Fortify Application Defender vs GitHub Advanced Security comparison

Fortify Application Defender vs. GitHub Advanced Security

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Fortify Application Defender

Ranking in Application Security Tools

33rd

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

GitHub Advanced Security

Ranking in Application Security Tools

10th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2026, in the Application Security Tools category, the mindshare of Fortify Application Defender is 1.4%, up from 0.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of GitHub Advanced Security is 2.9%, down from 8.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Application Security Tools Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
GitHub Advanced Security	2.9%
Fortify Application Defender	1.4%
Other	95.7%

Application Security Tools

Featured Reviews

VinothSivam

CTO at Abcl

Useful for fast code review in devOps pipelines

I rate the tool's scalability a seven out of ten. However, I'm concerned about how it handles an increasing number of lines of code. As the complexity grows, so does the time it takes for the tool to review everything. I want more clarity on how Fortify Application Defender handles multiple threats. We have numerous endpoints, but the tool runs in our pipeline, meaning it operates in the cloud. All our code is configured there, and the tool runs integration testing, unit testing, user testing, and final production code tests. It's a day-to-day experience. It's utilized almost every day as part of our pipeline runs. Each team responsible for integration testing, human testing, user access testing, and preproduction testing runs it whenever they take a build.

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Devendiran Kandan

DevOps Engineer at a tech vendor with 1,001-5,000 employees

Security scanning has protected our pipelines but currently needs clearer dashboards and controls

We used additional third-party solutions, but we replaced them with GitHub Advanced Security, even though I do not have a very good opinion about GitHub Advanced Security. Even though it is an inline product, I'm not seeing user-friendly things in GitHub Advanced Security. Dependent bots and the secret detection are good compared to others. However, code scanning is not finding very good results based on pipeline where it will scan and do code scanning. While build, before building and deploying the code, we want to block or do an advanced model, but it is not supporting. During deployment, code scanning is not good. It is a little complicated. It is not a straightforward method we can complete. We need expertise to get the full benefit, and troubleshooting sometimes requires going through that. The security overview dashboard is not really clear. It's not showing centralized information; each repo is showing, but if you compare it with competitors, it is not that great. Mainly in the centralized dashboard, enterprise level needs to improve. A centralized way where we can get that overall view is needed, and we want that code scanning and blocking deployments based on security. There are AI improvements, but however, it is not so easy to configure. It is multiple windows we need to go through and make changes or configure that. A few things we need to enable going into settings, and a few things we can find out in security. One product where security means the security dashboard should cover everything, but it is going here and there in many places.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"Its ability to find security defects is valuable."

"This is a great tool and the kind of support it provides is very helpful."

"I find the configuration of rules in Fortify Application Defender useful. Its integration is also easy."

"The most valuable feature is that it analyzes data in real-time."

"The information from Fortify Application Defender on how to fix and solve issues is very good compared to other solutions."

"Fortify Application Defender's most valuable features are machine learning algorithms, real-time remediation, and automatic vulnerability notifications."

"Fortify Application Defender has a few drawbacks, it has its own pros and cons, but it's a good tool to use in any industry."

"The most valuable feature is the ability to automatically feed it rules what it's coupled with the WebInspect dynamic application scanning technology."

More Fortify Application Defender pros

"It is a stable solution...It is a scalable solution as it can handle new applications along with the analysis part."

"Dependency scanning is a valuable feature."

"The most valuable is the developer experience and the extensibility of the overall ecosystem."

"GitHub provides advanced security, which is why the customers choose this tool; it allows them to rely solely on GitHub as one platform for everything they need."

"It ensures user passwords or sensitive information are not accidentally exposed in code or reports."

"GitHub Advanced Security is ten out of ten scalable."

"GitHub Advanced Security's secret scanning is good."

"The best features of GitHub Advanced Security are its flexibility and the multiple options it has compared to other tools."

More GitHub Advanced Security pros

Cons

"I encountered many false positives for Python applications."

"The biggest complaint that I have heard concerns additional platform support because right now, it only supports applications that are written in .NET and Java."

"The licensing is very complex, it's project based and can range from $10,000 to $200,000+ depending on the project type and size."

"Fortify Application Defender gives a lot of false positives."

"The solution is quite expensive."

"The false positive rate should be lower."

"Support for older compilers/IDEs is lacking."

"The workbench is a little bit complex when you first start using it."

More Fortify Application Defender cons

"The report limitations are the main issue."

"Open-source security vulnerabilities are not getting updated in a timely manner."

"A more refined approach, categorizing and emphasizing specific vulnerabilities, would be beneficial."

"An area of GitHub Advanced Security that has room for improvement is customization."

"The reporting feature might need improvement. While it integrates seamlessly with my workflow, it doesn't provide management with oversight, such as statistics and the number of vulnerabilities."

"The deployment part of the product is an area of concern that needs to be made easier from an improvement perspective."

"The customizations are a little bit difficult."

"There could be DST features included in the product."

More GitHub Advanced Security cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I rate the solution's pricing a five out of ten. It comes as an annual cloud subscription. The tool's pricing is around 50 lakhs."

"The base licensing costs for the SaaS platform is about $900 USD per application, per year."

"Fortify Application Defender is very expensive."

"The product’s price is much higher than other tools."

"The price of this solution could be less expensive."

"The licensing is very complex, it's project based and can range from $10,000 to $200,000+ depending on the project type and size."

"The current licensing model, which relies on active commitments, poses challenges, particularly in predicting and managing growth."

"The solution is expensive."

