- Static Application Security Testing (SAST). This is a white-box type of testing, which requires access to the source code to ensure that it functions correctly. SAST can detect various security flaws in software, such as stack buffer overflows and SQL injection. SAST doesn’t require a running system and can be used as an extensible security test method.
- Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST). This is a form of black-box testing in which tests are conducted from outside of a working application. When an application is in production or has entered runtime, it is considered validated in its current state. To find security flaws that have been missed by other methods of testing, testers follow the hacker’s method.
Trends in SAST and DAST
- Mordor Intelligence’s report reveals that the DAST market will grow at a rate of 24.3% between 2021 and 2026.
- IndustryARC’s report reveals that the DAST market will reach $455 Million by 2025, according to IndustryARC.
- DAST solutions can now be integrated into the SDLC thanks to DevOps’s rise. This has made DAST solutions more applicable to other industries, such as banking and healthcare.
- Cloud-based security contributes significantly to static application security due to its support for complex environments and rise in mobile apps.
Difference Between SAST and DAST
- SAST
- Types of white-box security testing
- Developer’s perspective on testing
- It is not necessary to deploy the application
- Because vulnerabilities are discovered early in the software development cycle (SDLC), it is more cost-effective to fix them.
- It is impossible to find issues related to environment and run time.
- All types of software supported, including web applications, web services and thick clients
- DAST
- Types of black-box security testing
- Testing from a hacker perspective
- It is necessary to have a running application
- It is expensive to fix vulnerabilities once they are discovered at end of SDLC
- This can reveal problems related to environment and run time
- Only supports web apps, mobile applications, web services
How to Choose Between DAST and SAST Tools
These factors should be considered when comparing SAST and DAST tools. 1False Positives. This will impact how your team uses development and security testing methods and show how disruptive testing is to the SDLC. It will impact how your team uses development and security testing methods and show how disruptive testing is to the SDLC.3AutomationAnalyze the extent to which static testing can be automated within the development environment. SAST was traditionally considered a manual method of application security testing. Automation can increase efficiency.
SAST Tools
- SonarQube: Organizations all over the world use this tool to own and update code quality and code security.
- Checkmarx CxSAST: Helps in checking errors in the source code. Also detects issues with security and regulation compliance.
DAST Tools
- ZAP: An open-source DAST scanner that supports scanning with a desktop application and automated scanning via API.
- Burp Suite: One of the widely used penetration testing tools by security testing teams that perform manual scans.
- HCL Appscan: Formerly called IBM Security AppScan Standard, this tool is a combination of DAST and SAST that can scan over a million lines of code per hour.