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    Sonatype Lifecycle

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    Designed to continuously monitor for problems at every stage of the software development lifecycle.

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    Reviews (19)
    SangramGupta

    Integrated DevSecOps has enabled earlier risk detection and reduced remediation effort

    Reviewed on May 19, 2026
    Review provided by PeerSpot

    What is our primary use case?

    I have used Sonatype Lifecycle for one year, primarily as a part of DevSecOps and software composition analysis initiatives focused on my application security project, which involves identifying and managing open-source dependencies risks within application environments.

    For Sonatype Lifecycle, I actually use it for two purposes in application security: security composition analysis (SCA) and Static Application Security Testing (SAST), with the intention to identify code-level vulnerabilities when developers write any code, allowing me to scan the code, prioritize vulnerabilities, and fix those areas to reduce overall application risks.

    Before using Sonatype Lifecycle, I used to get vulnerabilities in the deployment phase, also known as Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), but after implementing Sonatype Lifecycle, it adds an additional security layer by allowing me to conduct SAST and SCA scans early in the coding phase, enabling me to prioritize and remediate vulnerabilities as soon as possible, which reduces time and effort.

    What is most valuable?

    In my opinion, the strongest feature of Sonatype Lifecycle is its ability to provide continuous visibility and governance over open-source dependencies throughout the software development lifecycle, with the most standout aspect being its effective integration of security directly into DevSecOps workflows instead of treating security as a separate, post-development activity.

    The policy-based governance and vulnerable component rejection capabilities are tremendously valuable for my team because they shifted security enforcement earlier in the lifecycle. For example, I configured policies to flag or block builds with open-source components with critical vulnerabilities, and that was impactful when Sonatype Lifecycle detected a high-severity vulnerability during a build process.

    Overall, Sonatype Lifecycle has a very positive impact on the organization, particularly in improving software supply chain security and DevSecOps practices, with measurable improvements including earlier detection of vulnerabilities and faster remediation cycles.

    I have definitely observed measurable operational improvements after integrating Sonatype Lifecycle into my workflows, highlighted by a noticeable reduction in vulnerable open-source components progressing to production stages, allowing me to remediate them before deployment.

    What needs improvement?

    While Sonatype Lifecycle provides strong value for software composition analysis and software supply chain security, one area for improvement is alert prioritization and noise reduction, especially in larger development environments.

    The primary area for improvement I mentioned is alert prioritization and noise reduction, in addition to improving dashboard and reporting customization.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have used Sonatype Lifecycle for one year.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    Sonatype Lifecycle is pretty stable and works fine.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    In my experience, Sonatype Lifecycle scales well for enterprise DevSecOps and software supply chain security use cases, particularly in environments with multiple development teams and a large number of applications and dependencies.

    How are customer service and support?

    The customer support for Sonatype Lifecycle is very helpful, and they are technically sound, providing positive feedback.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    Before Sonatype Lifecycle, I used a DAST solution called Qualys for application security, and this is my first tool for SAST and SCA scans.

    What was our ROI?

    From my point of view, once I introduce Sonatype Lifecycle with the DevSecOps pipeline, it offers automated vulnerability scanning, prioritization, and allows me to focus on risk assessment and remediation, saving me about 40% in time and effort.

    What other advice do I have?

    If you are working in a DevSecOps or application security project and want to prioritize vulnerabilities early, implementing Sonatype Lifecycle in your project will be helpful in addressing risks before they escalate. I provided this review with a rating of 8.

    @RahulVerma

    Compliance used to slow us down. Sonatype Lifecycle turned it into an automated, streamlined step that accelerates delivery instead of blocking it.

    Reviewed on Dec 07, 2025
    Review provided by PeerSpot

    What is our primary use case?

    My main use case for Sonatype Lifecycle is open-source scanning for SCA. We pair it with Fortify (our SAST/DAST platform), and together they give us a more complete security picture within the CI/CD pipeline.

    A recent example: we integrated Sonatype Lifecycle with its Nexus SCA Manager into our Jenkins workflow. Our code already went through SAST/DAST, but some smaller open-source packages and sub-libraries were not primary focus —especially those with licensing or legal considerations. Lifecycle fills that gap by checking every component for vulnerabilities, version risks, and license obligations, so we’re confident the entire codebase is covered.

    We also use Lifecycle’s JSON mapping to share vulnerability and application data across Jenkins, Fortify, and other tools. What used to be a bit scattered is now clean, automated, and easy to maintain. This brings better visibility on all components across applications and versions.

    How has it helped my organization?

    sonatype lifecycle has helps us get clearer visibility into open-source risk, improve compliance, and catch issues earlier in the development process. By automating checks in our CI/CD pipeline, it has reduced manual effort needed by teams to deliver secure, reliable software with more confidence.

    What is most valuable?

    One of the best things about Sonatype Lifecycle, in my experience, is how easy it is to set up and start using. You don’t need to be a core developer to get started with it. Anyone with basic technical knowledge can create an application, assign it to an org, connect the code, and within just a few clicks generate a CycloneDX(SBOM report) or a PDF. Even integrating it with Jenkins was straightforward, and with clear and simple instruction, we had everything up and running in just a couple of days.

