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Application security testing (AST) is the process of finding and fixing security vulnerabilities in software before attackers exploit them. It includes techniques like Static Application Security Testing (SAST), which analyzes source code; Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), which tests running applications from the outside; Software Composition Analysis (SCA), which checks third-party dependencies for known vulnerabilities; and Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST), which monitors applications during runtime. Most organizations use a combination of these methods to achieve comprehensive coverage.

There are 10 main categories of application security tools: SAST (static code analysis), SCA (open-source dependency scanning), DAST (dynamic web app testing), IAST (runtime instrumented testing), RASP (runtime application self-protection), API Security (API-specific vulnerability testing), AI Security (LLM and ML model protection), IaC Security (infrastructure-as-code scanning), ASPM (application security posture management), and Mobile Security (iOS/Android app testing). Each category addresses different phases of the software development lifecycle.

Start by identifying your tech stack and the types of vulnerabilities you need to detect. SAST tools work best early in development for code-level bugs. SCA is essential if you use open-source dependencies (most modern apps do). DAST covers runtime vulnerabilities in deployed web applications. Consider your team size, budget, and CI/CD integration needs. Open-source tools like Semgrep, Trivy, and ZAP provide solid coverage at no cost. Commercial tools like Snyk, Checkmarx, and Veracode offer broader features and support. Most mature security programs use at least one tool from SAST, SCA, and DAST categories. See the AppSec Pricing Guide for detailed cost comparisons.

SAST (Static Application Security Testing) scans source code without running the application — it finds bugs like SQL injection and XSS in your own code. DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing) tests running web applications from the outside by simulating real attacks — it catches configuration issues and runtime vulnerabilities that SAST misses. SCA (Software Composition Analysis) scans your third-party libraries and open-source dependencies for known CVEs. SAST is language-dependent and runs early in development. DAST is language-independent but requires a deployed application. SCA is critical because 70-90% of modern application code comes from open-source components. For a detailed breakdown, read the SAST vs DAST vs IAST comparison guide.