Market Guide for Application Security Testing AST Solution

In the latest emerging technologies end, we have the DevSecOps initiative, where a bigger vendor is attempting to give you all application security testing (AST) technology under one-roof, for those who don’t mind to spend the premium to get all under one platform. We also had the vendors who continue to focus on their very core business, and develop outstanding products, that usually due to lack of eye catching make use of new trends or had the resources to take over rival competitors and make the technology under one roof.

Like it or not, different technology was invented to serve their very original purpose, for people in different technical backgrounds, based on the use case and their role within the enterprise, to perform their duties. This is why we have IT security officers that generally toward DAST technology tools and use them for performing backbox testing. For generic use of automated web scanner, to advance users with manual web testing tools that heavily depend on the expertise of the web ethical hacker background who focus on manual exploit or import web scan result into penetration testing framework suite of tool continue it hacking testing, or we used the term vulnerability verification or validation (report by automated web scanner). Depending on the enterprise scenario, maybe the same person will handle the infrastructure security testing, like testing network device configuration, server operating system and services running inside the server using generic vulnerability scanners to database applications using dedicated database scanner tools (database is specific application design to run keep table with row and column and make up of field, and we had user right review to make sure it is configure correctly and without any authorized users had usual access right). The actual task and project involved, may eventually become the requirement for the IT security officer that needs to be addressed with a range of tools (since in reality, in the market we do not have any tool that can claim it perfect it all the area of concern). it is mostly either good at one area, but so in another. Another area in operation concerns how affordable for the tool and cost effective for it to be kept and maintained for the job in hand.

If you are in the market long enough, you will also not have the forever young product. Product inventions in the past, may not be fit for the modern use case or cope with the future, since they develop for the historical use case to develop the product (if you take in consideration we also need a talent developer and visionary product champion to lead the good product to keep development in the right direction, you can not expect they will continue working in the same company or maintain the same passion for their work or keen for continuous improvement). This is why, we will notice certain products keep changing hands, some even change the product name while it sells to a new owner. Some vendors will practice keeping their product price for milking existing customers (since it is hard to see to new customers) or start enforcing restricted licensing with the purpose of harvesting the most from the existing customer base. Since the new technology keeps inventing and better and more modern products are introduced in the market, this is why you will not surprise legacy products if something is in active trade with a strong commercial sponsor.

You like it or not, when you saw more and more paid media keep saying brand A product is good, even you are try it and you are not really hold the same believe, but you are keep get the same message from almost all the market channels, you will end up either thought you must be wrong, if you do not possess solid technical fundamentals working knowledge and competency.

You can imagine it will be very hard for IT personnel without solid programming background and experience in software development lifecycle, can write code, test code and fix code can be good at using static application security testing tools. This is why they are mainly used by developers with background customers with the reason, who also do quality testing, runtime error testing, working knowledge in programing platform knowledge and competency is needed.

The only way to be really good at performing application security testing (AST) and good and marsharing all the modern technology mix takes time, nothing comes close to building up your own technical competency first. They are all the tools, they are used to help you to accomplish your job faster, easier, but with reasonable false positives you know how to filter it, or you know how to test it or exploit it, if needed. Once you achieve this competency, and any vendor comes to you, you know exactly what it can help you, and how much you really worth to pay for it, in consideration for your manual testing time and available for substitute product.

E-SPIN at blink of time, already active in consult and understanding customer use case and requirements, supply for the customers in the mix of application security testing (AST) tools in combination of hardware, software and 3rd party tools and value added services for enterprise and government customers from nation after another, that truly based on customer requirements first and centric approach. We are happy to help customers along the years (of-course, certain product mixes will be replaced during the years, but the overall solution architect and approach continue to work for the customer). Feel free to contact us for your requirements, we see how we can help accordingly.