{"id":96164,"date":"2024-06-17T10:28:23","date_gmt":"2024-06-17T10:28:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.checkmarx.com\/learn\/uncategorized\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T21:51:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T19:51:35","slug":"sast-ultimate-sast-guide","status":"publish","type":"learn","link":"https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/learn\/sast\/ultimate-sast-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Mastering SAST: The 2024 Comprehensive Guide To Static Application Security Testing"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/learn\/sast\/static-application-security-testing-sast\/\">Static application security testing (SAST)<\/a>\u00a0solutions provide organizations with peace of mind that their applications are secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/cxsast-source-code-scanning\/\">SAST<\/a>&nbsp;platforms differ from each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A&nbsp;SAST&nbsp;tool that meets developers where they are can&nbsp;make&nbsp;AppSec team\u2019s lives much easier, and&nbsp;significantly enhance the&nbsp;organization\u2019s ability to defend itself from code vulnerabilities&nbsp;in the <a href=\"https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/learn\/appsec\/sdlc-guide\/\">SDLC<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This comprehensive guide covers all aspects of&nbsp;Static Application Security Testing, on your journey to choosing a&nbsp;SAST&nbsp;tool and vendor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read on, at the end of this guide you\u2019ll be able to intelligently choose a comprehensive enterprise-grade SAST solution that builds dev trust while eliminating tension between AppSec teams and developers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading article-anchor\" id=\"data-one\">Static Application Security Testing (SAST) Basics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is SAST?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Static Application Security Testing (SAST)&nbsp;is a type of security testing that analyzes source code, byte code, or application binaries to identify potential security vulnerabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By detecting vulnerabilities early in the development process, SAST enables remediating them before they risk the entire application and become more costly and complex to fix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SAST tools work by scanning code, analyzing the code\u2019s structure and data flow and detecting security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers. Then, SAST tools then generate reports detailing these potential vulnerabilities, ranking them by severity and providing developers and security teams with guidance for remediation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/learn\/sast\/sast-vs-dast\/\">SAST vs DAST<\/a>&nbsp;(Dynamic Application Security Testing) is a common comparison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike DAST, SAST is performed without executing the program, whereas DAST analyzes applications at runtime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading article-anchor\" id=\"data-two\">Static Application Security Testing Role in Secure Development Lifecycle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why is SAST important in the SDLC?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Integrating SAST in the SDLC helps develop secure software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The main benefits of making SAST part of developer workflows include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\n<b>Early Detection of Vulnerabilities<\/b>&nbsp;\u2013 By analyzing the source code before it\u2019s compiled and run, developers can detect and fix security issues before they risk the running application. This also makes them less expensive and time-consuming to fix.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<b>Improved Code Quality&nbsp;<\/b>\u2013 Regularly scanning the codebase with SAST helps maintain high security and quality standards throughout the development process. SAST tools encourage developers to write more secure code from the start, reducing the likelihood of vulnerabilities and creating a security standard across the organization.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<b>Integration with Development Tools and Processes<\/b>&nbsp;\u2013 SAST tools can be integrated into IDEs, CI\/CD pipelines, version control systems, and more. This integration allows for immediate feedback and a streamlined remediation process. It also encourages adoption by developers, since it makes SAST part of their day-to-day rather than a frictional process.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<b>Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management<\/b>&nbsp;\u2013 SAST helps organizations meet regulatory requirements by ensuring that code is analyzed and vetted for security before deployment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<b>Facilitating DevSecOps Culture<\/b>&nbsp;\u2013&nbsp; Strategies for SAST integration in the SDLC promotes collaboration between the development, AppSec, and operations teams. This helps break down silos and fosters a culture where security is a shared responsibility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<b>Building Developer Trust<\/b>&nbsp;\u2013 SAST tools empower developers to take ownership of the security of their code. They can identify and understand security issues as they work, incorporating security thinking into their daily tasks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading article-anchor\" id=\"data-three\">SAST and DevSecOps CI\/CD<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>SAST tools can be integrated directly into the CI\/CD pipeline with tools like Jenkins, Bitbucket, CircleCI, and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Enabling \u201cshift left\u201d security approach means that every time code is committed and a build is triggered, the SAST tool automatically scans the code for potential vulnerabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a result, developers get immediate feedback on any security issues discovered, and at the pace of their development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Integrating SAST into CI\/CD pipelines also fosters collaboration between development and security teams, which is <a href=\"https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/solutions\/devsecops\/\">a pillar of DevOps and DevSecOps<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When SAST is part of the CI\/CD pipeline, security becomes a&nbsp;visible and shared concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Developers are empowered to address security issues, AppSec teams can understand what is required of developers to fix them and DevOps can ensure fast, secure and quality deliveries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This enhances communication and cooperation between developers, AppSec and DevOps teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading article-anchor\" id=\"data-four\">6 Benefits of Static Application Security Testing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>SAST tools provide CISOs, Heads of AppSec, DevOps, developers and all stakeholders with multiple&nbsp;benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The main ones include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Affordability and Efficiency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Early Fixes<\/b>&nbsp;\u2013 Identifying and resolving vulnerabilities early in the development process is less costly than addressing them post-deployment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If issues are identified in production, they might