Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)

Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) tools provide comprehensive security testing of running applications by simulating real-world attacks against deployed applications to identify vulnerabilities that may not be apparent in source code analysis. These solutions test applications from the outside-in perspective, identifying configuration issues, authentication problems, and runtime vulnerabilities while providing realistic assessment of application security posture in production-like environments.

DAST platforms integrate with CI/CD pipelines, testing frameworks, and deployment environments to provide automated security testing throughout the application lifecycle. The solutions typically include comprehensive vulnerability scanning, authentication testing, and API security assessment capabilities that identify security issues including injection flaws, authentication bypasses, and configuration vulnerabilities while providing actionable remediation guidance for development and operations teams.

Organizations deploy DAST solutions to validate application security in runtime environments, complement static analysis with dynamic testing, and ensure comprehensive security assessment before production deployment. The runtime testing approach identifies vulnerabilities that exist only in deployed applications, provides realistic security assessment, and enables continuous security validation while supporting DevSecOps practices and maintaining confidence in application security posture throughout the deployment lifecycle.