275 lines
11 KiB
Text
275 lines
11 KiB
Text
===== page-1 =====
|
||
Al CODE
|
||
GUARDRAILS:
|
||
|
||
A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR
|
||
SECURE ROLLOUT
|
||
|
||
snyk
|
||
|
||
|
||
===== page-2 =====
|
||
INTRODUCTION
|
||
|
||
LEARN HOW TO ROLL OUT Al
|
||
CODING TOOLS LIKE GITHUB
|
||
COPILOT AND GEMINI CODE
|
||
ASSIST SECURELY WITH
|
||
PRACTICAL GUARDRAILS,
|
||
USAGE POLICIES, AND IDE-
|
||
BASED TESTING.
|
||
|
||
Tools like GitHub Copilot and Google Gemini Code Assist help teams
|
||
generate code at scale, reduce boilerplate, and speed up delivery,
|
||
resulting in unprecedented boosts in productivity. But with greater
|
||
speed comes greater security risk. Studies show that 27% of Al-
|
||
generated code contains vulnerabilities, reflecting volume and
|
||
velocity, not tool failure.
|
||
|
||
To manage that risk without losing momentum, organizations need to
|
||
implement security guardrails and checks and controls that prevent
|
||
Al-generated code from introducing vulnerabilities into production.
|
||
|
||
This quide offers a practical framework to help engineering leaders
|
||
and security teams roll out Al assistants safely and scalably, using
|
||
Snyk’s platform to help reinforce Al governance policies. From pull
|
||
request checks to IDE scanning and conditional access policies, each
|
||
section outlines real implementation tactics you can adopt today to
|
||
start building your Al-readiness, without compromising developer
|
||
productivity.
|
||
|
||
|
||
===== page-3 =====
|
||
ENFORCE GUARDRAILS AT THE
|
||
PULL REQUEST STAGE
|
||
|
||
Why it matters: Pull requests are a natural place to catch Al-generated vulnerabilities before they reach production.
|
||
Before fully rolling out Al coding assistants, it's important to ensure your development process includes automated
|
||
security checks. These guardrails help prevent risky code from being merged into your main branch, and pull requests
|
||
|
||
are the most logical place to start.
|
||
|
||
With Snyk’s Pull Request (PR) checks, you can scan every code change as it’s submitted, flagging issues early and
|
||
|
||
integrating security into the review process without disrupting workflows.
|
||
|
||
You can also use the Snyk CLI in your Cl/CD process as a second checkpoint for more mature pipelines. This layered
|
||
approach helps maintain consistency across teams and deployment paths.
|
||
|
||
Catching issues here is a meaningful win, but it often comes after code has been written, reviewed, and maybe even
|
||
|
||
tested. Fixing those issues can create additional overhead. That's why, in the next section, we'll look at how to move
|
||
these checks even earlier in the development lifecycle.
|
||
|
||
SHIFTING LEFT: AVOIDING Al-
|
||
GENERATED CODE INEFFICIENCIES
|
||
|
||
Why it matters: Catching security issues during development reduces rework and keeps developers focused on building,
|
||
not backtracking.
|
||
|
||
Since Snyk’s earliest days, we've emphasized the importance of identifying vulnerabilities as early as possible, ideally while
|
||
the code is still being written. That philosophy remains especially important as teams begin using Al code assistants.
|
||
|
||
While pull request checks catch risky code before it's merged, they come after the work is done. By then, developers may
|
||
have already built functionality on top of insecure logic, so fixing a simple bug could require refactoring larger components.
|
||
|
||
Instead, we recommend extending your guardrails directly into the development environment. Using the Snyk IDE plugin,
|
||
developers can get real-time feedback as they code, catching vulnerabilities before the code ever leaves their editor.
|
||
|
||
For teams working in agentic environments, like Cursor or GitHub Copilot chat-based workflows, the same level of scanning
|
||
can be achieved using the Snyk local MCP server, which runs security checks in the background as code is generated.
|
||
|
||
Shifting left doesn't just improve security posture, it reduces friction for developers and accelerates delivery. And when
|
||
those guardrails feel like part of the flow, adoption becomes much easier, which is what we'll explore next.