    Sonatype Lifecycle has also made a clear positive impact on our organization. It helps us stay streamlined with  open-source risks (security, license, quality). Customer in the financial, manufactoring, government and technology sectors appreciate and do value. The tool is easy to integrate, well-documented, and lightweight, which made adoption simple and required minimal resource overhead. Overall, it strengthened our software supply chain and gave management confidence in our open-source security process.

    What needs improvement?

    Sonatype Lifecycle already does a nice job, but as you use it, you can’t help but notice a few spots where it could feel even smoother. Imagine opening it and immediately seeing a clearer, friendlier dashboard that tells you exactly what deserves your attention without digging around. As you move through your workflow, it would be great if the tool connected more naturally with what you’re already using, so everything just flows. And when an issue pops up, instead of leaving you guessing, it could guide you through what to do next in a way that feels simple and supportive. 

    Even having a bit more visibility into anything happening behind the scenes would make the experience feel more complete. It’s already strong, but with touches like these, it could feel even more helpful and intuitive in everyday use.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I've been using Sonatype Lifecycle for a little over two years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    Solution is fairly stable in terms of core functionality, and with minimal technical issues. Aside for minor resolves all goes well.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    Sonatype Lifecycle scales really well. Whether you are using it on-prem or the SaaS version, it is pretty easy to add more resources and handle bigger workloads as you grow. It adjusts smoothly without much hassle, so you don’t really feel limited as your team or projects get larger.

    How are customer service and support?

    Customer support has been quite responsive, usually getting back to us within a couple of hours. Teams are flexible to connect on criticality of issue and the assistance needed.

    How would you rate customer service and support?

    Positive

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    We previously tried using an open-source scanner from Fortify, but eventually shifted to Sonatype Lifecycle because it offered a more complete and dependable approach for our SCA needs. There are other options in the market like Snyk and JFrog, but Lifecycle aligned better with what we were looking for in terms of accuracy, ease of use, and overall coverage.

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup was straightforward overall, and with the technical know-how and a clear understanding of the environment, the whole process moves smoothly and rather quickly.

    What about the implementation team?

    We have specialized consultants who are fully trained on Sonatype products and available for consultation, architecture design, and integration or deployment support. They take the time to understand each customer’s environment, which allows them to deliver solutions that truly fit the need rather than just dropping in technology.

    What was our ROI?

    Customer have seen a clear return on investment with Sonatype Lifecycle. Compliance scores improved, vulnerabilities dropped, and the overall workload became much lighter because we now get clear visibility into everything being built. Need for fewer people to manage the process, developers get quicker feedback, and testing team has far less manual work. Cost of running infra for the same needs went down since we’re able to run things efficiently on a single VM. All of this has saved us both time and effort in a noticeable way.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    From my experience, the licensing side is pretty straightforward to handle. Most of the cost and pricing considerations really come down to how the solution is deployed. Since we work with partners and other OEMs who help run Sonatype Lifecycle through their services, the final pricing details are usually best explained by the sales teams who manage pricing and licensing more directly.

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    I was not the deciding person on evaluating options before selecting Sonatype Lifecycle; however, the ease of adoption with sonatype to connect with existing SAST and DAST solutions was a key factor in the decision to choose Sonatype Lifecycle.

    What other advice do I have?

    I would rate Sonatype Lifecycle a 9/10. It’s a great product, and my main advice for anyone considering it is to take the time to understand your organisation needs get most out of this offering. Once you match the features to your goals, it really strengthens and simplifies your security process.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    Private Cloud

    If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

    Amazon Web Services (AWS)
    AbhilashJain

    Consistently manages artifacts with clear UI and effective cleanup

    Reviewed on Apr 24, 2025
    Review provided by PeerSpot

    What is our primary use case?

    Whenever we have builds, we upload our builds or artifacts to Sonatype Container. This is the basic purpose. Sonatype Container makes cleanup and uploading artifacts easy with its clear UI for management.

    What is most valuable?

    Sonatype Container is a reliable artifact manager. Although I do not have a comparison at the moment, it has consistently been a good choice for our organization. Its management features are effective, and the UI is clear, making it easy to upload and manage artifacts. Additionally, the use of Sonatype Container ensures efficient cleanup and file handling.

    What needs improvement?

    Sonatype Container can accommodate bigger file sizes for artifacts and improve performance, especially when dealing with large files. Moreover, the RBAC controls could be more simplified in a more human-readable language.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been working with Sonatype Container for more than five years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    I would rate the stability as eight out of ten.

    How are customer service and support?

    Technical support from Sonatype is not much needed. I had a problem once while creating a repository when the artifacts uploaded were not showing up, but this may have been due to configuration details.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    We have been using Sonatype Container for a long stretch of time and have not tried anything else.

    How was the initial setup?

