews a batter's technique after a tournament has already ended. The batter has played 10 matches with a flawed grip — every run scored with bad technique is harder to unlearn than if the coach had corrected it in the first net session. Shifting security left is bringing the coach into the net sessions, not the post-tournament review.