require complex patches, hotfixes, or even architectural changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Enhancing Developer Productivity&nbsp;<\/b>\u2013 SAST tools can be automated and integrated into the existing development and CI\/CD pipelines, providing real-time feedback to developers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This automation allows developers to focus on fixing issues rather than finding them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over time, regular feedback from SAST tools&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/product\/codebashing-secure-code-training\/\">educates developers<\/a>&nbsp;about security best practices, leading to better coding habits, which enhances developer productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Secure Applications<\/b>&nbsp;\u2013 By improving security, SAST helps avoid the potentially high costs associated with a security breach, including fines, legal fees, compensation, and the indirect costs of lost trust and damaged reputation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Shift Left: Integration into Early SDLC Stages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Integrating SAST into the early stages of the SDLC is a strategic approach that aligns with the \u201cshift left\u201d application security concept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By identifying vulnerabilities at the earliest point possible, organizations can prevent potential security issues, rather than having to remediate them after they\u2019ve been exploited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This proactive approach significantly reduces the risk of security incidents, reduces costs, and increases code quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. No Test Cases Required<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>SAST tools analyze the source code directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They don\u2019t need the application to be running or any specific test cases to execute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is unlike DAST or manual testing, which require a running application and carefully designed test cases that simulate various conditions and user behaviors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a result, SAST tools:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Save time and effort in test preparation and execution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provide a comprehensive approach, since they are not not limited by the scenarios that test cases cover.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are easier to use for developers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Testing Complex Applications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>SAST tools deeply inspect all layers of the application, including backend services, APIs, and third-party libraries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They are also designed to handle large amounts of code, support a wide range of programming languages and frameworks, and analyze the relationships and data flows between components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This comprehensive SAST analysis supports the testing of complex applications, which enhances the organization\u2019s security posture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Scan Everything with Ease<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>SAST tools automatically scan the entire codebase, third party modules and can even be integrated into CI\/CD pipelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a result, the scanning process requires minimal human intervention, allowing teams to focus on addressing the issues rather than finding them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading article-anchor\" id=\"data-five\">SAST and Compliance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Organizations are increasingly required to adhere to strict&nbsp;compliance regulations&nbsp;and requirements concerning data protection, privacy, and secure software development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Examples of such regulations include PCI DSS, HIPAA and FISMA. By running SAST scans, analyzing the results of the scan, prioritizing and then remediating vulnerabilities and then re-testing the code, organizations can ensure applications are secure and compliant with regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To make this process easier and more streamlined, organizations should:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Choose a SAST tool with built-in compliance frameworks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encourage secure coding standards, like OWASP Top 10, among developers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Facilitate collaboration between development and application security teams through meetings and workshops.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use clear compliance dashboards that visually and easily show any possible violations and the overall posture.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Additional SAST tool features to take into consideration include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Audit trails, for documenting of SAST activities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Integrations with development tools<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reporting capabilities, which fosters transparency and accountability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading article-anchor\" id=\"data-six\">Limitations of&nbsp;Static Application Security Testing Methodology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Albeit the multiple advantages of SAST, when building your security stack it\u2019s important to take the following limitations into consideration:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">No&nbsp;Dynamic Code Scanning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>SAST is static by nature. It analyzes the codebase without executing it. This means it cannot capture runtime behaviors, environment configurations, or interactions with other systems and services that could introduce vulnerabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These include vulnerabilities that arise from specific deployment configurations, user interactions, or runtime conditions (like memory management issues); APIs that dynamically generate content and handle data; and microservices architectures or cloud services can have complex, dynamic interactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Source Code Analysis&nbsp;Depth and Breadth Limitations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While&nbsp;SAST tools&nbsp;analyze source code, different&nbsp;SAST tools&nbsp;may have varying levels of support for different programming languages and frameworks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They might be highly effective for some technologies while offering limited coverage or insight for others, particularly with the popularity of cross platform application consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, modern programming languages and frameworks often include advanced features and abstractions.