Your business runs on an ever-changing combination of software you build, software you borrow, and software you buy. Of course you need run your business at the speed of software, but these ever-changing apps and systems can contain vulnerabilities that can be exploited to disrupt, threaten, and steal essential data. Let's dive into the role of dynamic application security testing (DAST) in ensuring compliance and safeguarding valuable data.
Organizations run any number of security tests across the software development life cycle before releasing to production, but because most threats come through web-facing apps and sites, it’s crucial to also conduct complete and secure scans of your production environment by adding DAST into your security operations. This enables you to provide new features and functionality while maintaining security. In addition to vulnerability identification, running continuous DAST scans in your production environment helps you maintain regular security assessments of your web apps and conform with compliance standards that require periodic assessments and vulnerability scans. And by automating the process, DAST tools ensure organizations meet compliance obligations consistently.
Continuous Dynamic™ is a DAST solution that generates comprehensive reports detailing the vulnerabilities found, the severity of those vulnerabilities, and the procedures that should be taken to fix them. These reports also document the security steps implemented to secure sensitive data, which enables firms to demonstrate their compliance efforts more effectively. When compliance audits are being conducted, such documentation is essential.
DAST also helps enterprises meet the requirements of a variety of standards and regulations, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), by safeguarding applications that handle personal data. In addition, it helps ensure compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), ISO/IEC 27001, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), and industry-specific standards such as FINRA, FERC, and PCI-DSS.
It is essential to keep in mind that DAST is only one part of an all-encompassing security approach. For robust compliance and application security, organizations should adopt a multilayered approach that combines DAST with other security measures, such as safe application coding practices, vulnerability management, and frequent security assessments. This type of approach integrates DAST with other security measures like static application security testing.
Continuous Dynamic plays a crucial role in helping organizations achieve compliance with industry standards and regulations. Continuous Dynamic strengthens security measures and protects valuable data by locating vulnerabilities, easing compliance reporting, supporting frequent assessments, assisting with risk reduction, and promoting secure development practices.