    The setup is simple; however, if we consider RBAC, the roles we assign to users could be simplified. The response from the roles assigned to the artifacts should be more human-readable.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    Pricing is out of my context as a developer. This is known by the project managers.

    What other advice do I have?

    I would rate the overall solution as eight out of ten.
    Carlos Leão

    Utilize a reliable BRM tool to manage software artifacts efficiently with outstanding vulnerability identification capabilities

    Reviewed on Mar 24, 2025
    Review provided by PeerSpot

    What is our primary use case?

    We use Sonatype Lifecycle primarily as a binary repository management solution for managing software artifacts. Our company has a large stack of tools for software development, and Sonatype Lifecycle is part of these tools. We use it solely for managing software artifacts without utilizing the software composition analysis or the vulnerability checking capabilities. We are expanding our clients and services as part of Digital Service of Brazil.

    What is most valuable?

    The most valuable feature for us is Sonatype Lifecycle's capability in identifying vulnerabilities. It has a large portfolio for vulnerability analysis, making it a leader in vulnerability checking. In comparison, the performance of other products, like JFrog's, does not reach the same level in identifying vulnerabilities. Additionally, Sonatype Lifecycle is very stable, especially in managing binary artifacts for over fifteen years with minimal problems, even with more than 700 developers working on a single node.

    What needs improvement?

    Both JFrog and Sonatype should redesign their products to separate the binary repository management solution from the software composition analysis solutions. We prefer to purchase the binary repository management solution independently, but they offer both together, which increases costs. This integration is good but raises the price, being a significant issue for us. We also noticed a lack of detailed information for configuring Sonatype Lifecycle for high availability and data recovery.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have used Sonatype Lifecycle for over fifteen years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    Sonatype Lifecycle is very stable, especially in the binary repository management use case for managing binary artifacts. We have not experienced any significant issues over the fifteen years of use.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    Both Sonatype and JFrog have solutions for high availability and data recovery, but Sonatype is more complex to configure. JFrog is easier to configure for high availability as it does not require extra components. It handles high availability at the database level, such as synchronizing JFrog repository servers without complicated configurations.

    How are customer service and support?

    We use Sonatype Lifecycle in its open-source software edition, so we do not have experience with their customer service or technical support.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    According to my calculations, if you are working with up to 200 developers, Sonatype is cheaper than JFrog. However, for larger numbers like our case with 1,000 user licenses, JFrog becomes much more cost-effective, roughly ten times cheaper than Sonatype. Their licensing models are different, impacting the price depending on the number of developers.

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    I compared Sonatype Lifecycle with JFrog Artifactory and Xray.

    What other advice do I have?

    Overall, I would rate Sonatype Lifecycle a nine out of ten.
    Goutham Kumar

    Provides comprehensive dependency oversight with room for expanded security capabilities

    Reviewed on Dec 24, 2024
    Review provided by PeerSpot

    What is our primary use case?

    We use Sonatype Lifecycle for scanning our SCA product, software composition analysis. It is a category of product we use to scan third-party packages imported into the source code like Java, Node.js, or Python.

    It reports back as an enterprise product with UI reports and is very useful. We integrate it into our pipelines, generate reports, and our developers engage with it to fix issues and ensure the software supply chain is secure.

    What is most valuable?

    The solution provides a comprehensive overview of dependencies and their security status. The onboarding process is straightforward, and the UI is very clear. The integration into our CICD pipeline enables us to continuously monitor code changes and identify new vulnerabilities. This ensures we can address issues proactively. Lifecycle effectively manages dependencies and highlights unsecure packages. It does what it does better, with integration into other Sonatype products. This integrated ecosystem is advantageous for us.

    What needs improvement?

    It is a bit narrow, and we are expecting more features, especially with respect to SBOM and other detections. It is specific to only one category, and we would like them to add more diverse application security features. We expect products to do multiple things. It only does one thing, and we want it to expand its capabilities.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    We have been working with Sonatype Lifecycle for four years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The product is stable and works as expected. There are no performance or reliability issues.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    I find the solution scalable.

    How are customer service and support?

    The technical support is good. I would rate them as eight out of ten. They are helpful when we raise any tickets.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    We did not use another solution before this one.

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup is not straightforward as it includes databases, yet the documentation is good, and we did not face any issues. The support is good, and the setup went smoothly.

    What about the implementation team?

    It is a security product, so we installed it in our automation environment without tweaking anything. We brought users in, provided an overview of how developers should use it, and integrated it into a few applications before rolling it out to all.

    What was our ROI?

    We have seen cost savings and efficiency improvements as we now know what happens in what was previously a black box. The ROI is around two years, however, security improvements are hard to quantify.

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    We didn't evaluate other options since the product aligns with our ecosystem, enabling it to work well with other solutions we use.

    What other advice do I have?

    I recommend it because it integrates well with other Sonatype products and does its job effectively.

    Overall, I would rate Sonatype Lifecycle as seven out of ten.

