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AppSec Tools: What They Do and How to Pick the Right One

What is AppSec?

Application Security (AppSec), the process of protecting applications against malicious compromise, has become a critical factor in software development and deployment. Cyber attackers and their methods are evolving along with technology, and their attacks are becoming more sophisticated and more prevalent. In 2024 the average cost of a data breach was $4.88 million, with a staggering 84 percent of software breaches exploiting vulnerabilities at the application layer.  Beyond the monetary cost of a cyber breach, there can also be a significant opportunity cost from personnel spending time to investigate and recover from the incident. And news of a breach can be disastrous to the company’s reputation.

With over 26,000 vulnerabilities disclosed in 2023, it’s clear that detecting and dealing with vulnerabilities in your applications needs to be a priority. And it is well known that dealing with them early in the software development process can be orders of magnitude less costly than dealing with them in later stages of the software development life cycle (SDLC). Recognizing this, organizations are adopting a shift-left methodology to focus on detecting application security vulnerabilities early in the software development process and thereby increasing the efficacy of their application security strategies.

The OWASP Top Application Security Threats

The Open Worldwide Application Security Project (OWASP) publishes its list of top ten software security risks every three to four years. The organization last published its findings in 2021, so we are due for an update soon. The 2021 list is very similar to the 2017 list indicating that while they have become more sophisticated, the nature of security threats has not changed significantly over recent years.

 The list includes vulnerabilities, such as injection, broken authentication, and sensitive data exposure, for which every organization needs to test. View the complete list of the OWASP Top Application Security Risks

Benefits and Challenges of Regular Security Assessments

Cyber criminals are constantly on the lookout for vulnerabilities that will allow them to access a system to steal data, deny operational capacity, or hold a company’s resources for ransom. Developers and providers of applications must stay up-to-date and apply all security measures at their disposal to ensure that the use of their applications is safe. That’s no easy task with today’s highly complex software applications. There are valuable benefits to be had by deploying effective application security testing. But there are also some challenges.

In addition to the obvious benefit of improving the company’s security posture, having a comprehensive application security testing program can reduce development costs, decrease time-to-market, demonstrate regulatory compliance and enhance the company’s reputation.

Challenges to providing application security have their roots in the nature and complexity of the digital landscape, and the numerous avenues available to attackers. The complex makeup of software applications can make security tools difficult to configure, especially since there is a serious lack of trained security personnel.  The company needs to adopt strong security policies, including frequent vulnerability testing, constant monitoring and reporting, and enforcement of security rules.

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AppSec best practices

The best application security testing tool is only as effective as the policies and procedures you have in place for using it. Too many organizations purchase or contract for a good testing tool, but fail to implement best practices for its use. Here are a few suggestions for AppSec best practices. 

  • Testing early test often: The earlier vulnerabilities can be discovered, the less costly they are to mitigate and the less impact they will have on delivery schedules. Testing throughout the SDLC checks for vulnerabilities that may have been introduced after any prior testing.
  • Automated testing: Eliminate manual security testing when possible. Automating tests helps perform security testing at scale and reduces the impact on delivery schedules. 
  • Triage and prioritization: Security testing can result in large numbers of potential issues and false positives. Maximize security and minimize cost by triaging test results and prioritizing issues that require attention.
  • Comprehensive testing: Applying one testing methodology (e.g., DAST, SAST, etc.) is insufficient. To comprehensively test applications, use as many methodologies as possible, and then make sure the results can be correlated.
  • Continuous monitoring: Running tests is only one phase of app security testing. Test results need to be monitored and reviewed so prompt action can be taken if a vulnerability is identified and needs to be addressed.
  • Employee awareness: Educate developers and other stakeholders on the importance of security testing not only at deployment but throughout the SDLC. This includes senior managers who need to understand that security is an integral part of the development process.
  • API testing:  It’s not sufficient to only test the application code and its APIs. Underlying interfaces between components also need to be tested to identify potential vulnerabilities. 
  • Emphasis on secure coding: Ensure that developers use secure coding practices. Reviewing code for compliance with security practices helps uncover issues at the earliest stage in app development.
  • Periodic security review: Review security policies, processes, and testing results on a regular basis to assess security effectiveness and to look for areas where improvements might be made.

