ASPM Buyer’s Guide: Find the Right Vendor for Your App Risk Management Needs 

Security teams are overwhelmed. Whether it’s alert overload, a growing backlog of vulnerabilities, or fragmented security data, there’s no finish line in sight. The State of Software Security 2025 report reveals that security debt is rising and flaws times are increasing.

Meanwhile, the traditional tools many teams leverage fail to provide the context needed to track risks across the application lifecycle and, importantly, to prioritize them. Without visibility into root causes, teams rely on severity-based scoring models that overlook business impact, leading to inefficient remediation and frustrated developers.  

That’s where application security posture management (ASPM) vendors come in. You want security solutions that keep pace with your development process, not slow you down. ASPM does just that—it provides the visibility, prioritization, and coordination necessary to address vulnerabilities at scale. The result is a secure application and a more efficient team. 

What Is ASPM, and Why Does It Matter? 

An application security posture management (ASPM) tool aggregates findings from a wide range of sources, including cloud services like AWS, cloud security platforms like Wiz and Prisma, and traditional tools like Static Application Security Testing (SAST), Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), and Software Composition Analysis (SCA).  

Tools that operate in silos often generate overwhelming volumes of alerts, leaving teams without the context they need to act. Add in open-source components and third-party integrations, and you will have a whole new layer of risk. Meanwhile, microservices and CI/CD pipelines generate constant changes, increasing the likelihood of vulnerabilities slipping through.  

A comprehensive, accurate ASPM tool eliminates duplicate vulnerabilities and prioritizes risks based on context. It delivers a unified view that reduces alert fatigue and equips your security team with actionable insights to address the most critical issues first. Ultimately, it unifies your teams around an authoritative view of security risk. 

The need for application security posture management (ASPM) is growing as development practices evolve. Many vendors are rushing to capitalize on this trend by bolting on technology designed to mimic true ASPM capabilities. So, what key features define a robust ASPM tool? 

Key Features of a Robust ASPM Solution 

For an ASPM solution to deliver real value, it should provide specific capabilities that address modern security challenges: 

• Unified Risk Management: Consolidates findings from multiple security tools into a single elegant view, giving teams a complete view of their application security posture. 

• Automated Issue Investigation: Unified issues are pre-investigated, correlated, and prioritized based on asset and environment context. 

• Risk Prioritization with Context: Goes beyond severity scores by incorporating business context, likelihood of exploitation, and potential impact to prioritize the most critical vulnerabilities. 

• Prioritized Remediation Solutions: Provides step-by-step remediation guidance to help developers fix vulnerabilities faster, including generating tickets right from the platform and tracking remediation activity with two-way ticketing sync. 

These features empower security teams to identify risks and also take swift, effective action to reduce overall exposure. 

Types of ASPM Vendors 

Application security posture management vendors typically fall into three categories. Understanding these can help you identify which type best suits your organization. 

Dedicated Governance Vendors  

These vendors focus on orchestration and risk management. These platforms are vendor-agnostic, making them ideal for organizations with diverse tools and complex environments. Examples include Veracode Risk Manager and Tromzo. 

All-in-One Vendors  

All-in-one vendors combine ASPM functionality with proprietary scanning tools. These are well-suited for smaller organizations or those earlier in their AppSec journey but may present challenges in more complex setups. Examples include CrowdStrike Falcon and ArmorCode. 

Scanner-Based Add-Ons  

These vendors extend the capabilities of specific scanning tools with basic ASPM features. While convenient, they often lack the governance and orchestration depth of dedicated solutions. Examples include Checkmarx One and Synopsys Polaris. 

What Makes a Strong ASPM Vendor? 

Not all application security posture management vendors are created equal. A strong vendor will offer features that align with your organization’s unique needs and integrate seamlessly with your existing tools and workflows. The best ASPM vendors, however, usually provide these core functionalities: 

• Open-ecosystem SDLC Integration: The ASPM platform should connect with tools from all stages of your software development lifecycle, from pre-production testing to post-deployment monitoring, regardless of the vendor for teach tool.  
• Actionable Insights: Look for platforms that contextualize risks using threat intelligence and business impact, ensuring you focus on vulnerabilities that pose the greatest danger. 
• Scalability: The solution must be capable of growing with your organization, whether on-premises, in the cloud, or across hybrid environments. 
• Centralized Governance: By breaking down silos, a strong ASPM platform unifies workflows and streamlines security management. 

Key Considerations When Choosing an ASPM Vendor 

Several ASPM vendors meet the above criteria, but that doesn’t automatically mean they’re right for you. You must dig deeper to choose the right application security posture management vendor. 

First, assess for usability and compatibility. The tool you choose should: 

• Be compatible: Ensure the platform integrates as seamlessly as possible with the tools you already use, minimizing workflow disruptions and allowing you to scale.  

• Support hybrid environments: The solution should effectively manage risks across on-premise, cloud, and be tool agnostic. 

• Enhance collaboration: The platform should support collaboration between developers, security teams, and leadership.  

• Be user-friendly: The tool should have intuitive and actionable dashboards that can be easily customized to support the needs of each business unit and automated workflows that simplify complex tasks. 

Questions to Ask ASPM Vendors 

OK, you evaluated your organization’s needs and priorities. Your main concern might be alert fatigue and remediation. You may focus on enhancing compliance reporting. Whatever your priority is, pinpointing it will help you ask the right questions when you start speaking with different vendors. Here are some examples of questions you can ask vendors: 

• How does the tool help reduce alert fatigue and streamline remediation? Assess whether the platform can prioritize risks effectively and provide actionable insights. 

• Can it manage security technical debt? Look for a platform that addresses accumulated vulnerabilities and supports ongoing improvements. 

• Does it enhance compliance reporting? Verify if the tool provides customizable options to meet your organization’s regulatory requirements. 

• Is it scalable, tool agnostic, and easy to integrate? Ensure the solution supports hybrid environments, integrates well with your existing tools, and grows with your needs. 

• How user-friendly is it? Check for intuitive dashboards, automated workflows, and features that enhance collaboration across teams. 

Answering these questions will help you narrow down your options and find an ASPM vendor who meets your organization’s unique needs. 

Why Veracode Stands Out: Proactive vs. Reactive AppSec  

Veracode Risk Manager sets itself apart with its proactive approach, enabling teams to identify and address high-priority vulnerabilities early in the development lifecycle. Unlike tools that react to issues exclusively after deployment, Veracode focuses on governance and orchestration to streamline workflows and prevent vulnerabilities before they escalate. Its vendor-neutral design ensures compatibility across diverse environments, while Best Next Actions™ combines threat intelligence and business context to help your teams tackle the most critical vulnerabilities efficiently. 

Red Flags to Avoid 

While evaluating application security posture management vendors, keep an eye out for these common pitfalls: 

• Vendor Bias: Some platforms push proprietary tools that may not align with your existing ecosystem. 

• Complex Setups: Overly complicated platforms can slow down implementation and adoption. 

• Limited Hybrid Support: If your organization operates across on-premises and cloud environments, ensure the solution offers robust hybrid support. 

Veracode addresses these issues with a streamlined, flexible, open-ecosystem platform that adapts to your needs without adding unnecessary complexity. 

Reduce Risk and Improve Compliance with ASPM 

Choosing the right application security posture management vendor is critical in securing your applications and empowering your teams. Veracode Risk Manager offers the scalability, integration, and actionable insights you need to protect your organization in today’s fast-paced development landscape. Schedule a demo today and discover how Veracode can transform your application security posture management strategy.