&nbsp;SAST tools&nbsp;might not fully understand the implications of these features, potentially missing vulnerabilities that span across multiple components or layers or misinterpreting code patterns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Be sure to choose a SAST tool that supports all languages and frameworks, as well as&nbsp;both deep and wide scanning, to cover all such use cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"section-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"main-wrapper section-accordion__wrapper\">\n        <h2 class=\"section-title article-anchor\" id=\"article-anchor-1\">Static Application Security Testing (SAST) FAQ<\/h2>\n        <div class=\"fag-accordion__wrapper\">\n            <div class=\"js-accordion fag-accordion\">\n                <div>\n\n                                            <div class=\"js-accordion__item fag-accordion__item \">\n                            <h3 class=\"js-accordion__btn fag-accordion__btn\">\n                                <svg width=\"34px\" height=\"23px\" viewbox=\"0 0 34 23\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <g id=\"Page-1\" stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\n                                        <g id=\"Shape\" transform=\"translate(0.939453, 1.530000)\" stroke-width=\"3\">\n                                            <path d=\"M19.810947,20.4179 L31.029947,9.14 M30.029947,10.1989 L0,10.1989 M31.029947,11.26 L19.810947,0\"><\/path>\n                                        <\/g>\n                                    <\/g>\n                                <\/svg>\n                                How do SAST tools integrate with CI\/CD pipelines?                            <\/h3>\n                            <div class=\"js-accordion-content fag-accordion__content\">\n                                <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SAST tools integrate with CI\/CD pipelines by scanning code for vulnerabilities during the build phase. They analyze code for security flaws before deployment, ensuring early detection. Integrated into CI\/CD, they trigger scans on code commits, pull requests, or builds, providing immediate feedback to developers. This continuous testing reduces security risks, enforces coding standards, and streamlines secure code delivery. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.checkmarx.com\/en\/34965-68684-ci-cd-integrations.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn more <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">about how Checkmarx One integrates with CI\/CD tools.<\/span><\/p>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                <div class=\"js-accordion__item fag-accordion__item \">\n                            <h3 class=\"js-accordion__btn fag-accordion__btn\">\n                                <svg width=\"34px\" height=\"23px\" viewbox=\"0 0 34 23\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <g id=\"Page-1\" stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\n                                        <g id=\"Shape\" transform=\"translate(0.939453, 1.530000)\" stroke-width=\"3\">\n                                            <path d=\"M19.810947,20.4179 L31.029947,9.14 M30.029947,10.1989 L0,10.1989 M31.029947,11.26 L19.810947,0\"><\/path>\n                                        <\/g>\n                                    <\/g>\n                                <\/svg>\n                                How do SAST tools integrate with development workflows?                            <\/h3>\n                            <div class=\"js-accordion-content fag-accordion__content\">\n                                <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SAST tools seamlessly integrate into CI\/CD pipelines, scanning code for vulnerabilities during the build phase and providing immediate feedback on security flaws before deployment. This integration allows for automated scans triggered by code commits, pull requests, or builds, offering developers real-time insights to address vulnerabilities early. Continuous testing with SAST reduces security risks and ensures secure code delivery\u00a0 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.checkmarx.com\/en\/34965-68614-checkmarx-one-integrations.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn more <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">about Checkmarx One integrations.<\/span><\/p>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                <div class=\"js-accordion__item fag-accordion__item \">\n                            <h3 class=\"js-accordion__btn fag-accordion__btn\">\n                                <svg width=\"34px\" height=\"23px\" viewbox=\"0 0 34 23\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <g id=\"Page-1\" stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\n                                        <g id=\"Shape\" transform=\"translate(0.939453, 1.530000)\" stroke-width=\"3\">\n                                            <path d=\"M19.810947,20.4179 L31.029947,9.14 M30.029947,10.1989 L0,10.1989 M31.029947,11.26 L19.810947,0\"><\/path>\n                                        <\/g>\n                                    <\/g>\n                                <\/svg>\n                                Are SAST tools suitable for all programming languages?                            <\/h3>\n                            <div class=\"js-accordion-content fag-accordion__content\">\n                                <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not all SAST tools will be suitable for all programming languages. This is especially important as your applications are made up of different languages and your organization may have different teams working with different languages. As language-specific rules and syntax complexities can impact effectiveness, it\u2019s important to consider this when you choose a SAST solution. At Checkmarx, we support a wide number of languages. <\/span><\/p>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n<div>                        <div class=\"js-accordion__item fag-accordion__item \">\n                            <h3 class=\"js-accordion__btn fag-accordion__btn\">\n                                <svg width=\"34px\" height=\"23px\" viewbox=\"0 0 34 23\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <g id=\"Page-1\" stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\n                                        <g id=\"Shape\" transform=\"translate(0.939453, 1.530000)\" stroke-width=\"3\">\n                                            <path d=\"M19.810947,20.4179 L31.029947,9.14 M30.029947,10.1989 L0,10.1989 M31.029947,11.26 L19.810947,0\"><\/path>\n                                        <\/g>\n                                    <\/g>\n                                <\/svg>\n                                How do SAST tools handle false positives?                            <\/h3>\n                            <div class=\"js-accordion-content fag-accordion__content\">\n                                <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SAST tools often allow developers to customize rules, filter results, and adjust sensitivity settings to reduce false positives. For example, Checkmarx offers \u201cFast Scan Mode\u201d, as well different presets, which helps to customize\u00a0 alerts and the depth of scanning. <\/span><\/p>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                <div class=\"js-accordion__item fag-accordion__item \">\n                            <h3 class=\"js-accordion__btn fag-accordion__btn\">\n                                <svg width=\"34px\" height=\"23px\" viewbox=\"0 0 34 23\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <g id=\"Page-1\" stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\n                                        <g id=\"Shape\" transform=\"translate(0.939453, 1.530000)\" stroke-width=\"3\">\n                                            <path d=\"M19.810947,20.4179 L31.029947,9.14 M30.029947,10.1989 L0,10.1989 M31.029947,11.26 L19.810947,0\"><\/path>\n                                        <\/g>\n                                    <\/g>\n                                <\/svg>\n                                What are the limitations of SAST tools?                            <\/h3>\n                            <div class=\"js-accordion-content fag-accordion__content\">\n                                <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SAST tools focus on vulnerabilities in codebase. They may miss vulnerabilities tied to runtime behaviors, as they don\u2019t execute code. They also don\u2019t focus on all aspects of development from code-to-cloud, so There is a need to augment SAST with additional security solutions such as container security solutions to identify vulnerabilities in containers, API Security solutions to test APIs, Software Supply Chain Security and more.<\/span><\/p>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n                                        <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/learn\/sast\/ultimate-sast-guide\/\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How do SAST tools integrate with CI\/CD pipelines?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"SAST tools integrate with CI\/CD pipelines by scanning code for vulnerabilities during the build phase. They analyze code for security flaws before deployment, ensuring early detection. Integrated into CI\/CD, they trigger scans on code commits, pull requests, or builds, providing immediate feedback to developers. This continuous testing reduces security risks, enforces coding standards, and streamlines secure code delivery. Learn more about how Checkmarx One integrates with CI\/CD tools.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How do SAST tools integrate with development workflows?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"SAST tools seamlessly integrate into CI\/CD pipelines, scanning code for vulnerabilities during the build phase and providing immediate feedback on security flaws before deployment. This integration allows for automated scans triggered by code commits, pull requests, or builds, offering developers real-time insights to address vulnerabilities early. Continuous testing with SAST reduces security risks and ensures secure code delivery\u00a0 Learn more about Checkmarx One integrations.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Are SAST tools suitable for all programming languages?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Not all SAST tools will be suitable for all programming languages. This is especially important as your applications are made up of different languages and your organization may have different teams working with different languages. As language-specific rules and syntax complexities can impact effectiveness, it\u2019s important to consider this when you choose a SAST solution. At Checkmarx, we support a wide number of languages.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How do SAST tools handle false positives?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"SAST tools often allow developers to customize rules, filter results, and adjust sensitivity settings to reduce false positives. For example, Checkmarx offers \u201cFast Scan Mode\u201d, as well different presets, which helps to customize\u00a0 alerts and the depth of scanning.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What are the limitations of SAST tools?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"SAST tools focus on vulnerabilities in codebase. They may miss vulnerabilities tied to runtime behaviors, as they don\u2019t execute code. They also don\u2019t focus on all aspects of development from code-to-cloud, so There is a need to augment SAST with additional security solutions such as container security solutions to identify vulnerabilities in containers, API Security solutions to test APIs, Software Supply Chain Security and more.\"}}]}<\/script>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading article-anchor\" id=\"data-seven\">SAST vs DAST vs IAST vs SCA<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ve probably heard of SAST mentioned alongside terms like DAST and IAST. Let\u2019s break down the differences and how they compare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Static vs Dynamic Application Security Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>SAST analyzes the source code of an application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s performed early in the development lifecycle, and often integrated directly into the development environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This allows for early detection, comprehensive coverage and makes it a developer-friendly solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, SAST can produce false positives or negatives since it does not analyze vulnerabilities at runtime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where DAST comes in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/checkmarx-dast\/\">DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing)<\/a>&nbsp;is a set of security technologies that analyzes the application from the outside while it\u2019s running. It simulates an attacker\u2019s approach to discover vulnerabilities. DAST is typically performed later in the development lifecycle, once a runnable version of the application is available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The DAST approach allows identifying vulnerabilities that only become apparent when the application is running, such as issues with user sessions, authentication, and server configurations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>DAST can also test any application accessible via a network, regardless of the language or technology used to build it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, relying solely on DAST has its limitations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Late detection of vulnerabilities makes them more expensive and time-consuming to fix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, DAST potentially misses vulnerabilities in unexecuted code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Analyzing the results is also less developer-friendly, because it typically requires more security-specific knowledge to interpret and act on the results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"data-eight\">SAST vs. DAST&nbsp;\u2013 Comparison Table<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"article-table-wrap\">\n<div class=\"wrap-table-radius\">\n<table class=\"table-service\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td><b>SAST<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>DAST<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Approach<\/b><\/td>\n<td>Analyzes static code, from the inside, developer approach<\/td>\n<td>Analyzes the running application, from the outside, attacker approach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Timing<\/b><\/td>\n<td>Early in the SDLC<\/td>\n<td>Post-build<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Speed<\/b><\/td>\n<td>Fast and agile<\/td>\n<td>Slow and late<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Support<\/b><\/td>\n<td>Code-level guidance for remediation<\/td>\n<td>No code guidance to pinpoint the vulnerability<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Shift Left Security<\/b><\/td>\n<td>Yes, integrated into the IDE and CI\/CD pipelines<\/td>\n<td>No<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Developer-friendly<\/b><\/td>\n<td>Yes<\/td>\n<td>No<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Benefits<\/b><\/td>\n<td>Early detection, comprehensive code coverage<\/td>\n<td>Real-world attack simulation, runtime issues<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Limitations<\/b><\/td>\n<td>Runtime blindness, false positives\/negatives<\/td>\n<td>Coverage limitations, later detection<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Static vs Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST) is a security testing approach that operates within the application during runtime, identifying vulnerabilities in real-time as the application processes data. Unlike traditional static testing, IAST requires the application to be actively used, often relying on functional testing to provide realistic user interactions. This dependency means that the quality and depth of IAST results are directly influenced by the thoroughness of these functional tests. In other words, if the functional tests do not cover all aspects of the application, IAST may miss critical vulnerabilities that could otherwise be exposed in live environments.