Businesses are now more reliant on applications than ever before. This is because applications provide a competitive edge and enable new ways of doing business that was not possible back. However, with this newfound power comes a greater risk of attack. Hacking is an increasingly common problem that affects both businesses and consumers. Hackers are constantly on the lookout for exploits in applications to use and gain access to sensitive data. That’s why dynamic application security testing (DAST) is so important.
Dynamic application security testing (DAST) is an approach to software security testing that involves the execution of malicious code or scripts on the target system in order to identify potential vulnerabilities. Unlike static application security testing (SAST), which analyzes binaries and source code, DAST assesses the behavior of running applications.
It is important to understand why dynamic application security testing is necessary, what its steps are, and what are the best dynamic application security testing tools in this category and their features before you can make an informed decision about choosing one for your organization.
What Is Dynamic Application Security Testing and How Does It Work?
The goal of dynamic application security testing is to identify problems with online applications that may be exploited by hackers.
DAST can be used to test web applications of all types, including:
- Web-based e-commerce applications
- Corporate intranets
- Web portals
- Content management systems (CMS)
Why Is Dynamic Application Security Testing Important?
The importance of dynamic application security testing lies in its ability to find vulnerabilities that static analysis tools cannot. This is because static analysis tools only look at the code and not how it behaves when it is running.
On the other side, dynamic application security testing examines how the code operates while it is executing. This allows for the discovery of vulnerabilities that would otherwise be undetected using static analysis tools.
Steps in Dynamic Application Security Testing
The steps in dynamic application security testing are:
- Planning: Defining the scope of the test and setting up the test environment.
- Discovery: Identifying all the entry points into the system under test.
- Attack: Trying to exploit vulnerabilities in the system under test.
- Report: Generating a report of all the findings.
Best Dynamic Application Security Testing Tools and Their Features
There are many dynamic application security testing tools available in the market, but not all of them are created equal. Here is a list of the best dynamic application security testing tools and their features:
- Astra’s Pentest Suite: Astra’s Pentest Suite is a web application security penetration suite with automated and manual pentesting facilities with a comprehensive vulnerability scanner that can find SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other vulnerabilities. It also has a feature that allows you to simulate attacks so that you can see how your system would respond.
- AppSpider: AppSpider is a web application security scanner that is designed to find vulnerabilities in web applications. It has a wide range of features, including the ability to scan for over 50 different types of vulnerabilities.
- Burp Suite: Burp Suite is a complete security testing solution for web applications. It contains a number of tools, including a proxy server, a web application scanner, and a web application fuzzer.
- IBM AppScan: The IBM AppScan is a web application security scanner that may be used to detect flaws in websites. It supports a number of features, including the capacity to identify more than 50 distinct kinds of vulnerabilities.
Factors to Consider When Selecting The Best Dynamic Application Security Testing Tools
Now that you know what dynamic application security testing is and why it’s so important, you need to choose the best software for your organization. Here are some factors that you should consider when choosing a dynamic application security testing tool:
- The size of your organization: If you have a large organization, then you will need a tool that can scale to meet your needs.
- The types of applications you need to test: You will need a tool that is designed to test the type of application you are using.
- Your budget: When it comes to tools, you’ll need to think about your budget.
- The features you need: You’ll need to think about the features you require in a tool.
- Your experience level: If you are new to dynamic application security testing, then you will need a tool that is easy to use.
Conclusion
Now that you know what dynamic application security testing is and why it is important, as well as the steps involved in performing a test, you are ready to choose the best tool for your organization. When it comes to selecting the ideal instrument, consider the factors mentioned above so you can get the most out of your purchase.