Application security testing tools

Security testing companies have responded to the increasing number and sophistication of cyber attacks with an array of code security tools designed to help companies detect and resolve security vulnerabilities in their applications. Most of these application security testing  (AST) tools fall into one of these categories. 

Static application security testing (SAST)

SAST tools probe the application source code looking for vulnerabilities in its static state. These tools are run in the design stage and can analyze every single line of code, if desired. SAST tools can be very comprehensive but do not execute the code. It examines code to detect vulnerabilities like SQL injection, buffer overflows, and cross-site scripting (XSS). 

Dynamic application security testing (DAST)

DAST tools examine the application while it is running, probing for vulnerabilities or weaknesses much like an attacker would do. These tools look for runtime vulnerabilities such as session management flaws, improper authentication, XSS, and SQL injection.

Interactive application security testing (IAST)

IAST combines the techniques of SAST and DAST to continuously monitor the application’s behavior during testing.  IAST detects a wider range of security issues than either DAST or SAST alone.

Rules-based web application firewall (WAF)

Web application firewalls protect the application from potentially harmful internet traffic by monitoring and filtering HTTP traffic to and from the application. Monitoring is performed according to rules that can be tailored to the application to protect against common web application vulnerabilities such as XSS and SQL injection. Rule-based WAFs are preferable to signature-based WAFs that rely on pre-defined attack vectors.

Software composition analysis (SCA)

SCA tools track and manage potential security vulnerabilities in open-source and third-party software by scanning for known vulnerabilities. Enterprise applications can use thousands of third-party components so it is essential to know if there are any vulnerabilities coming with them. SCA tools can create a software bill of materials (SBOM) that can help developers know which components are being used in the app.

Database security scanning

Database security scanning tools examine a database system to check for vulnerabilities that could lead to unauthorized access or a breach of sensitive data. These tools can perform external functions like password cracking as well as examine the internal configuration of the database for possible exploitable vulnerabilities in functions such as configuration, user access, and encryption.

Mobile application security testing (MAST)

MAST tools focus on attributes of mobile applications. In addition to checking for security vulnerabilities such as those in SAST, DAST, and IAST, MAST tools can check for issues such as jailbreaking, malicious wi-fi networks, handling and validation of certificates, and data leakage from mobile devices.

Application security testing as a service (ASTaaS)

ASTaaS is an outsourcing testing paradigm where the company hires a third-party to conduct security testing for its applications. Working with an ASTaaS provider can be especially beneficial for companies that don’t have the expertise or the budgets to perform necessary security testing in-house.  With ASTaaS the company gets access to experienced security professionals and the latest tools. ASTaaS has become more popular with the increasing use of cloud applications.

Correlation tools

Correlation tools gather information and results from multiple testing sources to consolidate and analyze vulnerability findings. They compare data from the different testing tools to identify overlapping vulnerabilities, potentially reducing the number of false positives. Results of correlation can provide a more accurate view of security risks and help prioritize remediation efforts. 

Test-coverage analyzers

Test coverage analyzers examine application code to determine how much of the total code has been tested by other tools. Analyzers can be used with both DAST and SAST. A low score can indicate areas of inadequate coverage, providing developers with insights into where they can make security improvements to accelerate the testing-and-release process.

Application security testing orchestration

Application security testing orchestration is a workflow automation process that consolidates and streamlines application security testing by centralizing the management and reporting of multiple appsec tools. It gathers the testing data from the various tools into a single platform to provide a unified view of security vulnerabilities.

Combining AppSec Tools for Effective Risk Mitigation

The good news is that there is a wide variety of AppSec testing tools available. But this means that companies need to do their own application security tools comparison and choose wisely to ensure that they are using the best tools to provide the security testing results they need. 

Before trying to select a package or combination of AppSec tools, you need to assess your specific requirements. Is your application developed in-house or is it provided by a third party? Does the application use a lot of open-source or third-party components?  Is the application cloud-native? What are your compliance requirements? What is the company’s defined process for triage and remediation of identified vulnerabilities? How will you discern the highest-priority vulnerabilities? What is the sensitivity of the data you hold or process? And, oh yes, what is your budget? These are just a few of the questions for which you should have answers. 

Then you need to examine the tools available. 