    SrinathKuppannan2

    Easily identifies problematic versions and ensures adherence to regulatory standards like HIPAA, critical for industries dealing with sensitive information

    Reviewed on Jun 26, 2024
    Review from a verified AWS customer

    What is our primary use case?

    I work for a service-based company where we develop solutions based on customer requirements. That server was currently put up.

    I've also worked with product-based companies, developing software products for end-user requirements. That's my background, working broadly in telecom and healthcare.

    This solution is for the client, and we do have internal customers who have been using this solution too.

    Sonatype Lifecycle primarily has two main products:

    1. Sonatype Nexus and
    2. Sonatype Lifecycle.

    Lifecycle is mainly used for firewall management. If any issues are detected during the build process, they will be flagged, and each port can be addressed based on firewall and code scanning reports.

    Essentially, it streamlines the process, allowing us to easily identify code snippets that need attention and then act upon those findings.

    How has it helped my organization?

    It's heavily integrated within our organization due to our adherence to HIPAA regulations, which are critical for protecting health information. We ensure regulatory compliance is incorporated into both our code and the applications we develop.

    • Detailed Violation Reports: The violation reports provided by Lifecycle are key, giving specific details on the types of violations and identifying the component within the application. Even with multiple components like web, app, and database tiers, each is evaluated separately through individual pipelines, and reports are provided for each.
    • Version Tracking: Another important aspect is the version details, showing which version is causing issues. We follow a standard release naming convention (major, minor, patch), so we can easily see which version is problematic.
    • Dependency Management: Additionally, we can address dependency-related information at a granular level, identifying component versions causing build blockages. This is a very helpful feature.

    What is most valuable?

    With Sonatype, I primarily work with the Nexus Repository. I like it the most because it can store many artifacts generated after applications are built. These artifacts can be retrieved at any time.

    Another valuable aspect of Sonatype is that it combines Lifecycle with the repository. The Lifecycle component integrates into every stage of the release, starting from code checkout and throughout the build process. This integration gives us insights into the code's quality and overall health.

    Additionally, Sonatype seamlessly integrates with other tools like GitLab, providing continuous integration, delivery, and deployment capabilities.

    It offers comprehensive reports on each stage, facilitating static code analysis and improving our understanding of code quality. All these integrations help provide valuable feedback to developers and stakeholders.

    Mitigates security vulnerabilities:

    It primarily analyzes code and provides vulnerability check results through the IQ Server. This server takes the application configuration and details, then provides a dashboard showing the vulnerabilities as critical, low, or high.

    This is based on the policies defined in Lifecycle. Besides the default policies, we have custom policies that can be defined. These features evaluate the code and present those reports in the dashboard.

    What needs improvement?

    While Sonatype Lifecycle effectively manages artifacts in Nexus Repository and performs code firewall checks based on rules, it has the potential to expand further.

    I am looking forward to additional features similar to SonarQube, especially since licenses are often split per component. SonarType could integrate cloud-based capabilities, addressing the increasing shift towards cloud workloads. While there have been demos and discussions around this, significant progress on scanning and analyzing cloud images remains to be seen.

    I am looking forward to Sonatype incorporating these enhancements, particularly in regard to cloud-based features. On-prem workloads are getting to the cloud workloads.

    • I would like to see more cloud-related insights, such as logging capabilities for the images we use and image scanning information.
    • Additionally, it would be beneficial to have insights into the stages of dependencies and ensure they comply with standards. If there are any violations in respect to CVSS reports,
    • Integrating CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) report rules into the Lifecycle module to detect and report violations would be valuable. I am hoping to see these enhancements from Sonatype in the future.

    On the security side, I think there's a lot of development needed. There are many security tools on the market, like open-source ones, that Sonatype doesn't integrate with.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have experience with this product.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The stability of the product is very normal. If we don't bump it up with minor releases, and instead use the stable releases, there are no major issues. So far, the stability is perfectly fine.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    I would rate the scalability an eight out of ten.

    Earlier, licenses were specific to on-premise servers, but now, Sonatype is also available in the cloud, offering more flexibility. Now, we can bump it up if required. We can increase the number of user licenses as needed by contacting the Sonatype team.

    We regularly evaluate our license usage and adjust based on our needs. For example, we initially had 100 licenses, but after analyzing usage patterns and integrating another team, we increased it to 200.

    So, scalability is not an issue.

    How are customer service and support?

    The support was good. However, getting the right resources for specific activities is a problem.

    Once an issue is identified, we need to raise a user request, which might become a development request, leading to long wait times. This is where we experience delays and needs improvement.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    Another tool that is equivalent to Sonatype is JFrog, but it does not have Lifecycle kind of features.

    But, we can compare the Sonatype Nexus repository with JFrog Artifactory. We also have other options like Azure Artifacts in the cloud.

    How was the initial setup?

    I would rate my experience with the initial setup a nine out of ten, with ten being easy.

    The installation itself is quick, but the configuration takes longer, especially with custom policies. If you use the default policies, it's much faster.

    The configuration needs to be tailored to the specific requirements of the team or application. Installation can be completed in three to four hours, but configuration may take a couple of days.

