As the volume of business conducted on the internet rises, the importance of these programs’ security increases. That’s where dynamic application security testing comes in. In this blog post, we will discuss what dynamic application security testing is, why you need a DAST tool, and the top 5 DAST tools on the market. DAST and SAST will be compared, followed by the advantages and disadvantages of DAST.
What Is Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)?
DAST is a type of examination that’s used for the detection of security holes in web applications. DAST tools work by analyzing an application while it’s running, in order to detect any potential security issues. In contrast, dynamic application security testing (DAST) does not compare the code of an application while it is not running.
Why Do You Need a DAST Tool?
There are many reasons why you might need a dynamic application security testing tool. DAST can be used to assess the safety of new or existing applications and can help you find vulnerabilities that may have gone undetected by other types of testing. DAST can also be used to monitor applications for changes that could introduce new vulnerabilities, and to assess the effectiveness of application security controls.
Top Five DAST Tools: Key Features
A dynamic application security testing tool should offer a comprehensive set of features to help you secure your applications. Here are five of the best DAST tools on the market, along with some key features to look for:
- Astra’s Vulnerability Scanner: Offers both dynamic and static testing, as well as interactive application security testing. Also includes a web Application Firewall (WAF).
- OWASP Zap: A free and open-source tool that offers dynamic scanning, as well as interactive application security testing.
- Nikto: A free and open-source tool that offers dynamic scanning of web servers.
- Acunetix: A cloud-based platform that offers dynamic scanning, as well as vulnerability management and compliance reporting.
- Synopsys Managed DAST: A managed service that offers dynamic scanning, expert analysis, and remediation guidance.
DAST: Is the Process Manual or Automated?
DAST may be carried out manually as well as with the aid of automated tools. Manual DAST involves manually running scans against an application to identify vulnerabilities. Automated DAST involves setting up a schedule of regular scans, which will be conducted automatically by the DAST tool.
How does DAST work?
DAST tools work by analyzing an application while it’s running, in order to detect any potential security issues. This is done by injecting malicious input into the application and observing how it responds. If the application is not configured properly, this can result in the disclosure of sensitive information or the execution of unintended actions.
Dynamic Application Security Testing Tools: Pros & Cons
DAST has a number of advantages over other types of testing, including the ability to identify vulnerabilities that may not be detectable by other means. However, DAST also has some disadvantages, such as the potential for false positives and the need for expert interpretation of results.
DAST vs SAST
Dynamic application security testing and static application security testing are two complementary approaches to securing applications. While dynamic testing is better at identifying actual vulnerabilities, static testing can provide insights into potential vulnerabilities. Both approaches have their pros and cons, and both should be used in order to ensure the security of your applications.
Further Exploring the Top Five Dynamic Application Security Testing Tools
Now that you’ve learned all about dynamic application security testing, it’s time to meet the top five DAST tools. In this part, we’ll go through each tool in detail, as well as pointers to more information.
● Astra’s Vulnerability Scanner
The Astra Vulnerability Scanner is an on-demand security scanner that may be used by anyone to find flaws in their software, regardless of skill level. It’s a cloud-based program that may be run on any platform and accesses the internet from anywhere with a connection.
The scanner is filled with 3000+ scan rules from our security experts’ decades of experience conducting vulnerability assessments and penetration tests on a variety of applications. A thorough understanding of hacking methods employed by hackers in security vulnerability assessments and penetration tests provides unique, realistic hacker intelligence results.
● OWASP Zap
The OWASP ZAP project is an open-source tool that performs as a web application security testing tool. It’s an open-source program that includes a scanner and a built-in development environment (IDE) to find numerous security flaws in apps. The software may be used to scan any application running on a local computer or on the internet. Anyone interested in discovering security vulnerabilities in a web application may use it.
● Nikto
Nikto is an open-source web server scanner that checks for over 6700 potentially dangerous files and programs, as well as outdated server versions, on more than 270 server versions, including Apache, MySQL, FTP, ProFTPd, Courier, Netscape (client), iPlanet (client), Lotus Domino (server), BIND (server), MyDoom.
● Acunetix
Acunetix is a cloud-based platform that offers dynamic scanning, as well as vulnerability management and compliance reporting. Acunetix is available in both on-premises and cloud versions, with the latter being more cost-effective for companies.
● Synopsys Managed DAST
Synopsys Managed DAST is a managed service that includes dynamic scanning, expert analysis, and remediation assistance. Synopsys offers two versions of its Managed DAST product: on-premises and cloud.
Conclusion
The importance of dynamic application security testing tools in terms of the security of an application cannot be replicated. These tools can help to identify vulnerabilities that may not be detectable by other means and can provide insights into potential vulnerabilities. However, DAST also has some disadvantages, such as the potential for false positives and the need for expert interpretation of results. Dynamic application security testing, when used in conjunction with static application security testing, can give a full picture of an app’s security posture.