|
||
|
||
snyk -
|
||
|
||
|
||
===== page-4 =====
|
||
01
|
||
|
||
REQUEST EVIDENCE OF
|
||
LOCAL SECURITY TESTING
|
||
|
||
Why it matters: Verifying security setup at the start encourages responsible tool use and builds good security
|
||
habits early.
|
||
|
||
Before granting developers access to Al coding assistants, consider implementing a lightweight access
|
||
requirement: proof that local security testing is in place, preferably in the IDE, where issues can be identified and
|
||
fixed immediately.
|
||
|
||
One option is to ask developers to upload a screenshot showing that they have installed the Snyk security IDE
|
||
plugin and attest that they will proactively test their Al-assisted code locally.
|
||
|
||
For example, developers can upload a screenshot showing that the Snyk IDE plugin is installed and confirm that
|
||
they'll proactively test Al-generated code during development.
|
||
|
||
Teams working in agent-based environments (like Cursor or Copilot) can alternatively connect to the Snyk local
|
||
MCP server, which supports agent-driven workflows and scans Al output as it’s created.
|
||
|
||
As a secondary layer, organizations can still use pull request checks to catch issues before merging. For even
|
||
greater efficiency, Snyk Agent Fix enables autonomous remediation by suggesting secure alternatives in context,
|
||
further streamlining the development experience.
|
||
|
||
=
|
||
|
||
Code Assistant Access Request Form
|
||
|
||
Complete this form to request access to an Al coding assistant, include a screenshot
|
||
demonstrating that you have installed a Snyk IDE olugin to test code locally.
|
||
|
||
Upload a screenshot showing that the Snyk IDE plugin is installed for local testing *
|
||
|
||
WH Screenshot 2025. x
|
||
|
||
Provide any additional context on the request
|
||
|
||
Requesting access to accelerate development
|
||
|
||
By submitting this form, | attest that | will only use the Al coding assistant in
|
||
conjunction with the Snyk IDE plugin.
|
||
|
||
Example evidence showing the installation of the Snyk
|
||
security IDE plugin
|
||
|
||
|
||
===== page-5 =====
|
||
02
|
||
AUDIT EXISTING USAGE AND
|
||
ONBOARDING NEW TEAMS
|
||
|
||
Why it matters: Visibility into tool usage helps ensure guardrails are working and that they are adopted where it
|
||
counts.
|
||
|
||
If Al coding tools are already used across your organization, it’s not too late to implement secure practices.
|
||
|
||
Conduct periodic audits to identify any blind spots where developers may be using Al coding assistants without
|
||
local security checks.
|
||
|
||
Use Snyk’s Developer IDE and CLI usage reports alongside your Al coding assistant’s admin console to cross-
|
||
reference who's actively using assistants, and whether security tooling like the IDE plugin is also in place.
|
||
|
||
Gemini Access Report
|
||
|
||
Name "Email License Assigned _Last Active Last Detected Snyk Scan
|
||
John Smith john.smith@snyk.io ] 2025-01-15 2025-04-15 | 2025-04-16 15:04:31,154
|
||
Jane Jones _| jane.jones@snyk.io 2025-01-15 2025-02-22 A
|
||
Danial Hill danial.hill@snyk.io 2025-02-14 2025-04-16 A
|
||
|
||
For a more scalable approach, Snyk Essentials provides centralized visibility into developer adoption of key
|
||
|
||
security tools, helping platform and security teams track IDE plugin usage, identify gaps (e.g. missed scans), and
|
||
monitor adoption trends over time.
|
||
|
||
A simple “trust but verify” model can go a long way. Some teams send automated reminders or light-touch
|
||
|
||
enforcement notices, letting developers know that their access may be paused if security tools are missing or
|
||
inactive.
|
||
|
||
|
||
===== page-6 =====
|
||
035
|
||
INTEGRATE SECURITY AWARENESS
|
||
INTO DEVELOPER TRAINING
|
||
|
||
Why it matters: Developers are best positioned to prevent vulnerabilities introduced by Al-generated code, but
|
||
they can only do so if they understand the risks.
