Aikido Security Sign Up: The Complete Guide to Getting Started with Free Enterprise-Grade Security

Getting started with application security doesn’t have to cost thousands of dollars or require a team of experts. Aikido Security offers a full security platform that developers, students, and startups can sign up for today. This guide walks you through everything you need to know about the Aikido Security registration process, what you’ll get access to, and how to make the most of the platform once you’re in.

We’ll cover the sign up process step by step. You’ll learn about the free student program, the features available on different plans, and how to connect your repositories. We’ll also compare Aikido to other security platforms so you can decide if it’s right for your needs. Whether you’re building a side project, working on a hackathon entry, or securing enterprise applications, this guide has you covered.

What is Aikido Security and Why Should You Sign Up?

Aikido Security is a cloud-based application security platform. It combines multiple security tools into one unified dashboard. Instead of juggling a dozen different scanners and services, you get everything in one place.

The platform scans your source code for vulnerabilities. It checks your container images for security issues. It monitors your cloud infrastructure for misconfigurations. And it does all of this while staying developer-friendly.

The Problem Aikido Solves

Most security tools are built for security teams, not developers. They spit out hundreds of alerts with no context. They don’t integrate well with development workflows. And they cost a fortune.

Aikido takes a different approach. The platform is designed with developers in mind from the ground up. Alerts come with context and clear remediation steps. Integration with GitHub, GitLab, and popular IDEs is smooth. And the pricing model makes enterprise-grade security accessible to everyone.

The 12-in-1 Security Suite

When you sign up for Aikido Security, you get access to twelve different security capabilities:

• Static Application Security Testing (SAST) – Scans your source code for vulnerabilities
• Software Composition Analysis (SCA) – Checks your dependencies for known security issues
• Secret Detection – Finds exposed API keys, passwords, and credentials in your code
• Container Security – Scans your Docker images and container OS for vulnerabilities
• Infrastructure as Code Scanning – Checks your Terraform, CloudFormation, and Kubernetes configs
• Cloud Security Posture Management – Monitors your AWS, Azure, or GCP setup for misconfigurations
• Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) – Tests your running applications for vulnerabilities
• API Security Testing – Scans your APIs for security issues
• AI Penetration Testing – Uses AI to find vulnerabilities like an ethical hacker would
• Runtime Security – Monitors your applications in production
• License Compliance – Tracks open source licenses in your dependencies
• Malware Detection – Identifies malicious code in your repositories

That’s a lot of security coverage from a single platform. And the sign up process to access all of it takes just a few minutes.

How to Create Your Aikido Security Account

The registration process for Aikido Security is straightforward. You don’t need to talk to a sales rep or schedule a demo. Just head to their website and start the sign up flow.

Step 1: Visit the Sign Up Page

Go to aikido.dev and look for the sign up button. You’ll see options to create an account using your email address or by connecting with your existing accounts.

Aikido supports sign up through:

• GitHub – The fastest option if you’re already using GitHub for your projects
• GitLab – Works great if GitLab is your primary code hosting platform
• Google – Quick option using your Google account
• Email – Traditional sign up with your email address

Step 2: Connect Your Code Repository

After creating your account, you’ll need to connect at least one repository. This is where Aikido will scan your code. The platform supports both public and private repositories.

For GitHub users, you’ll authorize the Aikido GitHub app. You can choose to give access to all repositories or select specific ones. Most users start with a single project to test things out.

For GitLab users, the process is similar. You’ll connect your GitLab account and select which projects Aikido should scan.

Step 3: Run Your First Scan

Once your repository is connected, Aikido automatically runs an initial scan. This usually takes a few minutes depending on the size of your codebase. You’ll see results start appearing in your dashboard.

The first scan often turns up more issues than you might expect. Don’t panic. Aikido helps you prioritize what to fix first based on severity and exploitability.

Step 4: Configure Your Settings

After the initial scan, take some time to configure your settings. You can:

• Set up notifications for new vulnerabilities
• Configure which branches to scan
• Enable or disable specific security checks
• Set up integrations with Slack, Jira, or other tools
• Customize severity thresholds

Aikido Security Sign Up for Students: The Free Program

One of the most compelling reasons to sign up for Aikido Security is their student program. Students get the full platform for free. Not a limited trial. Not a stripped-down version. The actual full platform.

