In today’s digital-first world, software and web applications are core to everyday business operations and customer interactions. However, with increased reliance on these applications comes a heightened sense of risk. Cybercriminals are continually seeking to exploit weaknesses in applications to access sensitive data or disrupt operations. This is where application security testing becomes critical.

Application security testing identifies vulnerabilities in your applications before they can be exploited, safeguarding both your business and its users. In this article, we’ll explore the core concepts of application security testing, why it’s important, the benefits it offers, and the methods and tools that can help you implement it effectively.

What is application security testing?

Application security testing evaluates software to identify vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit. It focuses on analyzing code, configurations, and behaviors to secure applications throughout their life cycle.

The process addresses risks, such as insecure coding practices and misconfigurations, but does not cover infrastructure-level vulnerabilities. By embedding testing into development, organizations can:

• Catch issues early
• Reduce remediation costs
• Meet compliance requirements more effectively

Benefits of application security testing

Proactively testing applications for vulnerabilities offers advantages that go beyond preventing cyberattacks. It can strengthen your overall security posture while promoting trust and supporting compliance. Establishing proper application security testing measures can offer:

• Improved security: Identify and remediate vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them.
• Compliance support: Support compliance with regulatory standards and industry best practices.
• Enhanced user trust: Demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding user data, fostering confidence among your stakeholders and customers.
• Data breach prevention: Reduce the risk of costly breaches and the fallout from compromised data.

Types of application security testing

Application security testing employs several methodologies to identify vulnerabilities, each with a unique focus and approach. Combining these methods ensures comprehensive coverage and robust security.

• Static application security testing (SAST): Analyzes an application’s source code, bytecode, or binaries for vulnerabilities without executing the application. SAST helps developers identify issues early in the development life cycle, reducing remediation costs.
• Dynamic application security testing (DAST): Evaluates an application during runtime to identify vulnerabilities in its live environment. DAST can simulate real-world attacks, focusing on issues like input validation and authentication.
• Interactive application security testing (IAST): Combines elements of SAST and DAST, analyzing both the code and runtime environment simultaneously. IAST provides detailed insights by integrating with the application while it runs.
• Runtime application self-protection (RASP): Operates within the application itself, monitoring and defending against threats in real time. By identifying and blocking attacks as they occur, RASP offers an additional layer of proactive security.

Using a mix of these approaches allows organizations to detect vulnerabilities across the development life cycle and in various operating environments.

Steps in application security testing

Application security testing follows a structured approach to uncover vulnerabilities and ensure applications are secure. Each step plays a critical role in identifying and addressing potential risks:

1. Planning and preparation: Define your testing scope and objectives. Identify the environment(s) to be tested.
2. Information gathering: Collect details about the application, including potential entry points and areas of concern.
3. Vulnerability scanning: Use tools to scan for known vulnerabilities and weak points in the application.
4. Exploitation: Attempt to exploit identified vulnerabilities to understand their potential impact.
5. Reporting: Document findings clearly, providing actionable recommendations for remediation.

By following these steps, your organization can establish a repeatable process for robust application security testing. In doing so, you minimize risks and strengthen your organization’s overall security.

Best practices for application security testing

Implementing effective security testing requires more than just tools and processes; it demands consistency and attention to detail. By following best practices, your organization can ensure its applications are thoroughly tested and resilient against evolving threats.

1. Test regularly and frequently

Security testing should be conducted regularly to identify and address new vulnerabilities as applications evolve. Frequent testing ensures that code changes or configuration updates do not inadvertently introduce gaps in your security.

2. Use automated tools

Automated tools streamline your testing process and enable continuous security checks. With automation integrated seamlessly into your development pipelines, you can identify vulnerabilities quickly, saving your team both time and resources.

3. Adopt secure coding practices

Secure coding minimizes the risk of vulnerabilities being introduced during development. By training your developers and enforcing these practices, you lay a strong foundation for application security.

4. Ensure comprehensive coverage

Testing must extend to all components of an application, including third-party libraries, APIs, and configurations. Complete coverage of your attack surface reduces the likelihood of overlooked vulnerabilities that could be exploited.

Challenges in application security testing

Though application security testing is essential, it is not without challenges. Understanding these hurdles is vital to designing a testing strategy that addresses them effectively. You should keep in mind the following:

• Application complexity: Modern applications have multiple layers of integrations and dependencies, which can make them difficult to test comprehensively.
• Testing modern web applications: Web applications often include dynamic content and intricate user interactions, adding unique challenges to security testing.
• Evolving threats: Cyberattack techniques and methods are continuously evolving and becoming more sophisticated, requiring frequent updates to testing methodologies and tools.
• Resource constraints: Effective security testing demands specialized skills and tools, potentially adding strain to your budgets and personnel.
• Tool limitations: No single tool provides complete coverage, which means that organizations often require a combination of solutions to address all risks.

By identifying and planning for these challenges, your organization can create a more resilient and efficient security testing process.

Test and secure your applications with CrowdStrike

Application security testing is a key part of protecting your software from vulnerabilities and evolving threats. By identifying risks early, it helps keep your applications secure, compliant, and trustworthy.

CrowdStrike Falcon® Cloud Security is an all-in-one cybersecurity solution that includes application security posture management (ASPM) to enhance your security posture. Falcon Cloud Security provides visibility into your application ecosystem, streamlines vulnerability management, and ensures robust protection throughout the development life cycle.

Take the next step in securing your applications. Try out an interactive demo of Falcon Cloud Security today.