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a result, for IAST to deliver valuable insights, organizations need to maintain extensive and up-to-date functional testing suites, which many development teams find to be challenging. The ongoing creation, maintenance, and updating of functional tests can be prohibitively time-consuming and resource-intensive, particularly as applications evolve rapidly in agile and CI\/CD environments. As a result, teams often struggle to keep their functional testing aligned with the application\u2019s current state, which can lead to gaps in IAST coverage and less reliable security findings. Furthermore, teams may find it challenging to ensure their functional tests cover all parts of the application, potentially leaving security blind spots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Due to these challenges, many organizations are opting for alternative approaches, such as DAST combined with API security as part of a complete and comprehensive application security approach. Like IAST, DAST analyzes live applications, and does not rely on functional tests, as it operates from the outside-in, assessing the application\u2019s behavior in response to simulated attacks and identifying vulnerabilities that would be accessible to external threats. Additionally, API security testing focuses on securing API endpoints, which are increasingly targeted in modern applications. By incorporating DAST and API security testing into their application security programs, organizations can maintain a flexible, lower-maintenance solution that adapts easily to changes in code and infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By focusing on runtime vulnerabilities without requiring extensive functional testing, DAST with API security provides a more flexible and lower-maintenance option for many teams, especially those dealing with rapidly changing codebases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When comparing SAST to IAST, teams should recognize it\u2019s like comparing apples and oranges. SAST is ideal for detecting and remediating vulnerabilities in the coding and development process, allowing developers to address security issues before the application is fully built or deployed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In contrast, IAST is dynamic and interactive, providing real-time feedback by observing the application as it runs. However, due to the reliance on functional testing, many organizations are turning to DAST with API security to obtain comprehensive coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SAST vs. IAST \u2013 Comparison Table<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"article-table-wrap\">\n<div class=\"wrap-table-radius\">\n<table class=\"table-service\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td><b>SAST<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>IAST<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Approach<\/b><\/td>\n<td>Analyzes static code, from the inside, developer approach<\/td>\n<td>Analyzes the running application, QA approach. Requires the application to be running, making it dependent on test coverage within a QA environment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Timing<\/b><\/td>\n<td>Early in the SDLC<\/td>\n<td>Mid-to-late in the SDLC, as it requires the application to be in a running state<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Speed<\/b><\/td>\n<td>Fast and agile<\/td>\n<td>Slower, as it relies on the application\u2019s runtime and existing functional tests<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Support<\/b><\/td>\n<td>Code-level guidance for remediation<\/td>\n<td>Runtime analysis feedback, often context-dependent on test coverage<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Shift Left Security<\/b><\/td>\n<td>Yes, integrated into the IDE and CI\/CD pipelines<\/td>\n<td>Can integrate into CI\/CD, though reliant on runtime and functional test coverage<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Developer-friendly<\/b><\/td>\n<td>Yes<\/td>\n<td>Limited, more beneficial to QA teams and security analysts with functional testing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr>\n<td><b>Limitations<\/b><\/td>\n<td>Only tests code, not live applications. Requires configuration to get the best results. \n<\/td>\n<td>Potential compatibility issues, and relies on the quality of functional testing\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading article-anchor\" id=\"article-anchor-2\">SAST vs. SCA: How to Combine SAST with SCA<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Software Composition Analysis (<a href=\"https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/cxsca-open-source-scanning\/\">SCA<\/a>) is a set of technologies used to identify and manage the risks associated with using open-source and third-party components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/learn\/sca\/types-of-sca-tools\/\">SCA tools<\/a>&nbsp;evaluate third-party components for security vulnerabilities, licensing issues, and outdated versions to ensure the safety and compliance of the software product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the right SCA tools, organizations can boost productivity while remaining secure and compliant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SAST and SCA complement each other to provide a layered defense against a wide range of vulnerabilities, covering both the internal and external code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While SAST helps write secure code from the start, SCA ensures that open-source third-party components don\u2019t introduce new vulnerabilities or violate licenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/learn\/sca\/sca-sast-dast\/\">SAST and SCA can be integrated<\/a>&nbsp;early in the development process and into the CI\/CD pipeline, providing continuous, automated security feedback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This integration ensures that security is a seamless part of the development process, ensuring developers get timely feedback and can fix vulnerabilities before deployment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s important to choose the right SCA tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many tools simply focus on known vulnerabilities in third-party components. They do so by checking the manifest file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, a comprehensive solution will also check additional aspects, like contributor names.