How to Choose the Right Application Security Tools for Your Business

The increasing dependence on technology increases the need for robust application security tools. Adopting cloud services, mobile applications, and IoT devices have increased the number of endpoints that need protection. Consequently, businesses need to find the right application security tools to secure their applications and protect their data. But, with so many options available in the market, it can take time to choose the right tool for your business. This article will discuss choosing the correct application security tools for your business and provide some helpful tips.

Know Your Requirements

The first step to choosing the right application security tool is identifying your business requirements. What kind of applications do you need to secure, and what data do they handle? What are your compliance requirements? What is your budget for the security tool?

Once you have identified your requirements, you can narrow down the application security tools you need. For example, if you need to secure a web application, you should look for tools specializing in web application security.

Consider the Type of Security Tool

Application security tools are software programs or services designed to identify, prevent, and mitigate application vulnerabilities. There are different application security tools, each with a specific purpose.

1. Open Source Analysis (OSA) Tools

Open Source Analysis (OSA) tools are designed to scan the open-source components used in an application to identify security vulnerabilities. These tools use a database of known vulnerabilities and compare it against the open-source components used in the application. OSA tools can identify vulnerabilities such as outdated software versions, license compliance issues, and known security vulnerabilities.

2. Static Application Security Testing (SAST) Tools

Static Application Security Testing (SAST) tools are designed to analyze the source code of an application to identify security vulnerabilities. SAST tools analyze the code without actually running the application. These tools can identify vulnerabilities like buffer overflows, SQL injection, and Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks.

3. Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST) Tools

Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST) tools combine the features of both SAST and Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) tools. These tools analyze the source code of an application and simulate attacks on the application in real-time to identify vulnerabilities. IAST tools can identify vulnerabilities such as business logic errors, input validation, and authentication issues.

4. Runtime Application Self-Protection (RASP) Tools

Runtime Application Self-Protection (RASP) tools are designed to monitor an application in runtime and take action to protect against attacks. RASP tools can detect and prevent attacks such as SQL injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), and Remote File Inclusion (RFI). RASP tools can also provide real-time monitoring and alerting.

5. Web Application Firewall (WAF) Tools

Web Application Firewall (WAF) tools are designed to filter and block malicious traffic to an application. WAF tools use a set of rules to identify and block malicious traffic. These tools can prevent attacks such as SQL injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.

6. Software Composition Analysis (SCA) Tools

Software Composition Analysis (SCA) tools are designed to analyze an application's third-party libraries and components to identify security vulnerabilities. SCA tools can identify vulnerabilities such as outdated software versions, known security vulnerabilities, and license compliance issues.

7. Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) Tools

Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) tools are designed to simulate attacks on an application in runtime to identify vulnerabilities. DAST tools do not analyze the source code of an application. Instead, these tools scan the application in a running state to identify vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), and Remote File Inclusion (RFI).

8. Business Application Security Testing (BAST) Tools

Business Application Security Testing (BAST) tools are designed to analyze the business logic of an application to identify security vulnerabilities. BAST tools can identify vulnerabilities such as authorization, access control, and data leakage.

9. Binary Code Analysis (BCA) Tools

Binary Code Analysis (BCA) tools are designed to analyze the binary code of an application to identify security vulnerabilities. BCA tools can identify vulnerabilities such as buffer overflows, integer overflows, and format string vulnerabilities.

10. API Security Testing (API ST) Tools

API Security Testing (API ST) tools are designed to test the security of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). API ST tools can identify vulnerabilities such as injection attacks, authorization issues, and broken authentication.

Consider each security tool's features and determine which fits your requirements best

Evaluate the Effectiveness of the Tool

Investing in an application security tool is essential for any business that wants to protect its applications from security vulnerabilities. However, evaluating the tool's effectiveness is crucial before making a purchase. This is because not all application security tools are created equal, and some may not effectively detect all types of security vulnerabilities.

1. Testing the tool against your requirements: Run a proof-of-concept to test the tool against your business requirements.
2. Evaluating the tool's accuracy: Test the tool on a sample application and evaluate how accurately it identifies vulnerabilities.
3. Analyzing the reporting capabilities: Check the tool's reporting capabilities to ensure that it provides actionable insights.
4. Reviewing customer feedback: Look for customer reviews of the tool to see how effective it is in real-world scenarios.

Consider the Integration with Other Tools

Application security tools should integrate seamlessly with other tools in your business environment. For example, if you use a DevOps toolchain, the application security tool should incorporate to ensure that security testing is performed throughout the software development lifecycle. The tool should also integrate with your security information and event management (SIEM) system to ensure that security events are detected and responded to in real time.

Consider the Scalability of the Tool

As your business grows, the number of applications that need security testing will also increase. Therefore, choosing a security tool that can scale your business is essential. The tool should handle the increasing workload and integrate it with other tools you use in your business environment.

Conclusion

When choosing the right application security tool for your business, scalability is critical. You don't want a tool that can't keep up with the growing demands of your organization and leaves you vulnerable to security threats. It's essential to consider the number of applications, size of data, number of users, types of applications, and deployment options when evaluating the scalability of a tool.

But don't worry; we've got you covered! At Peris.ai, we offer a variety of application security tools that are effective at protecting your business from security threats and scalable to meet your organization's needs as it grows. So why wait? Visit our solution now to find the perfect application security tool for your business and take the first step towards a more secure future.