c7n-left
Open-source policy evaluation for infrastructure-as-code assets.
At a glance
- Editor scoreNot yet scored
- PricingFree plan
- Best forOpen-source Terraform policy enforcement
- Free planYes
- Paid fromNone
- Custom policiesYes
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Evaluates Cloud Custodian policies against Terraform source assets
- Traverses related resources and supports Terraform data resources
- Adds GitHub pull-request annotations with policy findings
Where it doesn't
- Its verified scope is narrower than multi-framework alternatives
- Windows use is recommended through Docker
- Requires familiarity with Cloud Custodian policies and Terraform
Our verdict on c7n-left
c7n-left is an open-source command-line tool from Cloud Custodian for evaluating Cloud Custodian policies against infrastructure-as-code source assets. It is aimed at developers and platform or security teams that want to identify policy issues in Terraform before deployment. The tool runs on macOS and Linux, supports Docker distribution, and is intended for Windows use through Docker. Its focus is clear: Terraform analysis with policy-driven checks rather than broad coverage across many infrastructure-as-code frameworks.
For Terraform workflows, c7n-left provides several useful inspection controls. Teams can filter policies and resources by name, category, severity, type, and ID, then inspect relationships through resource-graph traversal. Support for Terraform data resources extends checks beyond standard managed resources. Policy testing with Terraform fixtures and assertions also gives maintainers a way to validate custom policies as they evolve. These capabilities suit teams that already work with Cloud Custodian and want checks to reflect their own infrastructure rules.
Workflow integration is centered on developer tooling. c7n-left offers JSON, CLI, and GitHub output formats, with GitHub output designed for pull-request annotations. GitHub Actions, Docker, and Terraform are listed integrations, while Docker image distribution provides an option for consistent execution in automation. The main trade-off is scope: its verified focus is Terraform and Cloud Custodian, so teams seeking a broader multi-framework IaC security platform should consider alternatives. Choose c7n-left for open-source Terraform policy enforcement and customizable checks; look elsewhere if wide framework coverage is the priority.
c7n-left pricing
c7n-left fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | None |
| Terraform analysis | Yes |
| Kubernetes analysis | Not verified |
| CloudFormation analysis | Not verified |
| Custom policies | Yes |
| Secrets detection | Not verified |
| Pull request scanning | Yes |
| IDE integration | Not verified |
| Deployment | Self-hosted, Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 3 integrations: GitHub Actions, Docker, Terraform |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | cloudcustodian.io |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
c7n-left integrations
c7n-left lists 3 integrations on its own site.
- GitHub Actions
- Docker
- Terraform
Alternatives to c7n-left
- KICSA broad, free IaC scanner for security, compliance, secrets, and misconfigurations.—
- CheckovA free, multi-framework IaC scanner with custom policies, graph analysis, and CI/CD support.—
- Snyk IaCA broad IaC security layer for teams that need scanning, governance, and drift management.8.4
See all c7n-left alternatives →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
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