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading article-anchor\" id=\"data-nine\">AppSec vs Developers: 5 Ways to Help Developers Embrace SAST<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Traditionally, developers and AppSec teams have worked in silos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Developers\u2019 priority was to quickly deliver code and features to end-users, while AppSec professionals might delay deployment, but ensure code is secure and the organization is protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SAST tools can help&nbsp;bridge this gap, through automation, fostering collaboration and providing guided remediation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a detailed look:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Potential Adoption Issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Developers might see security as a discipline that slows down development by introducing additional checks and balances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, understanding and effectively addressing security findings often involves a learning curve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SAST tools can be used to empower development teams to take ownership of code security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Similarly security teams can be shown the impact of security findings on the developers\u2019 workflow and KPIs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This fosters better communication, enables providing better security guidance and encourages adoption of security practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Sensitivity and False Positives<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Certain SAST tools scan everything and are thorough supporting zero vulnerability policies. These&nbsp;to a large number of alerts, many of which might be false positives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For developers, sifting through false positives to find real issues can be time-consuming and reduce their overall productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This can also lead them to distrust the tool, viewing its findings as more noise than signal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Choose an enterprise SAST tool that reduces the number of inaccurate findings, while still detecting all risks \u2013 like SQL injection, cross-site scripting, buffer overflows, cross-site request forgery, and insecure cryptographic storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Knowing Where to Prioritize<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Without understanding the context and risk of vulnerabilities, developers might prioritize less critical issues over more severe ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SAST tools can assess and prioritize vulnerabilities based on potential impact, balancing security with development timelines and business objectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take the following&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/info.checkmarx.com\/trust-paradigm\">7 steps<\/a>&nbsp;for more impactful prioritization:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tune your SAST controls for each unique application to account for differences between them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Onboard each application to your AppSec program.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Correlate security findings to identify which ones are actually exploitable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unify dashboards to streamline the process and for effective triage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Eliminate duplication in vulnerability bug tickets.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See the entire picture by focusing on critical applications first.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Leverage managed services for help as needed.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Integrations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Developers benefit most from static security scanning tools that integrate seamlessly into their IDEs and CI\/CD pipelines, since this reduces friction and allows for timely feedback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, it\u2019s important to choose a SAST tool that syncs up with the tools, systems, and workflows that developers are already using.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Interrupting Workflows<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Developers who view SAST tools as disruptive or too time-consuming may resist using them or might bypass checks to speed up their work. To build trust, application security executives should consider these features when choosing a SAST software solution:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>An easy-to-use dashboard that can filter and sort results in multiple ways to reveal patterns and other insights.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Noise filters and presets that reduce false positives while avoiding false negatives.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/why-checkmarx\/integrations\/\">Integrations into the&nbsp;environments<\/a>&nbsp;developers are already using.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Built-in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/press-releases\/checkmarx-expands-auto-remediation-with-new-mobb-integration-for-sast\/\">AI-powered remediation guidance<\/a>. For example, showing developers the exact piece of referenced code.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Incremental scanning that analyzes only modified or new code lines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consistent and reliable support.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading article-anchor\" id=\"data-ten\">SAST Scan Characteristics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s what you need to know about SAST scanning:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Open Box Testing Methodology<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>SAST is often described as an \u201copen box\u201d or \u201cwhite-box\u201d testing methodology. Unlike its counterpart, DAST, which tests an application from the outside in, SAST delves into the application\u2019s internal structure, code, and design. This approach provides a comprehensive understanding of how data flows through the application, enabling it to identify complex issues like input validation problems, race conditions, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Main Types of SAST Scans<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are three main types of SAST scans:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\n<b>Source Code Analysis<\/b>&nbsp;\u2013 The original application source code.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<b>Bytecode Analysis<\/b>&nbsp;\u2013 The intermediate code.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<b>Binary Code Analysis&nbsp;<\/b>\u2013 The final compiled code of the application.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Scan Speed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The speed of a SAST scan can vary significantly based on various factors. First, the size and complexity of the codebase. Larger and more complex applications take longer to scan. Second, the type of scan being performed: Some scans, like pattern-based scans, are quicker, while flow-based scans might take more time due to their depth of analysis. Finally, the tool\u2019s capabilities and configuration: Different tools and configurations can lead to variations in scan speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.checkmarx.com\/en\/34965-46508-configuring-cxsast-scan-flow-processes.html\">To increase the speed<\/a>, accuracy, and efficiency of the scans, you can restrict the scan coverage to specific programming languages or categories of languages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, certain SAST tools&nbsp;support incremental scans. This means they don\u2019t require a complete build to launch a scan, which saves significant time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. What Kind of Vulnerabilities Can SAST Tools Detect?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Static security scanning tools can detect risks like injection flaws and SQL injections, cross-site scripting (XSS), buffer overflows, cross-site request forgery (CSRF), improper authentication and access controls and insecure cryptographic storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. What Level of Sensitivity (False Positives) Do You Want?