What Students Get for Free

The Aikido for Students program provides access worth €3,240 per year at no cost. That includes:

• All 12 security scanning capabilities
• Unlimited scans for personal and academic projects
• AI-powered auto-fix suggestions
• In-product training videos
• IDE plugins for VSCode and Cursor
• Full dashboard access

This isn’t a marketing gimmick. Aikido genuinely wants students to learn application security with professional-grade tools.

Who Qualifies for the Student Program

To sign up for Aikido’s student program, you need to be:

• Currently enrolled in an accredited educational institution
• Working on personal, academic, or portfolio projects
• Willing to verify your student status

The verification process is simple. You’ll typically need to provide a school email address or other proof of enrollment.

How Students Can Use Aikido

Once you’re signed up, you can use Aikido for any legitimate educational purpose:

Class Projects: Secure your coursework and learn to identify vulnerabilities in your own code.

Portfolio Building: Show potential employers that you understand security by having clean, vulnerability-free projects.

Hackathons: Quickly scan your hackathon projects to catch security issues before presenting to judges.

Learning AppSec: Use Aikido’s training materials and real scans to understand how security vulnerabilities work.

Side Projects: Secure that SaaS idea you’re building or the app you’re developing for fun.

Learning Resources Within Aikido

Aikido isn’t just a scanning tool for students. It’s also an educational platform. When the system finds a vulnerability, it doesn’t just tell you “SQL injection in line 47.” It explains:

• What the vulnerability is
• Why it’s dangerous
• How an attacker could exploit it
• Step-by-step instructions to fix it
• Best practices to avoid similar issues in the future

The platform calls this “TL;DR security context.” It’s designed to teach you while you work, not just flag problems.

Registering for Aikido Security as a Developer or Startup

Students aren’t the only ones who can sign up for Aikido Security for free. Developers and small teams also have options to get started without paying anything upfront.

The Free Tier for Individual Developers

Aikido offers a free tier for individual developers working on personal projects. The exact limits vary, but you can typically scan a few repositories without paying.

This is perfect for:

• Open source maintainers
• Freelance developers
• Developers learning security
• Anyone building side projects

Startup-Friendly Pricing

For startups that need more capacity, Aikido’s pricing is designed to scale with you. You don’t pay enterprise prices when you’re just getting started.

The pricing model is based on the number of repositories and the features you need. Small teams can often get started for under $100/month.

Enterprise Sign Up Process

Larger organizations can still sign up through the self-serve flow. But Aikido also offers dedicated onboarding for enterprise customers who need:

• Custom contracts
• SSO integration
• Advanced compliance features
• Dedicated support
• Custom training

If you’re at a larger company, you can request a demo or contact the sales team directly.

Setting Up Your Aikido Security Account: A Deep Dive

Once you’ve completed the initial sign up for Aikido Security, there’s more configuration to do. Let’s walk through the setup process in detail.

Connecting Multiple Repositories

Most developers have more than one project. Aikido lets you connect as many repositories as your plan allows. Here’s how to add more:

1. Navigate to Settings in your Aikido dashboard
2. Select “Repositories” or “Integrations”
3. Click “Add Repository”
4. Select the repository from your connected GitHub or GitLab account
5. Configure scanning options for that repository

You can set different configurations for different repositories. Maybe you want daily scans for your main product but weekly scans for internal tools.

Configuring Branch Protection

Aikido works best when integrated into your development workflow. One powerful feature is branch protection.

You can configure Aikido to:

• Block merges when critical vulnerabilities are found
• Require vulnerability review before merging
• Automatically comment on pull requests with security findings
• Run scans on every push or just on pull requests

This catches security issues before they reach your main branch. It’s shift-left security in action.

Setting Up IDE Integration

One of Aikido’s best features is the IDE integration. You can get security alerts right in your code editor as you write.

