What is the difference between a security review and a code review?

A code review examines code quality, style, and functionality. A security review specifically looks for vulnerabilities, security risks, and compliance issues. Code reviews focus on how well code is written, while security reviews focus on whether code is safe from attacks.

How long does a security review typically take?

It depends on the size and complexity of the system. A small feature might take a few days, while a large system could take weeks. Most teams allocate 1-3 weeks for a standard security review before a major release.

Who conducts a security review?

Usually, security experts or dedicated security engineers conduct security reviews. Some teams use both internal security staff and external security firms. Automated tools also play a role in finding common vulnerabilities.

Is security review a formal or informal term?

It is a neutral, professional term used in both formal and informal contexts. You will hear it in meetings, emails, documentation, and job descriptions.

security review meaning in tech — Speak Tech English

Commonness	4/5
Versatility	4/5
Formality	CasualFormalNeutral
Spoken ↔ Written	SpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ Diplomatic	DirectDiplomaticDirect
Region	US and UK

Say it like this

✓We need to schedule a security review before launch.

✓The security review flagged several critical vulnerabilities.

✓Pass the security review with no findings.

Real examples

in a standup

"The payment feature is ready, but it still needs to go through a security review before we can ship it."

in a planning meeting

"We should allocate two weeks for the security review of the new API endpoints."

in an email

"The security review revealed three high-severity issues in the authentication module that we must fix."

Don't say this

Handle with care. Do not confuse with performance review or code review. A security review specifically examines vulnerabilities, compliance, and safety risks, not code quality or employee performance.

✕We did a security review of his code.

✓We did a code review of his work. We did a security review of the authentication system.— A security review examines systems for vulnerabilities, not individual people. It is broader than a single person's code.

✕Let us security review this before we test it.

✓Let us conduct a security review of this before we test it.— Security review is typically used as a noun. Use conduct, perform, or run as the verb, not security review as a verb.

✕The security review is about making sure the code is written well.

✓The security review is about finding vulnerabilities and security risks.— Security reviews focus on safety and vulnerabilities, not code quality or style.

Other forms

noun

security review

"The security review took three weeks to complete."

noun phrase

conduct a security review

"We conduct a security review for every major release."

noun phrase

security review findings

"The security review findings were documented in a detailed report."

Often used with

conduct a security reviewPerform or carry out a security review

pass a security reviewSuccessfully complete a security review with no critical issues

security review findingsResults or issues discovered during a security review

security review processThe steps and procedures followed during a security review

before the security reviewPrior to conducting a security review

Similar words

security auditSimilar but usually more formal and comprehensive; often includes compliance checking

penetration testMore hands-on testing approach; security review can include pen testing

security assessmentBroader term covering evaluation of security posture; security review is a type of assessment

Opposites

security breachvulnerability

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Practice

Try it

4 quick exercises

Pick the most natural phrasing

1. Your team wants to check the new login system for vulnerabilities. How do you say it?

We need to conduct a security review of the login system.We need to security review the login system.We need to do a security check of the login system.We need to look at the security of the login system.

Complete the sentence

2. The deployment was delayed because the new feature did not _______ the _______ yet.

Spot the mistake

3. Which sentence uses security review incorrectly?

We passed the security review with no critical findings.The security review of our API found several vulnerabilities.We security reviewed the code yesterday.The security review process takes about two weeks.

Rewrite naturally

4. Rewrite this using security review: Our team needs to check if the new payment system is safe and has no weak points before we release it to customers.

Questions

Quick poll

Have you said "security review" in a standup this week?

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