    Deployment model: It is deployed both on the cloud and on-premises.

    Deployment resources: It doesn't require many resources. One engineer and another person should be able to handle it, especially for the policies and other details. Installation and setup are not difficult.

    However, ongoing maintenance is required, so an additional person might be helpful. Is the requirement solely for Sonatype, or do you have other tools to maintain as well?

    What about the implementation team?

    I successfully set it up from scratch for my organization, conducted training sessions for the development team and leadership, and collaborated extensively with the Sonatype team for over eight years.

    Steps for the deployment process:

    1. First, we get the bundle. Once we receive the bundle, we will review the installation tips and identify the server for installation. The installation server is designed based on the environment, considering CPU, RAM, storage requirements, and database choice (Oracle or PostgreSQL). After all, the database is key.
    2. We download the package bundle from the website, which includes the installation script and a configuration file. The configuration file defines the connection details to the database. This is usually handled by the admin ID.
    3. The next step is to create roles for the development team and other relevant teams, assigning users to these roles. The most time-consuming part is defining the custom policies tailored to our organization's specific needs, as we have numerous applications running with different teams and product lines.
    4. Once the policies are defined, we integrate Sonatype with the CI/CD pipeline. This allows us to run scans, generate reports, and start using the tool effectively.

    What was our ROI?

    In terms of Sonatype, it's definitely worth it. The software is valuable. However, I'm expecting more additional features and frequent releases, as major releases take a long time. I think the Sonatype development team should release updates with additional features more often.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    I would rate the pricing a seven out of ten, with ten being expensive. The price is high.

    It depends on the number of licenses. The price increases based on the fact bundle you are collecting. The number of licenses depends on the organization and how many we have.

    What other advice do I have?

    My advice:

    Sonatype Lifecycle has a lot of uses based on the user base. It's licensed based on support, not per user. So, if a team has 200 developers, I would recommend starting with a smaller number of licenses, like 50 or 75, and increasing it later if needed, rather than buying 200 licenses upfront. They can always compare and adjust based on their usage.

    Overall, I would rate it an eight out of ten.

    Angelo Quaglia

    A very easy to use solution with great scalability

    Reviewed on Apr 08, 2024
    Review provided by PeerSpot

    What is our primary use case?

    We use this solution for libraries in our applications that need to be updated.

    What is most valuable?

    The solution is very easy to use.

    What needs improvement?

    Improvements are needed as per customer requirements.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using Sonatype Lifecycle for one year.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The scalability is a ten out of ten.

    What other advice do I have?

    Overall, I would rate the solution a ten out of ten.

    reviewer2329698

    Offers excellent technical support but lacks integration with deployment tools

    Reviewed on Jan 17, 2024
    Review provided by PeerSpot

    What is our primary use case?

    Our primary use cases involve monitoring and securing our software supply chain. We use it to proactively identify and block any potentially insecure components from being downloaded, ensuring our firewall remains robust. Additionally, we use the platform to analyze both deployed and developing code throughout the development lifecycle.

    What is most valuable?

    The most valuable function of Sonatype Lifecycle is its code analysis capability, especially within the specific sub-product focusing on static analysis. This feature, particularly tailored for Java code, has been crucial in identifying and addressing vulnerabilities in our software.

    What needs improvement?

    There is room for improvement in the code analysis aspect of Sonatype Lifecycle, specifically in the area of deployment security. While the product effectively scans components and provides threat intelligence, it requires additional manual effort to ensure that the configuration of the product during deployment is done securely.

    When it comes to new features, I would find it incredibly beneficial if Sonatype Lifecycle could integrate with deployment tools, enabling real-time identification of any vulnerabilities as developers push code to production.

    For how long have I used the solution?


    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    It is a quite stable solution. I would rate the stability as a seven out of ten.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    I would rate the scalability of the solution as a ten out of ten. It is suitable for any business size.

    How are customer service and support?

    I would rate Sonatype's technical support a solid ten out of ten. They are highly engaged, conduct weekly meetings to discuss the product roadmap and competition, and even bring in engineers to provide hands-on guidance on using the product.

    How was the initial setup?

    Setting up Sonatype Lifecycle can be complex, possibly influenced by deployment choices. While I haven't explored the latest architecture, there is potential for a simpler SaaS deployment. It is available both as an on-premises and cloud-based hybrid solution to suit different preferences and needs.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    I would rate the affordability of the solution as an eight out of ten.

    What other advice do I have?

    Overall, I would rate Sonatype Lifecycle as a six out of ten. It is a solid product with some room for improvement.

    Amal Alshehri

    Integrates easily with many IDEs, and enables development and security teams to work together

    Reviewed on Dec 29, 2023
    Review provided by PeerSpot

    What is our primary use case?

    We use Fortify SCA or SAST for scanning the source code, and we use Sonatype Nexus to scan libraries for any vulnerabilities. We get secure code and libraries by combining these two solutions. If we find any issues, we can fix them.