Supported IDEs include:

• VSCode – The most popular option
• Cursor – Great for AI-assisted coding
• Other JetBrains IDEs – Support varies

To set up the VSCode plugin:

1. Open VSCode
2. Go to the Extensions marketplace
3. Search for “Aikido Security”
4. Install the extension
5. Authenticate with your Aikido account

Now you’ll see security warnings inline as you code. The extension highlights vulnerable lines and suggests fixes. This is especially helpful when writing or generating code with AI tools.

Connecting Cloud Infrastructure

If you’re using cloud services, Aikido can also scan your infrastructure. The setup process depends on your cloud provider.

For AWS:

1. Navigate to Cloud Settings in Aikido
2. Select AWS
3. Create an IAM role with read-only permissions
4. Enter the role ARN in Aikido
5. Run your first cloud scan

For Azure:

1. Navigate to Cloud Settings
2. Select Azure
3. Create a service principal with reader access
4. Enter the credentials in Aikido
5. Start scanning

For GCP:

1. Navigate to Cloud Settings
2. Select Google Cloud Platform
3. Create a service account with viewer role
4. Upload the JSON key file
5. Begin cloud scanning

Cloud scanning helps you find misconfigurations like public S3 buckets, open security groups, or overly permissive IAM policies.

Understanding Aikido Security’s Dashboard After Sign Up

Once you’ve signed up and connected your repositories, you’ll spend most of your time in the Aikido dashboard. Let’s explore what you’ll see there.

The Security Overview

The main dashboard gives you a high-level view of your security posture. You’ll see:

• Total Issues Found: The complete count of vulnerabilities across all your projects
• Critical/High/Medium/Low Breakdown: Issues sorted by severity
• Trend Over Time: Are things getting better or worse?
• Recent Scans: When your projects were last scanned
• Quick Actions: Links to common tasks

This overview helps you understand your overall security health at a glance.

Navigating the Issues List

Clicking into the issues list shows you every vulnerability Aikido has found. Each issue includes:

• Title: A clear description of the problem
• Severity: Critical, High, Medium, or Low
• Location: Which file and line number
• Category: SAST, SCA, secrets, etc.
• First Detected: When Aikido first found it
• Status: Open, fixed, ignored, or false positive

You can filter issues by repository, severity, category, or status. This makes it easy to focus on what matters most.

Understanding Issue Details

Click on any issue to see the full details. This is where Aikido really shines. You’ll find:

The Problem Explained: A plain-language description of what’s wrong and why it matters.

The Code: The exact lines of code causing the issue, with context.

Attack Scenario: How an attacker could exploit this vulnerability.

Fix Instructions: Step-by-step guidance on how to fix the issue.

References: Links to CVE databases, security advisories, and learning resources.

This context is what makes Aikido valuable for learning. You don’t just see “vulnerability found.” You understand what it is and how to fix it.

Using AI AutoFix

One of Aikido’s standout features is the AI AutoFix Agent. For many vulnerabilities, Aikido can automatically generate a fix.

Here’s how it works:

1. Find a vulnerability in your dashboard
2. Click the “AutoFix” button
3. Aikido’s AI analyzes the code and generates a fix
4. Review the suggested changes
5. Apply the fix with one click or copy the code

The AI doesn’t just patch symptoms. It understands the context of your code and generates proper fixes. You still need to review what it suggests, but it saves a lot of time.

Types of Security Issues Aikido Detects After You Sign Up

Let’s look at the specific types of vulnerabilities Aikido finds. Understanding these categories helps you make better use of the platform.

Code Vulnerabilities (SAST)

Static Application Security Testing scans your source code without running it. Aikido’s SAST engine finds:

• SQL Injection: Code that allows attackers to manipulate database queries
• Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Vulnerabilities that let attackers inject malicious scripts
• Path Traversal: Issues that allow accessing files outside intended directories
• Command Injection: Code that lets attackers execute system commands
• Insecure Deserialization: Dangerous handling of serialized data
• Hardcoded Credentials: Passwords or API keys embedded in code

SAST scanning happens automatically when you push code or on a schedule you configure.