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893,221 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

19%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Construction Company

Comms Service Provider

Financial Services Firm

15%

Computer Software Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	3
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	8

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	1
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	7

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Fortify Application Defender?

I find the configuration of rules in Fortify Application Defender useful. Its integration is also easy.

What needs improvement with Fortify Application Defender?

The product should integrate industry-standard code review tools internally with its system. This would streamline the coding process, as developers wouldn't need multiple tools for code review and...

What is your primary use case for Fortify Application Defender?

We use the solution for fast code review. It is integrated into our DevOps pipeline.

What needs improvement with GitHub Advanced Security?

What is your primary use case for GitHub Advanced Security?

I'm working with software development nowadays. As a process, we are using the dependent bot alerts and the code scanning for Java, and some of the code scanning is happening. Security secrets in c...

What advice do you have for others considering GitHub Advanced Security?

Dependent bots and the secret detection are good compared to others. However, code scanning is not finding very good results based on pipeline where it will scan and do code scanning. While build, ...

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Comparisons

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Compared 11% of the time

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Compared 7% of the time

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Compared 5% of the time

NSFOCUS WVSS vs Fortify Application Defender

Compared 4% of the time

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Compared 27% of the time

Snyk vs GitHub Advanced Security

Compared 12% of the time

Veracode vs GitHub Advanced Security

Compared 10% of the time

Checkmarx One vs GitHub Advanced Security

Compared 7% of the time

GitGuardian Platform vs GitHub Advanced Security

Compared 2% of the time

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Product Reports

Application Security Tools

Download Fortify Application Defender product report

GitHub Advanced Security

Download GitHub Advanced Security product report

Also Known As

HPE Fortify Application Defender, Micro Focus Fortify Application Defender

No data available

Overview

Fortify Application Defender offers strong protection by identifying and resolving security defects using machine learning and real-time remediation. Its user-friendly interface simplifies integration in CI/CD workflows and supports security scanning across operating systems and compilers.

Fortify Application Defender is a comprehensive tool for static code analysis and security scanning. It integrates machine learning algorithms to identify vulnerabilities quickly and offers real-time remediation solutions. Its seamless integration with WebInspect allows for tailored rule sets that significantly improve defense against application-specific threats. The tool's efficiency in static and software composition analysis provides actionable repair insights. As part of a DevOps pipeline, it aids in maintaining code quality, helping organizations protect sensitive information within their applications. Additionally, it supports multiple operating systems and environments, allowing users to scan for vulnerabilities in both code and libraries effectively.

What are the key features of Fortify Application Defender?

Security Defect Identification: Uses advanced algorithms to detect security flaws.
Real-time Remediation: Provides immediate solutions for vulnerabilities.
WebInspect Integration: Customizable rule sets enhance protection.
Actionable Insights: Delivers clear repair strategies.
User-friendly Configuration: Easy set-up in CI/CD pipelines.

What benefits should users consider when evaluating Fortify Application Defender?

Scalable Integration: Works with multiple operating systems and compilers.
Improved Code Quality: Prevents exposure of sensitive data.
Efficient Scanning: Reduces time to identify threats.
Customizable Rules: Enhances security measures specific to applications.

Fortify Application Defender is commonly used in industries like banking and finance to secure applications by inspecting source code for vulnerabilities. Companies can integrate it seamlessly into their DevOps pipelines, ensuring that their applications are protected against cyberattacks while maintaining high code quality. They can thereby avoid common risks such as IP and password exposure by leveraging static code analysis and other integrated technologies available within this tool.

OpenText

GitHub Advanced Security secures data by scanning for vulnerabilities in dependencies, secret scanning, and protecting sensitive information. It integrates seamlessly, reducing reliance on multiple tools and optimizing vulnerability detection.

GitHub Advanced Security is designed to enhance security awareness by offering comprehensive tools for secret scanning, code analysis, and SCSS dependency checks. AI-driven features deliver accurate security insights while minimizing false positives. It provides valuable integration with Azure DevOps, maintaining control within dashboards and enabling external systems' support through APIs. With CodeQL, users can perform custom queries across projects. Propelled by Microsoft, the platform enhances operational frameworks with essential security features, although improvements are needed in dashboard consolidation, reporting, and integration mechanisms. Users seek better customizability, language support, and training resources to ensure smoother implementation.

What are the key features of GitHub Advanced Security?

Security and Dependency Scanning: Identifies vulnerabilities in code and dependencies.
Secret Scanning: Detects sensitive information exposure.
Cost-effectiveness: Reduces the need for multiple security tools.
Developer Experience: Integrates seamlessly with development environments.
Extensibility: Custom queries via CodeQL and integration support.

What benefits and ROI can users expect?

Improved Security Posture: Enhanced visibility reduces risk.
Operational Efficiency: Streamlines processes with fewer tools.
Actionable Insights: AI-driven analysis provides clear guidance.
Enhanced Collaboration: Facilitates team integration through shared dashboards.

Industries implement GitHub Advanced Security to maintain robust security standards. It is favored by technology sectors seeking seamless integration with Azure DevOps and looking for customizable security tools tailored to project needs. Financial institutions value its accurate threat detection and compliance support, while enterprises focus on its comprehensive dependency scanning and code analysis capabilities to safeguard critical assets. The adaptability of GitHub Advanced Security across different operational environments illustrates its practical benefits.

GitHub

Sample Customers

ServiceMaster, Saltworks, SAP

Information Not Available

Fortify Application Defender vs. GitHub Advanced Security