    How has it helped my organization?

    We use Fortify SAST to scan our code. It is used for the static code and not the running code. It finds vulnerabilities, and it finds bad practices. If you are using something that can be exploited in the code, it highlights that and gives you recommendations on that. It gives you ideas on how to fix that.

    We have a more secure code because it is based on top security standards. Before we moved to Fortify SAST, we already had code running in production. When we moved to Fortify SAST, we had to rescan our code running in production. We got more and more vulnerabilities, which made people upset, but overall, our security was enhanced. It also enhanced the knowledge of our developers. Our developers are learning more. Many developers were frustrated in the beginning because there were many vulnerabilities, but as time went on, they liked its features. They find it straightforward now. They read about it, and they can fix their code easily. Without any back-and-forth communication, they can find the line, the recommendation, and what to do about it in one place. That is awesome.

    Fortify Software Security Center gives a good overview of how the application is implemented, but it is not a 360-degree view. Sometimes we have false positives, and sometimes, it does not catch the design flows. It will mark something as vulnerable because it does not have the full picture. The highlighted code might be a part of another module, so it cannot see the full picture, but it is a very good tool. It is better than the ones we had before.

    I have not yet used Fortify Software Security Center for managing and tracking risks associated with the open-source components used in our software project. We recently started to use Fortify SAST and are still exploring and discovering things. We usually do that through Sonatype Nexus, but I have seen it catching vulnerabilities. Some users have scanned the library by mistake, and I have seen it catching vulnerable code in the library. It points out why we wrote the code this way, and the code should have been that way. If there is a variable that has a sensitive name, such as a key, password, or something else, it catches that. After we have integrated it with Sonatype, we will have more exposure, but we are not yet at that stage.

    I really like Fortify Software Security Center. We can scan the code and push the results. I can also see all the applications. I know the portfolio of the applications that we have. I can see all the information about the organizations, the code, and the developers in one spot. It is good for the management and also for the development teams. If their supervisors want to know the security status of their applications, they can go there straight away and check that information. It is very good in this aspect.

    Fortify SAST has helped in the remediation of potential vulnerabilities by using accurate and reliable results. I like that they use standards such as OWASP Top 10 or SANS Top 25. They are very good at this. When it finds any vulnerabilities, it shows you by the rank. You can filter by so many standards. It gives you a description of the vulnerability as well as recommendations on how to fix it. It also gives you some references if you want to read more. It is very good.

    Fortify SAST has helped a lot to enable developers to build secure code from the start. We have many developers. They have the development skills, but they do not have security skills. Now, there is something that tells them how to write the code properly. For instance, they use a function, and then they get the recommendation to use another function. They do not know the other function. They go ahead and use it, and the code still runs as before, but it is safer. With time, people avoid these issues. It is like a spelling checker. You get recommendations while writing the code.

    Fortify and Sonatype solutions help to maintain compliance with applicable regulations. Fortify SAST is built on top of very high standards such as OWASP Top 10, SANS Top 25, PCI DSS, etc. These are very repeatable security standards. It includes over a thousand vulnerability categories. It covers a lot of vulnerabilities.

    Fortify SAST helps us reduce our risk exposure on applications through the discovery of vulnerabilities and weaknesses. They have something called rulepacks that are the guidelines. There are rulepacks for different languages. They are the security standards that the code will follow. These rulepacks are updated frequently by the Fortify team themselves, and we just have to feed them into Fortify Software Security Center so that it has updated information about vulnerabilities, and it can discover more. The more you discover and fix, the more secure and resilient code you will have.

    Fortify SAST provides real-time feedback on security issues. When you scan, you get the results instantly. Sometimes, for certain code languages, it takes a little more time to scan, which can be frustrating, but it provides real-time feedback. You get a small description, and you also have the details. There is one tab for recommendations, and there is also a tab for references.

    We recently had this activity where we wanted to integrate the tool with a pipeline. We are using Azure DevOps, and we managed to integrate that. It was straightforward. You get a plugin or an extension, and the code is pushed and scanned, and you get the results. It is straightforward. I can see it functional for such deployments. We are ready for the cloud and automation, but we are still in the testing phase.

    Fortify SAST has helped free up our staff for other projects or tasks. Because it is very informative and clear, we have a lot fewer issues for which people come back to us. They come back to us if they think it is a false positive or if they need a waiver because they cannot fix it due to some limitations, but in the majority of cases, they can control and learn, and they can do it on their own. It helped us a lot in this aspect, but I do not have the metrics. We have been using it only for a few months, and we have a shortage of people. It has saved the communication time that we were spending on emails and reporting. We now have less of that. We all go to one place. Instead of sending me an email or having a phone call, developers now go to Fortify Software Security Center and put in what they think. For example, they will say that it is a false positive because of this and that. They will send it to me, and I will go to Fortify Software Security Center. I will read it and review it, and if I find it okay, I will give the go-ahead to get rid of it. Otherwise, we would need more discussion. It improves communication big time for me.

    What is most valuable?

