Security Scanning Templates are predefined CI/CD configurations in GitLab that embed security testing into pipelines. They enable teams to add SAST, DAST, dependency scanning, and container scanning with minimal configuration. By standardizing these checks, they help teams implement DevSecOps practices consistently across projects.
How It Works
GitLab provides maintained CI/CD templates that can be included in a project’s .gitlab-ci.yml file using the include keyword. When referenced, the template automatically adds predefined jobs, stages, and security analyzers to the pipeline. These jobs run during pipeline execution and generate security reports alongside build and test results.
Static Application Security Testing (SAST) analyzes source code for vulnerabilities without executing it. Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) scans running applications for exposed weaknesses. Dependency scanning identifies known vulnerabilities in third-party libraries, while container scanning inspects images for outdated or insecure packages. Each scanner produces structured reports that GitLab aggregates into the Security Dashboard and merge request views.
Teams can customize variables such as scan depth, target URLs, and excluded paths. This flexibility allows organizations to align security checks with risk tolerance and compliance requirements without rewriting pipeline logic from scratch.
Why It Matters
Embedding security controls directly into CI/CD reduces the gap between development and security operations. Engineers detect vulnerabilities during code review instead of after deployment, lowering remediation costs and reducing production risk.
Standardized templates also enforce consistency across repositories. Platform teams can mandate baseline security coverage, ensuring every service meets minimum compliance and governance standards. This approach scales security practices without adding manual review overhead.
Key Takeaway
Security Scanning Templates integrate automated security testing into CI/CD pipelines by default, making secure software delivery repeatable and scalable.