Black Duck Assist

Tool Introduction

Black Duck Assist is an AI-powered security assistant built to keep pace with modern, AI-driven development workflows. It integrates directly into development environments to identify security risks the moment code is written or generated by AI tools. The service builds on decades of Synopsys expertise in software composition and static code analysis, using its vulnerability database to deliver real-time detection and remediation guidance.

Demo Available?

Black Duck Assist offers a demo by request through a contact form on the website. A free trial may be available after registration.

Tool's Accuracy

Black Duck Assist is effective at identifying vulnerabilities and managing open-source components. Some users report false positives and suggest improved reporting features.

Aggregate Rating

-

Detailed Overview

Black Duck Assist provides real-time code scanning inside developer tools to detect vulnerabilities and compliance issues as code is written.

What Black Duck Assist Does

Black Duck Assist performs real-time scanning for vulnerabilities, license violations, and intellectual property risks as developers write or generate code. It runs directly within integrated development environments (IDEs), activating on file saves, during coding sessions, or on demand. Its AI engine explains findings in simple terms and offers specific fix suggestions tailored to the project’s language and structure.

Who Black Duck Assist is for

The platform supports software developers with instant feedback during coding, helping avoid security mistakes early. Security engineers use it for visibility into live code risks across teams. DevOps professionals rely on it to maintain secure pipelines without slowing down releases—especially in teams using AI coding assistants like GitHub Copilot or Amazon CodeWhisperer.

Top Differentiators

Black Duck Assist delivers real-time results inside IDEs instead of delayed batch scans. Its AI models are trained specifically on vulnerability data—not general-purpose coding tasks—and use proprietary research from the Synopsys Cybersecurity Research Center that often leads public databases by weeks.

Introductory Video

Founding Year

2002

Target Industry

B2B, Enterprise, Technology, Financial Services, Healthcare, Government

Available Integrations

Code Sight IDE Plugin: Embeds Black Duck Assist into IDEs like Eclipse, IntelliJ, and Visual Studio for real-time scanning and AI-driven code fix guidance.
Cursor and Windsurf: Extends support to AI code editors, enabling vulnerability scans on code generated by tools like GitHub Copilot and Claude Code.
GitHub App: Syncs repositories with Black Duck SCA, Polaris, and Coverity. It automates security scans, posts results in pull requests, and enforces policies including build failure on violations.
Polaris Platform: Enables natural language queries for testing insights and project data directly in the platform interface.
CI/CD Toolchains: Offers plugins that trigger security tests during pipeline events, supporting policy enforcement and remediation inside DevOps workflows.
REST APIs & Webhooks: Supports custom integrations for any development environment through exposed APIs and webhook support.

Plans & Pricing

Pricing details for Black Duck Assist are defined in a Purchasing Agreement or Supplement at the time of purchase. This includes fees, payment terms, license type, subscription term, and other conditions.

Refund policy: If the product doesn't work as documented within 30 days, you may request a fix. If unresolved, you can terminate and receive a full refund of subscription fees paid.
Renewal terms: Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled with at least 45 days' written notice before the end date.
Free trial: A free trial may be available upon registration. Additional terms may apply on the trial registration page.
Limited free offering: Mentioned in the terms, though no specific features or usage limits are disclosed.

Features & Specs

Real-Time Scanning: Identifies security issues instantly while you write or save files.
Multi-Language Support: Works across various programming languages used in modern applications.
AI-Powered Fixes: Provides contextual remediation suggestions with copy-paste-ready code snippets.
Vulnerability Summaries: Translates complex findings into clear explanations suited for non-experts.
Natural Language Queries: Lets users ask questions about vulnerabilities, trends, and risks using everyday language.
IDE Integration: Embedded via Code Sight plugin into Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA, Visual Studio, Cursor, Windsurf.
API & SDK Access: Enables integration into custom tools, CI/CD pipelines, and orchestration platforms.
Deployment Flexibility: Supports both cloud-based and on-premises setups based on infrastructure needs.
High-Speed Feedback: Offers sub-second response times even during high-frequency AI-assisted coding.