Dependency Vulnerabilities (SCA)

Most applications use dozens or hundreds of third-party libraries. Software Composition Analysis checks these dependencies for known vulnerabilities.

Aikido monitors:

• npm packages for JavaScript/TypeScript
• PyPI packages for Python
• Maven/Gradle dependencies for Java
• Gems for Ruby
• NuGet packages for .NET
• And many more ecosystems

When a library you use has a security advisory published, Aikido alerts you. It also tells you which version to upgrade to.

Secret Detection

Exposed secrets are one of the most common security issues. Developers accidentally commit API keys, passwords, and tokens to version control all the time.

Aikido detects:

• AWS access keys
• GitHub tokens
• Stripe API keys
• Database connection strings
• JWT secrets
• Private keys
• And hundreds of other secret patterns

The scanner checks your entire git history, not just the current code. Secrets committed years ago and later deleted are still exposed in your git history.

Container Security

If you use Docker, Aikido scans your container images. It checks:

• The base image for known vulnerabilities
• OS packages installed in the container
• Application dependencies
• Dockerfile misconfigurations

Container scanning is important because you’re responsible for everything inside your containers, even packages you didn’t install directly.

Infrastructure as Code Issues

Many teams define their infrastructure in code using tools like Terraform, CloudFormation, or Kubernetes manifests. Aikido scans these files for security issues.

Common IaC findings include:

• Overly permissive IAM policies
• Unencrypted storage volumes
• Public network access where it shouldn’t be
• Missing logging and monitoring
• Insecure default configurations

Cloud Misconfigurations

Beyond scanning your IaC files, Aikido can also scan your actual cloud environment. This catches:

• Public S3 buckets
• Exposed databases
• Overly permissive security groups
• Missing encryption
• Unused credentials
• Compliance violations

The cloud scanner connects directly to your AWS, Azure, or GCP account with read-only access.

Comparing Aikido Security to Other Platforms

Before you sign up for Aikido Security, you might want to understand how it compares to alternatives. Let’s look at some common comparisons.

Aikido vs. Snyk

Snyk is one of the most well-known application security platforms. Here’s how they compare:

The biggest difference is that Aikido combines everything in one platform. Snyk requires separate products (and bills) for different security capabilities.

Aikido vs. GitHub Advanced Security

GitHub offers built-in security features through GitHub Advanced Security. Here’s the comparison:

GitHub Advanced Security is only available for GitHub users and only on paid GitHub plans. Aikido works with both GitHub and GitLab, and the free tier is more generous.

Aikido vs. SonarQube

SonarQube is a popular open-source code quality tool. Many teams use it for both code quality and security.

SonarQube excels at code quality analysis but has more limited security features. Many teams use both tools together.

Aikido vs. Veracode

Veracode is an enterprise-focused security platform. It’s been around for years and is common in large organizations.

Veracode is powerful but designed for large enterprises with dedicated security teams. Aikido is built for developers who want to handle security themselves.

Best Practices After Signing Up for Aikido Security

Getting the most out of Aikido requires more than just signing up. Here are proven practices for success with the platform.

Start with One Repository

Don’t connect all your repositories at once. Start with a single project. Learn the interface. Understand how to interpret findings. Then expand.

Pick a repository that:

• Is actively maintained
• Has a mix of your own code and dependencies
• Isn’t so large that scans take forever

Prioritize Critical Issues First

Your first scan will likely find many issues. Don’t try to fix everything at once. Aikido ranks issues by severity for a reason.

Focus order:

1. Critical severity issues
2. Exposed secrets
3. High severity issues in frequently-used code paths
4. Issues with known exploits in the wild
5. Everything else

Review False Positives Carefully

No security scanner is perfect. Sometimes Aikido will flag code that isn’t actually vulnerable. When you find a false positive:

1. Make sure it’s really a false positive (research the issue type)
2. Mark it as such in Aikido
3. Add a comment explaining why

Aikido learns from false positive reports. This helps improve the platform for everyone.

Set Up Pull Request Integration

The most valuable time to catch security issues is before they’re merged. Configure Aikido to comment on pull requests with security findings.

