Checkmarx is a mature SAST-first platform with bolt-on SCA. dpndncY leads with the Dependency Firewall — pre-install enforcement — and runs full SAST, container, and IaC scanning in the same workflow. Different layer of the workflow; different threat model.
Block risky packages before install. The same multi-signal stack (KEV, EPSS, ExploitDB, reachability, attack-path) that drives firewall decisions also powers post-scan triage across SCA, SAST (404 rules across 13+ languages), container, and IaC. Signed JWS evidence on every decision.
Checkmarx One bundles SCA into a SAST-primary architecture. Their SAST is mature with deep framework-specific dataflow rules — particularly strong for enterprise Java and .NET monorepos. No pre-install firewall layer.
| Capability | dpndncY | Checkmarx |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-install Dependency Firewall | ✓ Block risky packages before install (npm, PyPI, Maven, NuGet, RubyGems, Cargo, Go) | ✗ Not available |
| Signed JWS evidence per decision | ✓ Verifiable offline with public key | ✗ Not available |
| Trust-delta gating | ✓ Catches typosquats and takeovers | ✗ Not available |
| Primary focus | ~ Supply chain firewall + integrated SAST | ✓ Code security (SAST-first) — mature, broad language support |
| Self-hosted | ✓ Always | ✓ On-prem available |
| SCA — dependency scanning | ✓ Multi-ecosystem, transitive deps | ✓ Available in Checkmarx One |
| SAST engine depth | ~ AST taint analysis for JS/TS and Python; pattern analysis across 12 languages | ✓ Industry-leading SAST — deep taint, broad language coverage |
| SCA + SAST correlation | ✓ Attack Paths link code to vulnerable deps | ~ Limited cross-tool correlation |
| Attack Path analysis | ✓ Full graph, scoring, reachability | ✗ Not available |
| AI risk attribution | ✓ AI risk attribution — detects concentration of AI-written code in your codebase | ✗ Not available |
| EPSS exploitability scoring | ✓ Per finding | ~ Limited |
| CISA KEV integration | ✓ Automatic | ~ Partial |
| Upgrade risk delta | ✓ Before/after comparison | ✗ Not available |
| Container image scanning | ✓ Built in | ✓ Available |
| SBOM export (CycloneDX) | ✓ CycloneDX, SARIF, PDF | ✓ Available |
| CI/CD policy gates | ✓ PASS/FAIL, configurable | ✓ Available |
| GitHub/GitLab remediation PRs | ✓ Built in | ~ Limited |
| VS Code extension | ✓ Included | ~ IDE plugin available |
| Deployment complexity | ✓ Docker/K8s/Windows installer, minutes | ~ Enterprise platform, planned rollout |
| Patch decision engine | ✓ Patch Now / Patch Sprint / Monitor / Accept Risk — with SLA timeline and rationale per finding | ✗ Not available |
| Compliance policy presets | ✓ 17 built-in templates — FedRAMP, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, ISO 26262, NERC CIP, DoD, and more | ~ Compliance reporting available — enterprise-focused, separate configuration |
Checkmarx has built static analysis longer than most security companies have existed. Their false-positive rates on common enterprise patterns are well-tuned. If you are evaluating SAST as a standalone product with maximum framework coverage depth — Spring, .NET MVC, Angular, Django, Rails — Checkmarx has more years of specialization. dpndncY's SAST is purpose-built to work alongside its SCA and attack path layer, not to be the deepest SAST product on the market.
Checkmarx models the security behavior of specific frameworks at the rule level — Spring Security filter chains, ASP.NET request pipeline, Angular's DomSanitizer. dpndncY's AST-based taint analysis tracks sources and sinks across 12 languages without that framework-internal depth. In an enterprise Java or .NET monorepo, that specialization reduces false positives on framework-idiomatic patterns.
Checkmarx has built native connectors for Jira, ServiceNow, Azure DevOps, and a wide range of enterprise ticket workflows over two decades. dpndncY integrates with GitHub, GitLab, VS Code, Slack, and webhooks. If your SOC has mandated ITSM workflow automation outside that list, verify before committing.
Checkmarx has deployed into thousands of enterprise environments and offers formal professional services. If proof-of-scale with reference customers in your sector, or contractual support SLAs, are procurement requirements, Checkmarx has more examples to point to.
Checkmarx built CxSAST and bolted on CxSCA later. EPSS scoring, CISA KEV integration, upgrade risk delta, attack path analysis, and dependency health scoring are bolt-ons to a SAST-first architecture. dpndncY was built for supply chain risk from the ground up. These are core features, not modules.
Checkmarx analyzes your code. dpndncY connects code analysis to your vulnerable dependency graph: which entry points reach which vulnerable packages through which import chains, scored by sink type and CWE match. Checkmarx has no equivalent. This is the difference between "you have a vulnerable dependency" and "here are the 4 call paths that can actually reach it."
Set a policy that automatically blocks on: EPSS trending above 0.3, or CVE confirmed in CISA KEV, or SAST finding in AI-generated code concentration, or exposed port in Kubernetes config. dpndncY evaluates SCA signals (EPSS, KEV), SAST findings, AI attribution, and IaC misconfigurations under one policy object. Checkmarx doesn't combine these dimensions.
Checkmarx One is SaaS — your source code goes to their cloud. CxEnterprise requires substantial infrastructure. dpndncY runs on your hardware, deploys in minutes via Docker or Helm, costs a fraction of Checkmarx licensing, and your code never leaves your perimeter.
The Dependency Firewall stops risky packages at install time. The same platform handles SCA, SAST, container, and IaC scanning — with signed evidence on every decision.
