Google Artifact Analysis
Google Artifact Analysis provides software composition analysis and stores and retrieves metadata.
What Google Artifact Analysis is
Google Artifact Analysis provides software composition analysis and stores and retrieves metadata. It automatically scans container images when they are pushed to Artifact Registry, then updates vulnerability information as new issues are discovered. Package scanning checks Java, Python, and Node.js packages for vulnerabilities, malicious software, secrets, dependencies, and licenses. Users can access findings and metadata in the Google Cloud console, with gcloud CLI, or through an API supporting gRPC and REST/JSON. Structured metadata can record release activities such as integration tests and vulnerability scans, and it can be used with Binary Authorization to enforce deployment policies for compliant images from trusted registries. Detection points are built into products including Artifact Registry and Google Kubernetes Engine; Security Command Center can aggregate image findings across projects for viewing and export to BigQuery. Scanning is paid, with automatic and on-demand scan plans listed at $0.26, paid once. Packages with more than 100 files are not scanned; results can become stale if scanned items are not pulled within 30 days. Virtual repositories are not supported for vulnerability scanning.
Good
- Automatic image scans start when images are pushed.
- Checks packages for vulnerabilities, secrets, and licenses.
- Metadata can support Binary Authorization deployment policies.
- Findings can be exported to BigQuery.
Watch out
- No free plan is listed.
- Package scans are limited to 100 files.
- Virtual repositories do not support vulnerability scanning.
- Results become stale after 30 days without pulls.
Who it suits
It suits teams that need to scan container images or supported language packages and manage related metadata. It may also fit organizations using Binary Authorization or Security Command Center to apply deployment policies or review findings.
Verdict
Google Artifact Analysis combines image and package scanning with metadata storage and retrieval. Check its package-size and repository limits, and note that scans are paid with no free plan listed.
Plans and prices
From Google Artifact Analysis's own pricing page, checked 3 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic scanning | $0.26, paid once | Container or language package scan · subsequent scans of the same image are free · per scan |
| On-Demand Scanning | $0.26, paid once | Manual scan · results available up to 48 hours after scan completion · per scanned container image |
The facts
Each one read from Google Artifact Analysis's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Compliance
- Google Cloud says it undergoes independent verification and achieves certifications, attestations, and audit reports to help demonstrate compliance.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Container scanning
- Automatic vulnerability scanning runs when a new image is pushed to Artifact Registry, and vulnerability information is updated as new vulnerabilities are discovered.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Deployment policies
- Artifact Analysis metadata can be used with Binary Authorization to create policies that allow deployments only for compliant images from trusted registries.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Artifact Analysis detection points are built into Google Cloud products including Artifact Registry and Google Kubernetes Engine.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Metadata
- Artifact Analysis stores and retrieves structured metadata that can record release activities such as integration tests or vulnerability scans.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Monitoring limit
- Scanned images and packages continue to receive metadata updates while pulled within the last 30 days; after that, results become stale.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Package scanning
- Package scanning identifies vulnerabilities, malicious software, secrets, dependencies, and licenses in open-source dependencies of language-based packages.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Artifact Analysis provides software composition analysis and metadata storage and retrieval.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Repository limitation
- Vulnerability scanning is not supported in Artifact Registry virtual repositories.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Scanning limit
- Artifact Analysis scans packages with 100 or fewer files.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Security Command Center
- Security Command Center aggregates Artifact Registry scan findings so users can view image vulnerabilities across projects and export findings to BigQuery.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Supported interfaces
- Users can access package vulnerabilities and metadata in the Google Cloud console, with gcloud CLI, or through the Artifact Analysis API, which supports gRPC and REST/JSON.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Supported package types
- Automatic package scanning supports Java, Python, and Node.js packages.checked 3 Oct 2026
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