This way:

• Issues are caught early
• Developers see findings in context
• Security becomes part of the normal review process

Use the IDE Plugin Daily

Don’t wait for scans to find issues. The IDE plugin shows problems as you write code. This is the fastest feedback loop possible.

Benefits include:

• Learn secure coding patterns naturally
• Fix issues before committing
• Avoid back-and-forth with CI scans

Keep Dependencies Updated

Many security issues come from outdated dependencies. Use Aikido’s SCA findings to stay on top of updates. Create a regular cadence for updating packages.

A simple approach:

• Update dependencies with security issues immediately
• Update other dependencies weekly or monthly
• Test after updates to catch compatibility issues

Aikido Security Registration for Teams

Individual sign up is great, but Aikido really shines when your whole team is on board. Let’s look at team setup.

Inviting Team Members

After you sign up, you can invite teammates to join your Aikido workspace. Go to Settings > Team > Invite Members. Enter email addresses and select their role.

Available roles typically include:

• Admin: Full access to all settings and billing
• Developer: Can view findings and apply fixes
• Read-Only: Can view findings but not change anything

Organizing Repositories by Team

Larger organizations often have multiple teams working on different codebases. Aikido lets you organize repositories into groups.

This helps with:

• Filtering the dashboard by team
• Setting different notification preferences
• Reporting on security by team
• Access control

Setting Up Ownership

Aikido can integrate with your code ownership files (CODEOWNERS). This means security findings can be automatically routed to the right people.

When a vulnerability is found:

1. Aikido checks who owns that code
2. Notifications go to the right developer
3. Tickets can be auto-assigned

This scales security responsibility across your team instead of burdening one person.

Integrating Aikido Security Into Your Development Workflow

The best security tools fit into your existing workflow. Aikido offers many integrations to make this easy.

CI/CD Integration

Aikido integrates with popular CI/CD platforms:

• GitHub Actions: Add Aikido as a step in your workflow
• GitLab CI: Include Aikido scans in your pipeline
• Jenkins: Use the Aikido plugin or CLI
• CircleCI: Add Aikido orb to your config
• Bitbucket Pipelines: Integration available

The CI integration can fail builds when critical vulnerabilities are found. This prevents insecure code from reaching production.

Ticketing System Integration

Security findings need to become actionable tickets. Aikido integrates with:

• Jira: Auto-create tickets for findings
• Linear: Sync issues to Linear
• GitHub Issues: Create issues directly in your repo
• GitLab Issues: Same for GitLab users

You can configure rules for automatic ticket creation. For example, create a Jira ticket for any critical finding in production repositories.

Communication Integrations

Stay informed about new findings with:

• Slack: Get alerts in your team channels
• Microsoft Teams: Notifications via Teams
• Email: Daily or weekly digest emails
• Webhooks: Custom integrations via webhooks

Configure notification rules based on severity. Maybe you want Slack alerts for criticals but daily emails for everything else.

Aikido Security for Academic Institutions

Beyond individual student accounts, Aikido also works with schools and universities directly.

Classroom Integration

Professors can use Aikido as a teaching tool. The platform shows real vulnerabilities that students encounter in their code.

Use cases include:

• Security courses: Demonstrate vulnerability types with real examples
• Software engineering classes: Teach secure coding alongside other concepts
• Capstone projects: Require security scanning as part of project requirements
• CTF competitions: Use Aikido alongside capture-the-flag exercises

How to Partner with Aikido

Schools can reach out to Aikido directly for educational partnerships. Contact them at education@aikido.dev.

Potential partnership benefits:

• Bulk student account provisioning
• Custom onboarding for your institution
• Guest lectures or workshops from Aikido engineers
• Curriculum resources
• Co-marketing opportunities

Research Opportunities

Academic researchers studying application security may find Aikido useful for their work. The platform provides data about:

• Common vulnerability patterns
• Fix rates and times
• Developer security behaviors

Contact Aikido’s team if you’re interested in research collaboration.

Common Questions When Signing Up for Aikido Security

Before wrapping up, let’s address some questions that come up during the sign up process.

What Permissions Does Aikido Need?

