Scaling DevSecOps with Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)

The Role of DAST in Modern DevSecOps Practices

In the swiftly evolving landscape of AI-driven software development, DevSecOps helps strengthen application security and quality. Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) is a key tool that helps scale your DevSecOps program by facilitating continuous and accurate security tests on running applications.

DAST simulates real-world attacks, enabling you to identify security weaknesses and evaluate your application's defenses in response to actual attacks. Let's explore some actionable best practices to leverage DAST effectively and strengthen your DevSecOps initiatives.

Seamless Integration into CI/CD Pipelines

Incorporating DAST scans right into your continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) pipelines helps detect runtime vulnerabilities earlier in your development process. This integration allows for automatic security testing, with every code update, giving developers immediate feedback. Catching vulnerabilities early means less chance of them sneaking into production.

Establish Clear Security Guidelines

Set clear security policies that outline your application security requirements in terms of vulnerability severity, code quality, and compliance. These policies not only streamline security testing but also help your teams focus on the most impactful vulnerabilities first while maintaining consistency in security testing.

Empower with Contextual Remediation Guidance

Equip your developers with the actionable, real-time remediation guidance they need to address issues swiftly and effectively. By offering context-specific remediation information that guides developers towards potential fixes, teams can promptly resolve vulnerabilities, without spending excessive time researching and understanding the underlying issues. This approach not only speeds up the remediation process but also enhances overall efficiency.

Automate the Management of Vulnerabilities

Managing vulnerabilities effectively is critical for scaling DevSecOps. Leveraging scanning tools to automate the management of vulnerabilities, such as tracking, prioritizing, and assigning vulnerabilities to responsible individuals, streamlines processes and ensures that vulnerabilities are addressed promptly and efficiently. This reduces the risk of vulnerabilities being overlooked or forgotten, reducing the overall security risk to your organization.

Keep Track of Your Progress

What gets measured gets managed. Set up metrics to monitor how well your DevSecOps practices are performing. Regularly checking things like the number of detected vulnerabilities and the time it takes to fix them will help you pinpoint areas for improvement.

Explore Veracode’s DevSecOps Tools

By following these best practices, you can help scale your DevSecOps initiatives and enhance your application security. Remember, integrating DAST into your CI/CD pipeline, setting clear policies, providing developers with contextual remediation information, automating processes, and monitoring your progress are all steps in the right direction.

Veracode DAST specifically supports these efforts and empowers your team to follow these best practices, ensuring continuous security testing and improving the quality and security of your software development processes. 

Interested in seeing how Veracode DAST can transform your DevSecOps program in the AI era? Try Veracode’s suite of tools, including DAST, for a comprehensive security check. Start with our 14-day free trial and see the difference for yourself. Start now!