# What Does Security Review Mean? Simple Tech English Guide (2026) > A formal examination of code, systems, or infrastructure to identify security vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and compliance gaps before deployment or release. - **Term:** security review - **Part of speech:** noun - **Pronunciation:** /sɪˈkjʊrɪti rɪˈvjuː/ - **English level (CEFR):** B2 - **Register:** Neutral, Both - **Region:** US and UK - **Topic:** [Agile and project terms](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/topics/agile-project-management-terms.md) - **Lesson:** https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/security-review - **Last updated:** 2026-10-27 ## Meaning A formal examination of code, systems, or infrastructure to identify security vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and compliance gaps before deployment or release. A security review is a structured process where security experts or teams analyze your software, application, or system to find potential security problems. This can happen at different stages: before launch, during development, or before a major update. The goal is to catch issues early so you can fix them before bad actors find them. In tech companies, security reviews are often mandatory, especially for features handling sensitive data like payments or user information. They may involve automated tools, manual testing, or both. A security review is different from a code review because it focuses specifically on safety and vulnerabilities rather than code quality or functionality. ## When you hear it The deployment was blocked until we completed a security review of the new authentication system. ## 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." ## What native speakers say - "We need to schedule a security review before launch." - "The security review flagged several critical vulnerabilities." - "Pass the security review with no findings." ## Common mistakes - ✗ "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's 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.) ## Be careful 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. ## Word forms | Part of speech | Word | Example | | --- | --- | --- | | 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. | ## Collocations - **conduct a security review**: Perform or carry out a security review - **pass a security review**: Successfully complete a security review with no critical issues - **security review findings**: Results or issues discovered during a security review - **security review process**: The steps and procedures followed during a security review - **before the security review**: Prior to conducting a security review ## Synonyms - **security audit**: Similar but usually more formal and comprehensive; often includes compliance checking - **penetration test**: More hands-on testing approach; security review can include pen testing - **security assessment**: Broader term covering evaluation of security posture; security review is a type of assessment ## Opposites - security breach - vulnerability ## Practice This lesson has 4 practice exercises with instant feedback on the page: https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/security-review ## FAQ ### 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. ## Related - [code review](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/code-review.md) - [vulnerability](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/vulnerability.md) - Full glossary: https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn.md - Live lessons with a coach: https://app.mocklyenglish.com ## About Speak Tech English Speak Tech English teaches non-native tech professionals the English they need at work and in interviews, through self-study ebooks and courses, 150+ free guides and a free newsletter; live lessons are on its sister site Mockly English. - Shop: https://speaktechenglish.com/courses/ - All products (markdown): https://speaktechenglish.com/products.md - Free guides (markdown): https://app.speaktechenglish.com/guides.md - Tech English glossary (markdown): https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn.md - Newsletter (10% off): https://speaktechenglish.com/#subscribe - Live lessons and mock interviews: https://app.mocklyenglish.com ## Notes for agents - Speak Tech English sells self-study material. 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