    I like Fortify Software Security Center or Fortify SSC. This tool is installed on each developer's machine, but Fortify Software Security Center combines everything. We can meet there as security professionals and developers. The developers scan their code and publish the results there. We can then look at them from a security perspective and see whether they fixed the issues. We can agree on whether something is a false positive and make decisions. I like Fortify Software Security Center. It was not the way we had before. We used to have another tool, and it did not have this feature. I also like the fact that it supports many languages. It supports more than 30 languages. It covers a lot of what we do. Its configuration is a little bit tricky, but after you configure it, it is intuitive.

    I also like the integration capability. It can integrate with many IDEs, such as IntelliJ, Eclipse, VS Code, etc. It integrates with all the main ones. It also can integrate with Nexus. It can integrate with Secure Code and Azure DevOps. This is really good to have something that can work with many vendors. It gives you versatility and flexibility.

    We have integrated it with Azure DevOps for the pipeline, and we have integrated it with Secure Code. It is not a major integration. We have a plan to integrate it with Sonatype. I like to have everything in one place. All the integrations happen in the IDEs. We have people using Eclipse, IntelliJ, Visual Studio, VS Code, etc. We have integrated it with all the IDEs that we have here. The integration with IDEs was straightforward. You just install the plugin, add it to the IDE, and add your configuration. For Azure DevOps, we needed to add the binary, and it took a day or two because people were not familiar with it. For Secure Code, it was straightforward again. It is not hard to integrate. Its integration is easy.

    What needs improvement?

    One downside to it is that it is costly. I can see it only for enterprises. I cannot see it for small businesses or for individual use.

    The configuration part is a little bit tricky. There is a learning curve there because it has multiple components. If someone has used another type of scanner, they would not think of the configuration intuitively. The configuration part can be better. Installation is straightforward, but the configuration can be better. It can be improved.

    There is a learning curve. Before we started using this tool, I did a lot of sessions with the vendors themselves to give an overview to the people. I also did a small documentation on how to install it because there are many components here and there. You need to understand how everything is put together. They can integrate it or make it a simpler process.

    During the short experience that we have had with it, we have noticed that some of the languages such as JavaScript and TypeScript consume high resources. They take a longer time to scan. Memory consumption is also very high for those languages. We are working with Fortify to find ways to optimize the scan. I noticed this with these types of languages. By nature, they take time.

    It can be tricky if you want to exclude some files from scanning. For instance, if you do not want to scan and push testing files to Fortify Software Security Center, that is tricky with some IDEs, such as IntelliJ. We found that there is an Exclude feature that is not working. We reported that to them for future fixing. It needs some work on the plugins to make them consistent across IDEs and make them easier.

    For integration with IDEs, they have so many plugins. For example, they have something called security analysis, and they have something called remediation. As a user, I would love to have them as one. Why should we have two plugins in the same IDE? Just give me one plugin that I can hook to the tool and use it. This is one thing. Some of the features in these plugins also need more testing. They are not consistent across all the IDEs. From what I saw, there are different options in these tools. For example, if you install it with IntelliJ, it will be different from VS Code. Some options are different, or one tool has more options than others. They can invest more in making them consistent.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    We are a big company. We have different organizations. For our organization, we started using this solution this year, but other organizations have been using it for two years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    From what I have seen so far, it is very stable. It is a browser-based solution. You just log in to the website and see all your applications. From your machine, you can just push, and it will be published there. You click a scan, and your results will be in Fortify Software Security Center. It is straightforward and easy to use.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    It is being used at multiple locations and in multiple buildings. The security requirements are very high in our environment, so not everything will work as you expect it because not everything is open. We struggle a bit, but it is required. We have around 60 people who use Fortify SAST.

    We have not tested it yet, but they have something called ScanCentral. Currently, developers scan the code on their machines, and then they push it to Fortify Software Security Center. ScanCentral is a feature that we will start to experiment with soon where we offload the scan to a server. It will not utilize developers' resources. It will just initiate a scan, and it will use another system to scan. I have heard that you can have many of them implemented. I have not experienced it yet, but it seems like a cool feature to free the resources for developers because they need to deploy, compile, and fix. If it frees up their resources, it will be good.

    How are customer service and support?

    I am very satisfied with their support. They are very nice people, and they are very helpful. I would rate their support a ten out of ten.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    We were using IBM Appscan. We switched because of limitations and support. We found that developers were able to tweak it and play with it. They could play with the results. Its support had also ended, and it supported fewer languages. There were multiple reasons, and this is why we had to switch to something else.

    How was the initial setup?

    I needed their help with the setup. It was mainly because our environment is a little bit strict. It is not the easiest environment to work in. It is not only applicable to Fortify; it is applicable to many other vendors, but with their help and support, it was doable. We have a very restricted environment. If you read a document and follow it, it should work, but because of our environment, we need to open this or that. We had access issues at the beginning, but once we resolved them, it was fine.

    It took weeks because of the access issues that we had. We had to reach out to the vendor and ask them why it is behaving this way.

