What is Application Security Testing (AST) and Best Practices

Application security testing, abbreviated AST, is a vital component in sustaining a robust defense in information technology. In essence, AST entails using various tools and methodologies to detect and rectify security vulnerabilities within an application, shielding it from potential attacks that could precipitate data breaches or system failures.

Imagine your application as a fortified castle. The security measures you’ve put in place, such as firewalls and encryption, act as the castle walls. The ultimate goal is to protect the inner sanctum, where your data is stored. However, just like a castle, your application might have weak points or hidden entrances that attackers could exploit. These are known as vulnerabilities within the context of an application.

Imagine AST as a team of skilled builders and inspectors whose mission is to find and strengthen weaknesses in your system before attackers can exploit them. They evaluate the defenses of your system, identify vulnerabilities, and help you understand how to improve them. This is what AST does for your application – it examines, identifies, and fixes vulnerabilities, making your application more secure.

Being aware of the different types of AST and following best practices can significantly increase the security of your applications.

Understanding Application Security Testing

Application Security Testing, or AST, is a dedicated method to secure an application. It uses various techniques and tools to detect vulnerabilities in the application structure. Similar to a mechanic inspecting a car for faults, AST examines an application to identify coding errors or system flaws that cyber threats could exploit. In essence, AST is a security check-up for your applications, helping them stay secure against cyberattacks.

Understanding Application Security Testing

Application Security Testing (AST) is not a universal solution but a palette of diverse approaches, each targeting specific vulnerabilities. Static Application Security Testing (SAST), Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST), Mobile Application Security Testing (MAST), and Software Composition Analysis (SCA) are some of the many types of AST.

SAST delves into the application’s source code to identify security issues, while DAST analyzes a running application to pinpoint vulnerabilities. IAST merges these two methods, offering a thorough security analysis.

On the other hand, MAST focuses on uncovering security gaps in mobile applications. SCA, meanwhile, examines software components to spot any outdated or susceptible elements. Familiarizing yourself with these AST types will guide you in selecting the appropriate testing method for your application’s security.

Static Application Security Testing (SAST)

Static Application Security Testing, or SAST, functions as an unseen detective for your application. It delves into your application’s source code before execution, identifying security vulnerabilities early in the development process. Picture it as reviewing a book manuscript and finding and fixing errors before publication. Unlike other testing methods that require an operational application, SAST can examine the source code in its dormant state. This distinctive characteristic establishes SAST as an essential instrument in a comprehensive application security approach.

Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)

Think of a security guard actively patrolling a bustling building. This analogy illustrates Dynamic Application Security Testing at work in your applications. Unlike Static Application Security Testing (SAST), which examines source code, DAST inspects a live application to identify vulnerabilities. Its mission? Simulate external attacks, just as a security guard anticipates potential threats. This process uncovers any weaknesses an outside attacker might exploit, fortifying your application’s defenses. Thus, DAST serves as a reliable method to protect your applications from external threats.

Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST)

Interactive Application Security Testing, or IAST, operates like a keen detective. It scrutinizes your application’s code and behavior during operation, offering a comprehensive view of your system. IAST combines the advantages of both Static Application Security Testing and Dynamic Application Security Testing. By observing an application during runtime, IAST identifies complex vulnerabilities overlooked during static or dynamic testing. This hybrid approach ensures your application’s security against diverse and advanced cyberattacks.

Mobile Application Security Testing (MAST)

Think of Mobile Application Security Testing, or MAST, as a dedicated protector for your mobile applications. It carefully scrutinizes applications created for devices such as smartphones and tablets, searching for potential security threats. MAST operates like a diligent health inspector, exposing harmful vulnerabilities within mobile environments. Whether it’s detecting weak encryption or highlighting insecure data storage, MAST’s main goal is to strengthen the security of your mobile applications.

Software Composition Analysis (SCA)

Software Composition Analysis functions as a vigilant librarian for your applications. It scrutinizes every third-party component within your software to identify security threats. By doing this, SCA identifies and rectifies outdated or insecure elements before they pose a risk. View SCA as a routine inventory check, ensuring all software parts are secure and current. This thorough inspection process bolsters your application’s defenses against vulnerabilities tied to third-party components, thereby enhancing overall security.

Best Practices for Application Security Testing

Don’t let the task of securing your applications intimidate you. By adhering to best practices for Application Security Testing, you can ensure efficient and effective protection. These practices include integrating security measures from the outset, keeping track of your digital assets, updating and patching regularly, and making use of automation. Penetration testing, container and privilege management, and static testing are also crucial parts of a strong security regimen. By following these practices, you enhance your application’s resilience against cyber threats.