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The level of sensitivity in a SAST tool refers to its threshold for reporting vulnerabilities. Higher sensitivity means it will report more potential issues, but also increases the likelihood of false positives (benign code flagged as vulnerable). High sensitivity might be preferred in early development stages to ensure no potential issue is missed or in highly-regulated industries. Lower sensitivity might be more suitable closer to deployment to focus on the most critical and certain vulnerabilities, reducing the noise for developers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<section class=\"section-block-info light-theme\">\n    <div class=\"main-wrapper block-info__wrapper\">\n        <div class=\"block-info center\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"section-title article-anchor\" id=\"article-anchor-3\">SAST that Builds #DevSecTrust<\/h2>\t\t\t<p class=\"section-description\">Checkmarx SAST combines both speed and security to improve developer experience \u2013 up to 90% faster with 80% lower false positives\r\n<\/p>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"actions\">\n\t\t\t\t        <a href=\"https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/cxsast-source-code-scanning\/\" class=\"btn btn-2 btn-bg white demo\">Discover Checkmarx SAST<\/a>\n        \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<p>Choose a SAST tool that can scan&nbsp;both deep and wide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\n<b>Deep<\/b>&nbsp;\u2013 The most thorough scan to uncover all high, medium, and low-severity vulnerabilities for a comprehensive overview.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<b>Wide<\/b>&nbsp;\u2013 A high-level scan for finding the most critical high-severity vulnerabilities and gaining a high-level view of risk.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading article-anchor\" id=\"data-elevine\">Enterprise SAST Tool Tech Considerations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Choosing the right SAST tools for your needs requires mapping your use cases and breaking them down into technological requirements. When doing so, take the following into&nbsp;consideration:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Supported Languages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Organizations choose languages and frameworks based on personal preference, task requirements, application needs, developer goals and organizational standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, SAST solutions should support a wide scope of languages and frameworks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Choose a vendor that supports the largest number of languages and frameworks and frequently adds new languages so you can standardize on a single application and future-proof your application security platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. IDE and Tech Integrations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Integrating and automating SAST solutions into the SDLC will increase development adoption. The alternative, interruptions and adding additional steps, will create frustration and delay secure deployment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Common integrations in SAST solutions should include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>SCM solutions \u2013 Bitbucket, GitHub, GitLab, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>IDE solutions \u2013 Eclipse, IntelliJ, Visual Studio, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>CI\/CD solutions \u2013 Jenkins, CircleCI, Bamboo, TeamCity, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Feedback solutions&nbsp; \u2013 Azure DevOps, Jira, Rally, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Choose a vendor that supports these integrations as well as custom integrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Scan Speeds\/Presets\/Best Fix Location<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Scan Speeds<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Waiting for code to compile before scanning can be annoying, and many developers will skip scans or ignore results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, SAST solutions should incrementally scan after major changes and&nbsp; scan at the source code repository level, avoiding the need to rebuild code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Choose a vendor that&nbsp;can scan uncompiled code and directly from repositories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Presets<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>AppSec teams can use&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/info.checkmarx.com\/video\/tailored-preset-gated\">presets<\/a>, which are out-of-the-box groups of rules, to support use cases and compliance needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SAST tools should offer multiple presets to help AppSec teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Choose a vendor that supports modifying queries and creating custom queries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Best Fix Location<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>When detecting vulnerabilities, there are SAST solutions that rely on regex and pattern-matching. These approaches lack context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SAST solutions should provide deeper analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Choose a SAST vendor that provides a best fix location and guides developers to where coding errors exist and how to remediate them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading article-anchor\" id=\"data-twilea\">\u201cEnterprise vs. Good Enough\u201d Making the Right Choice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On top of available features and capabilities, some SAST tools were built for the enterprise, while others were built for a wide variety of organizations, and may not be sufficient to answer enterprise needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How can you distinguish between enterprise SAST solutions and SAST tools that are merely \u201cgood enough\u201d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consider the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Languages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\n<b>Enterprise-level SAST tools<\/b>&nbsp;typically offer broad language and framework support, understanding that large organizations often use a diverse stack of technologies. They are regularly updated to include the latest language versions and frameworks, ensuring that even the most modern or niche languages are covered. This comprehensive language support ensures consistent security practices across all projects and teams, security standardization and future-proofing the stack.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<b>Good Enough \/ Non-Enterprise tools<\/b>&nbsp;might support popular or common languages but often lack the breadth or depth of their enterprise counterparts. They might not be as quick to update for new language versions or frameworks, potentially leaving newer codebases less protected. While sufficient for smaller teams or projects with a more uniform tech stack, such solutions might struggle in a diverse, fast-evolving environment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">False Negatives<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\n<b>Enterprise SAST solutions<\/b>&nbsp;typically invest heavily in reducing false negatives (real vulnerabilities that are not reported). They incorporate advanced deep SAST analysis techniques and are regularly updated with the latest security research to ensure they can detect emerging threats. The goal is to provide a safety net as robust as possible, understanding that in large organizations, even a single overlooked vulnerability can have significant repercussions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<b>Good Enough \/ Non-Enterprise tools<\/b>&nbsp;might not have the same level of sophistication or resources dedicated to minimizing false negatives. They might rely on more general or outdated vulnerability databases and lack the advanced analysis capabilities of enterprise tools. This doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019re insecure, but there might be a higher risk of not catching every potential issue.