  • Does the tool support the programming languages used in the applications, and will it scale? 
  • What sort of vulnerabilities will the tool detect and how accurate is it? 
  • Does it minimize false positives? 
  • How will the tool affect application performance during testing? 
  • How easy is it to deploy and use?
  • What are its reporting capabilities? 
  • Can you manage all your tools from a unified platform?

Security experts suggest that, as a minimum, organizations should deploy a multi-layered security strategy with a combination of Static Application Security, Dynamic Application Security, and Software Composition Analysis tools. Penetration testing by an outside resource can catch vulnerabilities not caught by in-house testing. Just be mindful of overlap in tool capabilities.

Key Features of Leading AppSec Tools

As you begin checking out the tools available that may satisfy your application security testing requirements, you should consider the features that will be important for your operation. Here are some important features that an effective enterprise application security tool should have.

  • Good accuracy and low false positives: No single AppSec testing tool will catch every vulnerability, and every AppSec testing tool will report some number of false positives. Tools with a history of high accuracy and low false positives yield the best results and minimize time wasted.
  • Automation: Manual testing is a time sync. Tools should allow automated security testing, which makes the process of regular security assessments easier and more likely to catch issues in near real time..
  • Tool Integration:  AppSec tools should integrate into your existing development and testing environment and processes. Application Security Posture Management (ASPM) tools are built for this purpose and make testing and remediation more efficient.
  • Reporting: Fragmented AppSec tools can create voluminous reports that can be hard to read and interpret. Platforms that produce customized, easy-to-read reports should be prioritized, as they facilitate risk-based vulnerability management, prioritization of issues and alerts, and communication across business units.
  •  Remediation guidance: Look for tools that provide guidance for resolution or remediation. Modern AppSec tools shouldn’t require teams to spend hours (or days) finding a way to mitigate a major risk
  • Customization: The ability to customize security testing based on your requirements ensures the results are relevant to your environment.
  • Platform support: Ensure that the tool you select can scan applications running on different operating systems and in various cloud environments.

Emerging Trends in AppSec

The application security testing landscape is rapidly evolving, driven by technology advancements such as artificial intelligence (AI).  This is just a partial list of areas where we can expect changes in 2025.

  • Increasing use of AI: Both sides of the cybersecurity spectrum will make increasing use of AI. Cybercriminals are already using AI and machine learning to generate attacks. AI-driven AppSec tools can work 24/7 and analyze massive amounts of data to more rapidly detect anomalies and potential threats.
  • Increasing adoption of DevSecOps: With the increasing importance of resolving security flaws as early as possible in the design process, mature organizations are starting to embrace DevSecOps, ensuring security teams are an integral part of the design process rather than a hindrance to development.
  • Increasing importance of API security: Application Programming Interfaces are an essential piece of today’s highly connected software ecosystems. But they are highly vulnerable to exploitation. Attackers are increasingly targeting APIs as they offer a direct route to sensitive data and core business processes, making robust API security critical.
  • Increasing reliance on zero-trust models: With our increasing use of cloud computing and IoT devices, conventional firewalls and VPNs can no longer secure all the system’s access points. Employing a zero-trust model helps mitigate these vulnerabilities by treating every access as suspicious until verified.
  • Increasing use of automated security testing: The increasing need to perform application security testing within decreasing time-to-market deadlines necessitates automated tools to perform testing more frequently and enabling faster identification and mitigation of vulnerabilities. 

Conclusion

No single AppSec tool will catch everything, and no security team has the time or resources to chase down every alert. That’s why picking the right tools isn’t just about coverage — it’s about efficiency. More importantly, it’s about developing a thorough application security strategy that keeps your software development secure and your organization’s business risk as low as it can be.

Modern AppSec tools must provide accurate detection, minimal false positives, and clear remediation guidance, allowing security teams to act decisively without disrupting development velocity. As software complexity grows and threats evolve, the right security stack enables teams to catch vulnerabilities early, enforce security policies at scale, and reduce risk without slowing innovation.

The ASPM market was created specifically for this reason: to consolidate formerly siloed and fragmented AppSec tools, data, and analysis, and provide evidence-based insights about applications, from design to runtime. The best AppSec programs take a holistic approach to identification, analysis, and remediation, the same approach taken by ASPM platform vendors.

Learn More About AppSec tools

Learn more about AppSec tools and how Ox Security can help your company protect your information and applications against cyberattacks.

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