As cloud-native development becomes the norm, two types of security checks are becoming essential: Infrastructure as Code (IaC) scanning and Cloud Infrastructure scanning.

Both help reduce risk, but at different stages. Understanding how they work, when to use them, and why they matter can help your team build and maintain more secure systems.

What is IaC Scanning?

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) allows teams to define infrastructure—such as servers, networks, and permissions—using configuration files.

IaC scanning checks these files before deployment to identify potential misconfigurations or security issues. This is a proactive step in securing cloud environments before they go live.

Unlike traditional vulnerability scans, IaC scans focus on the code itself, not what’s running in production.

Example:

Your IaC file defines a storage bucket. A scan might detect that public access is enabled or encryption is turned off, both of which are security risks.

Key Benefits:

• Prevents issues early in the development cycle
• Reduces rework after deployment
• Fits well in DevOps/CI pipelines

What is Cloud Infrastructure Scanning?

Cloud Infrastructure scanning evaluates the actual, running cloud infrastructure, such as virtual machines, storage, databases, and access controls.

It checks for real-time misconfigurations, unnecessary exposure, and deviations from your security policies or intended setup.

This type of scanning is useful for catching risks that appear after deployment, including manual changes, human errors, or drift from secure defaults.

Example:

You might discover an active server with open ports that weren’t intended, something that wouldn’t be visible through code-based scanning alone.

Key Benefits:

• Detects real-world risks in your environment
• Helps identify configuration drift
• Provides visibility across cloud assets

IaC Scan vs Cloud Infrastructure Scan: Side-by-Side