Developers: The Foundation of Application Security

Securing applications begins at the heart of software creation: the developers. Inspiring them to incorporate security from a project’s first steps is vital. Their intimate knowledge of the code allows them to identify and correct issues during the development process. By training in secure coding practices, they can significantly reduce software vulnerabilities. Additionally, having security experts within development teams adds an extra layer of protection. These experts provide valuable insights, ensuring the code is not only functional but secure from inception.

Manage Your Assets

Securing your applications begins with understanding your assets. It’s akin to taking inventory in a store. Knowing the items on your shelves, their locations, and their conditions is vital. In the same way, it’s crucial to be aware of all the applications, software, and hardware your organization employs. Maintaining an updated record of these assets helps identify those needing security updates, patches, or risk assessments. This approach guarantees every aspect of your environment receives the required protection and attention.

Stay Updated and Patched

To ensure the security of your applications, keep them updated. Much like a car requires regular servicing to run smoothly, your applications need frequent tune-ups. Updates and patches play a crucial role as they fix known vulnerabilities and enhance security features. Prioritize applying these updates promptly. Ignoring or delaying this critical step in application security opens a gateway for cyber attackers.

Embrace Automation

Automation in application security testing brings numerous benefits. Instead of manually sifting through complex code for vulnerabilities, you can use automated tools. These tools efficiently identify and rectify risks, freeing up your team to focus on more strategic efforts. Adding automation to your security strategy enhances your application’s resilience against threats.

Use Penetration Testing

Penetration testing is a vital step in securing your applications. Imagine it as a cyberattack simulation on your software. This process mimics a real-world attack, assessing the strength of your application’s defenses. It challenges your security measures, revealing your application’s resilience under genuine threat conditions. Regular penetration tests help discover security gaps and offer valuable insights for improvement. Conducting a comprehensive penetration test could be the deciding factor between spotting a weak spot and falling prey to a cyberattack.

Manage Containers

Imagine container management as an orchestra conductor. The conductor unites all musicians, ensuring harmonious play. Similarly, container management harmonizes your application components. It revolves around creating, deploying, and monitoring your containers. Effective container management streamlines deployment, optimizes resource use, and enhances application security. Remember, neglecting container management is like having an orchestra without a conductor; it could disrupt your application’s performance and security.

Manage Privileges

Think of privilege management in your applications as the role of a gatekeeper. Your task is to control access, ensuring only authorized personnel can modify vital components of your software. The key is to implement a ‘least privilege’ system, where users are granted only the access necessary for their specific roles. To mitigate the risk of human error, consider automating this process with privileged access management tools. As roles shift, make it a habit to regularly review and update privileges. Don’t forget that efficiently managing privileges is crucial in shielding your application from threats, whether they originate internally or externally.

Static Testing

Static testing is a key component of application security. It acts like a detective, scrutinizing an application’s source code in the early development stages to find security vulnerabilities. Similar to a movie director reviewing a script before filming, static testing pinpoints and fixes errors before the application becomes operational. This preemptive approach ensures vulnerabilities are detected early, strengthening your application’s security from the get-go. Thorough static testing is a prerequisite for any application asserting its security.

When to Perform Application Security Testing

Application Security Testing is essential and should begin early in the application development process. Just as you wouldn’t wait until a car is fully constructed to test the brakes, it’s best to start testing your application’s security during the coding stage. By applying a proactive method, you can detect and address weak points in advance, thereby conserving time and resources. It also promotes a security-focused coding mindset among developers, enhancing your application’s defenses. The aim is for AST to be a continuous process throughout the application’s lifecycle, maintaining steady protection against evolving threats.

Enhance Your Application Security with Pathlock

Pathlock’s Cybersecurity Application Controls product offers a range of modules that you can choose from based on your specific SAP security needs. These modules leverage automation to monitor your SAP applications, detect threats, and prioritize remediation.

Vulnerability & Code Scanning: Streamline security by identifying and prioritizing critical application vulnerabilities for rapid remediation, preventing data breaches.

Threat Detection: Proactively safeguard core systems with continuous threat monitoring, identifying both internal and external risks for quick incident response.

Transport Control: Securely manage SAP transports with enhanced monitoring, pre-configured controls, and automated blocking of suspicious content.

Dynamic Data Masking: Protect sensitive data dynamically at the field level, enforcing data governance beyond roles with a unified platform.

Session Logging & Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Gain fine-grained control over data access with context-aware policies and dynamic DLP, guarding against data leaks.

If you have specific security concerns, get in touch with our SAP security specialists to understand how Pathlock can help secure your applications.