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Speed vs. Quality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\n<b>Enterprise SAST tools<\/b>&nbsp;often provide a balance between speed and thoroughness. They are designed to integrate seamlessly into the CI\/CD pipeline, providing quick feedback to developers without significantly slowing down development processes. However, they also offer deep, comprehensive scans to ensure quality. Such tools also provide customizable settings to balance speed and depth based on the project\u2019s needs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<b>Good Enough \/ Non-Enterprise tools<\/b>&nbsp;might prioritize speed to appeal to smaller teams looking to integrate security without a resource drain. They can provide quick scans and feedback, which is excellent for early and frequent testing. However, the trade-off might come in the form of less thorough analysis, potentially missing complex or less common vulnerabilities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading article-anchor\" id=\"data-thertine\">Benefits of SAST on Checkmarx One<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Checkmarx&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/cxsast-source-code-scanning\/\">SAST engine<\/a>&nbsp;is an integral part of the Checkmarx One&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/product\/application-security-platform\/\">application security testing platform<\/a>&nbsp;\u2013 the industry leading cloud-native platform that builds DevSecTrust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The platform secures every phase of development for every application from the very first line of code until production while simultaneously balancing the dynamic needs of security and development teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The main benefits enjoyed by more than 1,800 customers, including 60% of Fortune 100 Organizations, include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Platform<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>SAST on Checkmarx One was built for developers, providing best fix location of where to fix the vulnerability and the vulnerable line of code, as well as guided remediation advice, straight in the IDE. Guidance includes security context, explaining the attack vector and the point to place in the code. Checkmarx One enhances&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/solutions\/developer-experience\/\">#DevSecTrust<\/a>&nbsp;by enabiling them to&nbsp;<b>prioritize<\/b>&nbsp;for the greatest business impact,&nbsp;<b>meet<\/b>&nbsp;developers where they live, and&nbsp;<b>equip&nbsp;<\/b>developers with the tools and knowledge to deliver secure applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through automation and integrations, SAST on Checkmarx One becomes a part of the SDLC, integrating with IDEs as well as build management servers, bug tracking tools and source repositories. This aligns security testing with quality testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, SAST scans run on the server instead of on the developers\u2019 workstation, so developers can continue working without interruption. These capabilities save time for developers, empowering them and increasing adoption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SAST on Checkmarx One supports all major languages, including over 50 languages and 80 language frameworks, coverage for the latest development technologies and zero configuration to scan any language. Incremental scanning capabilities ensure only new or modified code is scanned, reducing scanning time by 80% and allowing for scalability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For AppSec teams, the platform is agile and flexible, allowing to adapt the rule set to proprietary code and minimizing false positives, expanding rules per compliance requirements, and providing a detailed explanation of the root cause of every result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Risk Management<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading article-anchor\" id=\"data-fourtine\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The path to selecting and integrating the ideal SAST tool into your organization\u2019s SDLC requires delicate consideration on the part of CISOs, AppSec professionals, and DevOps teams. The right tool can significantly enhance the security posture and efficiency of development processes. As we\u2019ve explored, SAST is not just about finding vulnerability, it\u2019s about fostering a culture of security-minded development, ensuring compliance, and enhancing overall software quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When making your final choice, consider how the SAST tool aligns with your organization\u2019s specific needs, technology stack, and development culture. The goal is to select a tool that not only scans for vulnerabilities but also integrates seamlessly into your workflows, offers clear and actionable insights, and supports your developers in writing secure code from the outset. Remember, the best SAST tool is one that your team will actively use and trust, creating a proactive security stance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Be guided by the principles of early integration, continuous feedback, and collaborative security, ensuring that every line of code contributes to the strength and integrity of your digital assets. With the right approach and tools, your journey toward secure coding practices can become a cornerstone of your organization\u2019s success and resilience in the face of cybersecurity challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading article-anchor\" id=\"article-anchor-4\">Related Resources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/cxsast-source-code-scanning\/\">https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/cxsast-source-code-scanning\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/learn\/sast\/simple-strategies-to-help-developers-embrace-sast\/\">https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/learn\/sast\/simple-strategies-to-help-developers-embrace-sast\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/learn\/sca\/sca-sast-dast\/\">https:\/\/checkmarx.com\/learn\/sca\/sca-sast-dast\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/info.checkmarx.com\/trust-paradigm\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/info.checkmarx.com\/trust-paradigm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/info.checkmarx.com\/trust-paradigm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/info.checkmarx.com\/trust-paradigm<\/a>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.checkmarx.com\/en\/34965-46508-configuring-cxsast-scan-flow-processes.html\">https:\/\/docs.checkmarx.com\/en\/34965-46508-configuring-cxsast-scan-flow-processes.html<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":99281,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"footnotes":""},"learn-cat":[849],"class_list":["post-96164","learn","type-learn","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","learn-cat-sast"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>SAST Tools Comprehensive Guide for 2024<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Complete SAST guide for CISOs &amp; teams: importance, top SAST tools, compliance, &amp; developer empowerment. 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