Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) Tools

Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), also known as black box testing, is a set of application security tools that enable the detection of vulnerabilities across user-facing aspects of an application. Commonly used in conjunction with SAST (Static Application Security Testing) tools, DAST enables security testing for all functionalities that are accessible to users, and those which hackers can possibly attempt to breach.

Due to only user-facing components of an application being tested, DAST can only be implemented during the latter stages of the development cycle. As a result, it is crucial to use a combination of SAST and DAST, since the former checks for vulnerabilities in source code (which can be done much earlier during the software development lifecycle).

Additionally, DAST can also be combined with IAST (Interactive Application Security Testing) tools to test individual functions on a real-time basis. Other supporting security tools for application and software development include:

• Web security,
• Identity and Access Management (IAM),
• Penetration testing.