When you connect GitHub or GitLab, Aikido requests specific permissions. Here’s what they need and why:

• Read access to code: Obviously needed to scan your code
• Read access to metadata: To understand your repository structure
• Write access to checks: To post scan results on pull requests
• Webhook permissions: To trigger scans on pushes

Aikido follows the principle of least privilege. They only request what’s necessary.

Is My Code Stored on Aikido’s Servers?

This is a common concern. Here’s how Aikido handles your code:

• Code is cloned temporarily for scanning
• Scans run in isolated containers
• Code is deleted after scanning
• Only metadata about findings is stored long-term

Aikido doesn’t store your actual source code permanently. They store information about vulnerabilities found.

Can I Use Aikido for Private Repositories?

Yes. Aikido fully supports private repositories. In fact, most users connect private repos. The authorization flow grants Aikido access to the repos you select.

What Languages Does Aikido Support?

Aikido supports most popular programming languages:

• JavaScript and TypeScript
• Python
• Java and Kotlin
• Go
• Ruby
• PHP
• C# and .NET
• Rust
• And more

Support depth varies by language. JavaScript and Python have the most comprehensive coverage.

What Happens to My Account After Graduating?

Students who sign up for Aikido’s free program keep their accounts after graduation. You won’t lose access or your scan history. But you may need to switch to a paid plan depending on your usage.

Security and Compliance Considerations

If you’re evaluating Aikido for an organization, you’ll want to understand their security posture.

Aikido’s Own Security

As a security company, Aikido takes their own security seriously. They:

• Run their own tools on their own code
• Undergo regular security audits
• Have a bug bounty program
• Follow secure development practices

Compliance Certifications

For organizations with compliance requirements, Aikido provides:

• SOC 2 Type II certification
• GDPR compliance
• Data processing agreements
• Security questionnaire responses

Contact their sales team for detailed compliance documentation.

Data Residency

Aikido hosts data in secure cloud infrastructure. If you have specific data residency requirements, check with their team about available options.

Getting Help After You Sign Up for Aikido Security

Sometimes you’ll need help. Here’s how to get support from Aikido.

Documentation and Knowledge Base

Aikido maintains comprehensive documentation at their docs site. You’ll find:

• Getting started guides
• Integration instructions
• Feature explanations
• Troubleshooting guides
• API documentation

Start here for most questions. The docs are searchable and well-organized.

In-App Support

Aikido offers in-app support chat. Look for the chat widget in the bottom corner of the dashboard. Response times vary by plan, but they’re generally responsive.

Community Resources

Connect with other Aikido users through:

• LinkedIn – Follow Aikido Security for updates
• Blog – Technical articles and announcements
• Twitter/X – Quick updates and engagement

Enterprise Support

Paid plans include higher levels of support:

• Faster response times
• Dedicated success manager
• Onboarding assistance
• Custom training

Future of Aikido Security

Aikido is actively developing new features. Based on their recent announcements and LinkedIn posts, here’s what’s coming.

Continued AI Integration

Aikido is investing heavily in AI. The AutoFix Agent is just the beginning. Expect more AI-powered features for:

• Better vulnerability detection
• Smarter prioritization
• Automated remediation
• Predictive security

Expanded Language Support

New programming languages and frameworks are regularly added. If your stack isn’t fully supported today, it might be soon.

Quality Code Events

Aikido’s LinkedIn mentions an upcoming “Quality Code is Secure Code” event on August 19, 2026. This suggests a focus on connecting code quality with security.

Open Source Commitment

Aikido has shown commitment to open source through projects like Opengrep, their fork of Semgrep. Expect continued open source contributions from the team.

Wrapping Up: Is Aikido Security Right for You?

After this deep look at Aikido Security sign up and the platform itself, let’s summarize who should consider it.

Aikido Security is an excellent choice if you want comprehensive application security without the complexity of managing multiple tools. The sign up process takes minutes, and you can start scanning immediately. Students get the full platform free, making it perfect for learning. Developers and startups get accessible pricing that scales. And the developer-focused design means security becomes part of your workflow, not a blocker.

Frequently Asked Questions About Aikido Security Sign Up