|
||
|
||
As Al tooling becomes part of everyday development, security training should evolve accordingly. Ensure that
|
||
developer onboarding and continuing education explicitly cover the risks of Al-generated code, and reinforce the
|
||
importance of local testing as a first line of defense.
|
||
|
||
Snyk Learn includes a targeted lesson on the OWASP Top 10 for LLM and GenAl, helping teams understand
|
||
emerging threats and adopt safer Al practices.
|
||
|
||
Explore our whitepaper, Developer Training in Cybersecurity for a broader perspective on secure development
|
||
upskilling.
|
||
|
||
Quiz
|
||
|
||
Test your knowledge!
|
||
|
||
@ auz
|
||
|
||
What must you do if you want access to an Al code assistant tool?
|
||
> Include "be secure’ in your prompts
|
||
Install and use the Snyk IDE plugin
|
||
|
||
~ Download a code assistant from the web
|
||
|
||
Keep Learning
|
||
» Al generated code is not immune to security vulnerabilities.
|
||
|
||
+ Itis your responsibility to test code locally and in security gates.
|
||
|
||
Example of developer education: Snyk Learn quiz
|
||
|
||
|
||
===== page-7 =====
|
||
04
|
||
PROACTIVE TOOLING AND
|
||
ACCESS CONTROL
|
||
|
||
Why it matters: When access to Al tools is tied to secure configurations, you create guardrails that scale and
|
||
ensure security isn't optional.
|
||
|
||
For organizations with more centralized control over developer environments and automated distribution, there’s
|
||
an opportunity to deploy security tooling alongside access to Al code assistants.
|
||
|
||
There are several ways to approach access management, but how you choose will ultimately depend on your
|
||
tools, how you use them, and your company culture.
|
||
|
||
For example, if your company utilizes endpoint management systems, you could consider allowing listing access
|
||
to Al code assistants for users who have demonstrated installation of local security testing tools or recently
|
||
confirmed their commitment to security practices. If you're using tools like Microsoft Intune, Jamf, or Citrix, you
|
||
might configure dynamic domain access rules that grant access to Gemini, Copilot, Cursor, or Windsurf only after
|
||
a developer has met the defined security prerequisites.
|
||
|
||
If your development teams leverage virtual development environments, access to coding assistants can be
|
||
granted programmatically in conjunction with the Snyk IDE plugin. See the following example of dev container
|
||
setup granting Microsoft Copilot and Snyk extensions in VS Code:
|
||
|
||
None
|
||
{
|
||
“image”:
|
||
“mer .microsoft.com/devcontainers/typescript-node”,
|
||
"forwardPorts": [3606] al
|
||
“customizations”: {
|
||
// Configure properties specific to VS Code.
|
||
“vscode”:; {
|
||
|
||
// IDs of extensions to install when the container is
|
||
created.
|
||
|
||
“extensions”:
|
||
["“snyk-security.snyk-vulnerability-scanner",
|
||
“github.copilot”]
|
||
|
||
}
|
||
}
|
||
}
|
||
|
||
|
||
===== page-8 =====
|
||
THE PATH FORIWARD:
|
||
SECURE INNOVATION
|
||
|
||
Al-assisted development is no longer experimental — it's already changing how teams write, test,
|
||
and ship code. But with this speed and scale comes risk, and it’s up to engineering and security
|
||
leaders to ensure those risks don't derail progress.
|
||
|
||
Guardrails are the key. When implemented early in IDEs, agents, PRs, and access workflows, they
|
||
allow developers to move faster, not slower. They remove barriers by embedding security into the
|
||
development experience itself.
|
||
|
||
Whether your teams are just starting to explore Al tooling or are already rolling it out across
|
||
environments, the practices in this guide offer a practical framework for building trust in that
|
||
process without introducing unnecessary friction.
|
||
|
||
Secure innovation isn’t just possible, it’s operational. And Snyk is here to help build trust in your
|
||
Al. Talk to our team to get started!
|
||
|
||
Want to learn more about how
|
||
Snuk builds trust in Al software?
|
||
|
||
EXPLORE SNYK NOW.
|