> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.sherlock.xyz/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.sherlock.xyz/audit-engine/how-audit-engine-relates-to-other-sherlock-offerings.md).

# How Audit Engine Relates to Other Sherlock Offerings

Audit Engine is Sherlock’s orchestration platform for AI auditors, frontier models and skills, and human (often AI-assisted) security researchers, with validation, deduplication, judging, reporting, and codebase-specific benchmarking.

[Collaborative Audits](/audit-contests-deprecated-replaced-by-audit-engine/protocols/how-collaborative-audits-work.md) and Blackthorn remain separate staffed products.

### Side-by-side

| Offering                                                                                                                            | Role                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Audit Engine**                                                                                                                    | Orchestrated review from AI auditors, models / skills, and optional security researchers. Fits pre-audit checks, full engagements, bug bashes on live code, and teams that want fast judged results plus [Benchmarking](/audit-engine/benchmarking.md) on their codebase. |
| [**Sherlock Collaborative Audits**](/audit-contests-deprecated-replaced-by-audit-engine/protocols/how-collaborative-audits-work.md) | Staffed human engagement with deep coordination and structured fix verification. Sherlock’s main certified human-led review product.                                                                                                                                      |
| **Blackthorn Collaborative Audits**                                                                                                 | Collaborative review for the most demanding scopes (new primitives, complex integrations, large TVL, high uncertainty). Premium pricing only.                                                                                                                             |

### When to choose Audit Engine

Choose Audit Engine when you want:

* Thorough, high-throughput vulnerability-finding on a defined scope
* Fast AI parallelization (results in hours on focused and comprehensive AI shapes)
* Optional human + AI coverage on intensive engagements
* [Benchmarking](/audit-engine/benchmarking.md) of AI vendors, models, and researchers on *your* code
* Live Critical / High alerts and curated Findings on Audit Engine timelines

Choose [Collaborative Audits](/audit-contests-deprecated-replaced-by-audit-engine/protocols/how-collaborative-audits-work.md) or Blackthorn when you need staffed architectural depth, tight remediation loops, and formal fix verification / release sign-off.

Many teams use both: Audit Engine for breadth and AI pressure, then Collaborative or Blackthorn for certified depth on the release candidate. Audit Engine can run in parallel with other Sherlock work when scoped cleanly; [ask Sherlock](https://sherlock.xyz/contact) so positioning and confidentiality stay aligned.

### Certification and fix review

* Audit Engine engagements are **best-effort** by default unless your SOW adds a stronger path
* A dedicated **fix review** after AE (for example pairing a top-ranked AI auditor with a human security researcher for on-chain sign-off) **is available** any may or may not be included in the Audit Engine SOW.
* For high-stakes release gates, pair Audit Engine with Sherlock or Blackthorn Collaborative Audits, and follow with a Sherlock Managed Bug Bounty Program.

See also: [Engagement Types](/audit-engine/engagement-types.md), [For Protocol Teams](/audit-engine/for-protocol-teams.md), [FAQ](/audit-engine/faq.md).