DAST vs penetration testing: Differences and how to combine them

The surge in technology and the prioritization of digital strategies in businesses offer numerous advantages. However, they also present opportunities for a rise in cybercrime.

Application security is becoming increasingly vital for organizations, and many are recognizing the importance of investing in a comprehensive application security framework, such as combining Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) with penetration testing, to safeguard critical assets.

While both DAST and penetration testing aim to mitigate risks and thwart potential attacks, they differ significantly. It’s crucial for businesses to understand these distinctions when considering their security strategies.

Why is application security important for your organization?

Application security involves implementing measures to protect software applications from threats and vulnerabilities throughout their lifecycle. This includes designing secure code, implementing security controls, testing for vulnerabilities, and continuously monitoring for potential risks.

It’s important to organizations in several ways:

• Protecting sensitive data

• Maintaining customer trust

• Compliance requirements

• Preventing financial losses

The automated scanner: What is DAST and how does it work?

Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) is an automated security testing technique used to assess the security of web applications by simulating attacks in real-time.

Unlike static analysis, which examines the source code for vulnerabilities, DAST analyzes running applications to identify potential security weaknesses and vulnerabilities.

DAST works by sending malicious input to a running web application and observing its behavior.

This approach helps organizations uncover security flaws that could be exploited by hackers and enables them to take corrective action to enhance the overall security posture of their applications.

It examines how the application responds to various inputs, such as user inputs, HTTP requests, and API calls, to identify vulnerabilities like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and insecure authentication mechanisms.

Benefits of DAST

1. Real-world testing

It simulates real-world attacks, providing insight into how an application would behave when under attack.

2. Comprehensive coverage

It assesses the entire application, including its runtime environment, configurations, and interactions with external components.

3. Automation

DAST tools automate the testing process, allowing for continuous and scalable security testing.

4. Rapid identification of vulnerabilities

DAST quickly identifies vulnerabilities in running applications, enabling timely remediation before they can be exploited by attackers.

5. Integration with development processes

DAST can be integrated into the development pipeline, facilitating early detection and resolution of security issues.

The security specialist: What is penetration testing and how does it work?

Penetration testing, often referred to as pen testing, is a proactive cybersecurity assessment technique conducted by skilled professionals to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in a system, network, or application.

Unlike other security assessments, penetration testing involves simulated attacks that closely mimic those of real-world cyber adversaries.

Penetration testing works by following a structured methodology where ethical hackers, known as penetration testers, use a variety of tools and techniques to identify vulnerabilities and attempt to exploit them to gain unauthorized access, escalate privileges, or extract sensitive information.

Benefits of penetration testing

1. Risk identification

Penetration testing helps organizations identify and prioritize security risks based on their potential impact and likelihood of exploitation.

2. Security validation

It validates the effectiveness of existing security controls and measures implemented by an organization.

3. Compliance requirements

Penetration testing helps organizations meet regulatory and compliance requirements by demonstrating due diligence in protecting sensitive data and systems.

4. Improved security posture

By identifying and addressing vulnerabilities, penetration testing helps organizations strengthen their overall security posture and resilience against cyber threats.

5. Enhanced incident response

Penetration testing provides valuable insights into potential attack vectors and vulnerabilities, which can inform incident response planning and preparation.

However, penetration testing also has limitations.

Limitations of penetration testing

1. Limited scope

Penetration testing may not uncover all vulnerabilities, especially those that are deep-seated or require extensive reconnaissance.

2. Time and resource-intensive

Penetration testing can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, requiring skilled professionals and specialized tools.

3. Disruption to operations

Depending on the scope and intensity of testing, penetration testing may cause disruptions to normal business operations or impact system availability.

4. False positives/negatives

Penetration testing may produce false positives (identifying vulnerabilities that don’t exist) or false negatives (failing to identify actual vulnerabilities), leading to inaccurate risk assessments.

5. Lack of continuous coverage

Penetration testing provides a snapshot of security posture at a specific point in time but may not capture changes or new vulnerabilities that emerge over time.

Choosing your weapon: DAST vs penetration testing

When it comes to securing your systems and applications, the choice between DAST and penetration testing depends on your specific security needs and objectives.

DAST, akin to an automated scanner, evaluates running applications in real-time, probing for vulnerabilities through simulated attacks. It excels in continuous monitoring and scalability.

Penetration testing, on the other hand, is akin to hiring a skilled specialist to mimic real-world attacks. It offers a holistic assessment, examining system, network, and application layers to unveil vulnerabilities and their potential impact.

DAST and penetration testing are often confused because of their role in helping detect application vulnerabilities. Both are black box testing techniques, which attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in applications. However, the similarities end there:

DAST vs penetration testing

In short, DAST excels in continuous monitoring and identifying surface-level vulnerabilities in running applications. It’s automated and integrates well into development pipelines, providing quick feedback on potential issues.

On the other hand, penetration testing offers a deeper dive into security posture by simulating real-world attacks. It uncovers nuanced vulnerabilities across various layers, including system, network, and application, which automated tools might miss.

Combining DAST and penetration testing for your application security

By integrating DAST into development workflows for ongoing monitoring and using penetration testing periodically for in-depth assessments, organizations can benefit from:

• Comprehensive coverage: DAST and penetration testing together provide a holistic view of application security, uncovering vulnerabilities at both surface and deeper levels.

• Timely detection and remediation: DAST offers continuous monitoring, enabling organizations to detect and address vulnerabilities quickly, while penetration testing provides periodic assessments to validate and prioritize remediation efforts.

• Enhanced security posture: The combination of DAST and penetration testing helps organizations strengthen their overall security posture by identifying and mitigating a wide range of security risks.

• Compliance: The complementary nature of dynamic testing and penetration testing helps organizations meet regulatory and compliance mandates by demonstrating proactive measures to protect sensitive data and systems.

• Cost-effectiveness: Integrating automated DAST tools with periodic penetration testing allows organizations to optimize resource utilization and maximize the effectiveness of their application security efforts.

When it comes to application security, Beagle Security provides a comprehensive solution by combining DAST and penetration testing.

Beagle Security’s automated penetration testing platform simulates attacks to identify vulnerabilities in your web apps & APIs.

This approach offers organizations ongoing visibility into their application security posture, enabling them to detect and remediate vulnerabilities quickly.

Written by

Neda Ali

Product Marketing Specialist