Veracode Named Difference Maker in 2026 AST Buyer's Guide

Modern development teams are shipping more AI-generated code than ever before, and that code still contains flaws. For CIOs and CISOs, the challenge is no longer whether to run application security testing (AST), but how to build a complete program that keeps pace with continuous code changes. A new independent analyst report confirms that comprehensive AST remains essential, and names Veracode at the top of the 2026 vendor pyramid.

What was announced

On October 7, 2026, Veracode announced it has been named a Difference Maker and positioned at the top of the vendor pyramid in the Buyer's Guide 2026 for Application Security Testing, published by FOURCASTERS and Lionfish Tech Advisors. Veracode is one of the few vendors in the report that delivers all seven components of a complete application security program.

THE PYRAMID for Application Security Testing is an independent analyst report that evaluates AST vendors on their ability to deliver a complete program, not just a scanner. Lionfish Tech Advisors is a mid-market advisory firm staffed by former Gartner research directors and analysts, delivering validated market positioning and vendor shortlists for CIOs and CISOs.

This distinction between providing individual testing capabilities and providing enough of the components needed to support an application security program is important throughout this research

Why this matters

The report takes a clear position that AI makes application security testing more essential, not less. AI helps developers produce more code at higher velocity, but it still cannot reliably produce flaw-free code. The volume of generated code and continuous AI-driven remediation turns AST from a periodic activity into an always-on validation layer.

For enterprise buyers, the shortlist signal is clear: vendors offering only one or two testing types, or lacking the completeness and scale to support a full AST program, are excluded. The Difference Maker designation recognizes distinctive and unique market impact.

This recognition is a powerful validation of what Veracode has built — a complete application security program that helps organizations prove their software can be trusted. As AI accelerates code generation and the attack surface grows, the need for independent, comprehensive testing has never been greater

Technical details

The report defines seven components every AST program needs:

• SAST: Static Application Security Testing
• DAST: Dynamic Application Security Testing
• SCA: Software Composition Analysis
• Reporting and trending: program-level visibility and metrics
• Secure code training: developer enablement
• Remediation assistance: guided and AI-assisted fixing
• Pentesting services: expert-led validation

The report also notes that Veracode provides Application Security Posture Management (ASPM) capabilities through acquisition, internal development, or both, moving beyond the traditional combination of SAST, DAST, and SCA toward a broader and more continuous function.

Softprom and Veracode

Softprom is the official distributor of Veracode. Organizations building a complete application security program can request evaluations, licensing, and implementation support through our team.

This content was prepared as part of the Softprom DistriFlow project — an automated system for monitoring and adapting vendor news. Original source: original article.