    In terms of maintenance, we need to update rulepacks. We need to take care of the licenses. In the beginning, we used licenses from a neighbor until we got ours. We need to take care of the routine activities related to licensing and patching. If we find any vulnerability with the tool itself, we need to do patching. It is like any other tool.

    What about the implementation team?

    We had people from the cloud team. We had people from the administration team. We had people from the database team. Overall, we had four or five people involved but not always together. When you configure the database, you will be with the database team. When you configure the cloud, you will be with the cloud team.

    What was our ROI?

    It is too early to say whether we have seen an ROI, but we have had a great communication and learning experience.

    Identifying vulnerabilities using Fortify SAST early in the development lifecycle saves costs versus discovering vulnerabilities later in the software development lifecycle (SDLC). If you discover a vulnerability early, it is helpful. For instance, if you are writing Java code and you know that there is a limitation or vulnerability in that version of Java, it helps to plan your journey of development earlier. You get to know that your server does not support this version of Java. It helps you make decisions earlier in the process. Time is money. The earlier you handle things, the better it is.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    There is a licensing fee, and if you bring them to the company and you want them to do the installation and the implementation in the beginning, there is a separate cost. Similarly, if you want consultation or training, there is a separate cost.

    I see it as suitable only for enterprises. I do not see it suitable for a small business or individual use. In the future, if they have other versions for smaller organizations or individuals who want to install it on their machines and use it, it would be good.

    What other advice do I have?

    To someone whose company is still using manual methods to find vulnerabilities, I would say that when you automate it, you control it. You give more power to people, especially from a security point of view.

    I would recommend Fortify SAST if you have money and multiple teams. It is useful for multiple teams, but for a small company with one team of two to three people, I would not recommend it. If you have a big community with many organizations and many development teams, it is worth it.

    Overall, I would rate Fortify SAST an eight out of ten.

    Jumani Blango

    Good visibility, helps reveal vulnerabilities, and helps remediate issues

    Reviewed on Dec 29, 2023
    Review provided by PeerSpot

    What is our primary use case?

    We use the product as a SaaS analysis tool. We review static code. It allows you to find vulnerabilities.

    The value that combining Fortify and Sonatype is that we use Fortify as a SaaS analysis tool. We review static code and Sonatype allows you to find vulnerabilities.

    I use it as a security center. I review it for any kind of issues, whether for proof or to deny, the source code, the findings, and then the enterprise can go back and provide their recommendation for how to fix the issue. It is used to scan the code base.

    What is most valuable?

    As a security analyst, I like the management view. From there, you can review the code and review findings in order to approve, deny, or recommend. Their Software Security Center, which acts as a portal, is quite useful. It's a good overview. You can really see what's happening after you've developed something.

    Fortify's AppSec testing is great for application portfolio inventory and project releases. It works both at a portfolio level and also at a project level.

    They also give you the capability to click train of all your vulnerabilities that happened within Apache Crossroads support. You give them a history to keep track of them, how they've been developed, how they've been saved, to give you a way of tracking your issues and how they get resolved.

    It's pretty easy to find vulnerabilities. Then, you go to the source. It is very good at tracking to see where the data or the issue enters into your source code so you can track it or go back to where it started.

    Fortify helps remediate potential vulnerabilities by using more accurate, reliable results. They offer recommended remediation. I can go to the website tools to resolve issues and search for remediations. This helps our developers to build more secure code from the start.

    It has reduced vulnerabilities. We've never had issues when we ran our scans. We're notified, and we're able to identify most of our vulnerabilities and fix them before anything goes to production. If you're running this on your CI/CD pipeline, notifications are in real-time.

    The level of detail is very informative. It provides you with recommendations on how to fix items. And they provide you with other resources available for how to address the issues. You can also see the root cause.

    It works well with cloud-native applications.

    Fortify helped us to free up staff time since it helps us resolve issues faster.

    It's helped us save costs as, if we catch a vulnerability faster, it's easier to fix than later.

    Fortify and Sonatype help maintain compliance with the applicable regulations. We mostly use Sonatype for compliance and licenses. By combining both solutions together, it enables you to solve a lot of issues that may occur in the future.

    What needs improvement?

    It would be nice if they had a version suitable for single developers that could be more cost-effective and maybe faster to learn.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I've been Fortify for two or more years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    I've never had an issue with the solution crashing.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    I've never had issues with scaling.

    How are customer service and support?

    I've never had to contact technical support.

    How was the initial setup?

    I was not involved with the initial deployment.

    We only integrated the product with one other solution. It was easy to do so.

    There is some general maintenance needed, such as adding or removing users and projects and things of that nature.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    Their licensing is expensive.

    What other advice do I have?

    I do not use the open-source components of Fortify. However, we use other tools for open-source stuff.

    I'd advise people who are still using manual methods to find vulnerabilities to adopt some sort of scanner to cut the time spent by 100%.

    I'd rate the solution ten out of ten.

    I would advise other potential users that you need to make sure your source code can work with Fortify.