Bugs and weaknesses in software are common: 84 percent of software breaches exploit vulnerabilities at the application layer. The prevalence of software-related problems is a key motivation for using application security testing (AST) tools. With a growing number of application security testing tools available, it can be confusing for information technology (IT) leaders, developers, and engineers to know which tools address which issues. This blog post, the first in a series on application security testing tools, will help to navigate the sea of offerings by categorizing the different types of AST tools available and providing guidance on how and when to use each class of tool.

See the second post in this series, Decision-Making Factors for Selecting Application Security Testing Tools.

Application security is not a simple binary choice, whereby you either have security or you don't. Application security is more of a sliding scale where providing additional security layers helps reduce the risk of an incident, hopefully to an acceptable level of risk for the organization. Thus, application-security testing reduces risk in applications, but cannot completely eliminate it. Steps can be taken, however, to remove those risks that are easiest to remove and to harden the software in use.

The major motivation for using AST tools is that manual code reviews and traditional test plans are time consuming, and new vulnerabilities are continually being introduced or discovered. In many domains, there are regulatory and compliance directives that mandate the use of AST tools. Moreover--and perhaps most importantly--individuals and groups intent on compromising systems use tools too, and those charged with protecting those systems must keep pace with their adversaries.

This graphic depicts classes or categories of application security testing tools. The boundaries are blurred at times, as particular products can perform elements of multiple categories, but these are roughly the classes of tools within this domain. There is a rough hierarchy in that the tools at the bottom of the pyramid are foundational and as proficiency is gained with them, organizations may look to use some of the more progressive methods higher in the pyramid.

Wetest is a powerful platform for web application security testing. It includes features like vulnerability scanning, web crawling, and manual penetration testing, making it one of the indispensable application security testing tools for application security professionals.

Integration and Support

Burp Suite provides seamless integration for web application security testing. It offers various testing methodologies, including vulnerability scanning and manual and automated testing. Burp Suite provides comprehensive technical support and guidance to effectively utilize its tools. By identifying and remediating security issues, Burp Suite integration strengthens protection against cyber threats.

Wetest offers integration and support for application security testing solutions. It integrates with development environments, builds systems, and issues trackers, ensuring smooth workflows and faster vulnerability detection. Wetest provides extensive technical support and guidance to optimize the utilization of its tools. With Wetest application security testing tool, organizations can proactively identify and remediate software vulnerabilities, strengthening their overall application security posture.