Security & Compliance

Black Duck Assist encrypts data at rest using AES-256. SSO is supported via SAML 2.0. The tool integrates directly into developer environments for continuous scanning, minimizing security gaps during development. Its vulnerability intelligence is based on the Synopsys Cybersecurity Research Center's database, which often identifies risks ahead of public sources.

Industry Use-Cases

Financial Services

Financial development teams use Black Duck Assist to scan AI-generated code in trading platforms and banking apps for vulnerabilities like injection flaws. This ensures faster development while meeting compliance needs.

Black Duck Assist also helps identify real-time security issues in payment systems, supporting PCI DSS and SOX compliance. Developers resolve problems early, speeding up reviews and reducing regulatory risk.

Healthcare

Healthcare developers use Black Duck Assist to check AI-generated patient data code for HIPAA compliance. It flags insecure patterns instantly, helping protect sensitive information during rapid development cycles.

Teams building medical device software rely on Black Duck Assist to ensure FDA-ready security standards. It identifies risks before submission, supporting quicker delivery of compliant technologies.

Technology

Software companies creating SaaS platforms integrate Black Duck Assist into IDEs to secure AI-assisted code. The tool provides immediate vulnerability detection across fast-changing applications without disrupting developer workflows.

Tool's Alternatives

Snyk Code AI Assistant
Provides in-IDE vulnerability detection with automated fix suggestions. Strong IDE integration is a key feature, though natural language query support is limited.

GitHub Copilot with GitHub Advanced Security
Combines code generation with built-in vulnerability scanning. Best suited for developers working within GitHub-hosted projects due to tight workflow integration.

Checkmarx AI Security Assistant
Delivers AI-powered analysis in IDEs and CI/CD pipelines. Focuses on policy enforcement across languages with enterprise-ready governance features.

Sonatype Nexus Lifecycle with AI-powered code review
Focuses on open source risk detection using AI-enhanced analysis. Best known for pipeline integration and software supply chain security capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Black Duck Assist do inside developer environments?
Black Duck Assist scans code in real time within IDEs to detect vulnerabilities, license violations, and IP risks. It activates during file saves or coding and provides instant, AI-powered explanations with suggested fixes.

Which IDEs and editors support Black Duck Assist?
Black Duck Assist integrates through the Code Sight plugin with Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA, Visual Studio, Cursor, and Windsurf. This enables real-time scanning across traditional IDEs and modern AI-assisted code editors.

How does Black Duck Assist help secure AI-generated code?
It scans AI-generated code for vulnerabilities as it’s written. Developers using tools like GitHub Copilot or Amazon CodeWhisperer receive instant feedback to fix issues early without slowing down workflows.

Does Black Duck Assist support cloud or on-premises deployment?
Yes. It supports both cloud-based and on-premises deployment models to fit different infrastructure needs and security requirements.

Can users ask natural language questions about vulnerabilities?
Yes. Users can query the platform using everyday language to explore vulnerability data, project risks, or trends directly within supported interfaces.

What kind of data protection features are included?
Data at rest is encrypted using AES-256. Single sign-on is supported via SAML 2.0 for secure authentication within enterprise environments.

Is there a refund policy if the product doesn’t work?
If Black Duck Assist fails to function as documented within 30 days of purchase, you may request a fix. If unresolved, you can terminate service and receive a full refund of subscription fees paid.

Are free trials or demos available for evaluation?
A demo is available upon request through the contact form. A free trial may be available after registration; additional terms apply on the registration page.

What types of software projects benefit from Black Duck Assist?
Teams in finance, healthcare, and SaaS use it to scan sensitive systems for compliance needs like HIPAA or PCI DSS while accelerating secure development cycles driven by AI tooling.

Comments are closed.