FAQGLOBALNIST SP 800-218 SSDF

NIST SP 800-218 SSDF How should teams handle code scanning under NIST SP 800-218 SSDF

A direct FAQ answer for teams deciding when code scanning, code review, and code analysis should be used under NIST SP 800-218 SSDF.

Grounded in NIST SSDF guidance, this page points to the review, analysis, and testing practices that help teams decide what evidence to keep and who should own the decision.

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Author
Sorena AI
Published
May 9, 2026
Updated
May 9, 2026
Questions
2

Structured answer sets in this page tree.

Primary sources
3

Cited legal and guidance references.

Publication metadata
Sorena AI
Published May 9, 2026
Updated May 9, 2026
Overview

Short answer: use code scanning as part of the SSDF process for reviewing, analyzing, and testing code. NIST SP 800-218 says teams should decide whether code review, code analysis, and executable testing are needed, then record findings and remediations in the workflow or issue tracking system.

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2 of 2 questions
Question 1

When should teams use code scanning under NIST SP 800-218 SSDF?

Use code scanning when your secure development process calls for code analysis, code review, or executable testing to find issues before release. NIST SP 800-218 recommends deciding whether review and analysis should be used, and it also recommends testing executable code to find vulnerabilities not identified earlier.

The decision should be tied to your organization’s secure coding standards and to the stage of the software. If code scanning is used, keep the results, the triage decisions, and the recommended remediations in your workflow or issue tracking system.

  • Decide whether code review, code analysis, and/or executable testing is needed.
  • Use the organization’s secure coding standards to guide what the scans should look for.
  • Record discovered issues and recommended remediations in workflow or issue tracking systems.
  • Re-scan when code changes, risks change, or prior findings were not fully resolved.
Citations
Question 2

What evidence should support code scanning under NIST SP 800-218 SSDF?

Apply NIST SP 800-218 SSDF criteria to document code scanning evidence that can sustain review: define covered repositories and scan types, retain findings and remediation records, assign ownership, document accepted gaps, and set a reassessment trigger.

  • Write the decision and scope in one sentence.
  • Attach the source-linked evidence that proves the current state.
  • Name the accountable owner and backup reviewer.
  • Record unresolved gaps, accepted risk, and dependencies.
  • Set a date or event trigger for reassessment.
Citations
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Put this NIST SSDF guidance into practice

Use the cited sources to make this page operational: define the exact SSDF scope, assign owners, list required artifacts, and set the review gate before moving forward.

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Primary sources

References and citations

NIST SP 800-161 Rev. 1 Update 1 C-SCRM
doi.org
Referenced sections
  • Primary NIST source for cybersecurity supply chain risk management practices.
"identifying, assessing, and mitigating cybersecurity risks"
NIST SP 800-218 SSDF v1.1
doi.org
Referenced sections
  • Primary NIST source for the Secure Software Development Framework.
"record the root cause of discovered issues"
NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 Controls
doi.org
Referenced sections
  • Primary NIST source for the integrated security and privacy control catalog.
"catalog of security and privacy controls"
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