Application Security: Risks, Process and Technologies [2025 Guide]

The Application Security Process

1. Risk Assessment and Planning

Risk assessment and planning form the foundation of the application security process and involve the identification and prioritization of security threats and vulnerabilities. It begins with understanding the application environment, data flows, and user interactions to identify potential security risks. Developing a risk management plan helps to define the scope, objectives, and resources required for security measures.

By conducting a thorough risk assessment, organizations can prioritize security efforts and allocate resources effectively. This phase requires collaboration between stakeholders to align security objectives with organizational goals. Establishing clear security policies and guidelines ensures consistent application of security controls throughout the development lifecycle. Early identification of risks minimizes the impact of potential threats and supports informed decision-making.

2. Secure Design and Development

Secure design and development focus on integrating security controls into applications from the ground up. This includes adopting secure coding practices, using security libraries, and following established software development frameworks that emphasize security. Early incorporation of security in the design phase reduces the likelihood of vulnerabilities emerging later during development or deployment.

Implementing threat modeling and architectural risk analysis allows for identifying weak points in the application's design. Secure design practices also involve establishing a security-first mindset among developers and fostering an environment where security considerations are integral to the development process. By adhering to these principles, organizations can develop applications that are resilient to security threats.

3. Code Review and Testing

Code review and testing are essential to identifying vulnerabilities and ensuring compliance with security standards. Peer reviews enable developers to spot potential security flaws that may escape automated analysis tools. These reviews, combined with static analysis tools, help in spotting coding errors and security weaknesses before the application is deployed.

Automated testing, including unit and integration tests, should incorporate security testing to detect weaknesses. Regular testing cycles, centralized within the development process, ensure that code changes do not introduce new vulnerabilities. Conducting continuous code review and testing enhances an application's overall security posture and contributes to maintaining a secure software lifecycle.

4. Security Testing and Evaluation

Security testing and evaluation assess applications to identify vulnerabilities and ensure resilience against potential threats. This includes performing various types of tests, such as penetration testing, dynamic analysis, and vulnerability scanning, to evaluate the security posture of an application. These evaluations help in uncovering security gaps and validating the effectiveness of security controls.

Regular security assessments provide confidence that applications meet security requirements and adhere to industry standards. It's crucial for security testing to be a continuous process, considering the dynamic nature of applications and emerging threats. Thorough evaluation helps ensure applications remain secure under evolving conditions, mitigating potential risks to data and infrastructure.

5. Deployment and Monitoring

Deployment and monitoring are focused on maintaining application security in live environments. Before deployment, thorough security checks and validation ensure that applications comply with security policies. Automated deployment pipelines can integrate security controls to prevent the introduction of new vulnerabilities. Continuous monitoring detects any suspicious activity or breaches in real time, allowing for immediate response.

Monitoring tools should include logging of security events, real-time alerts, and anomaly detection systems. Organizations must implement incident response plans to address security incidents swiftly and effectively. Regular updates and patches enhance security, addressing vulnerabilities as they arise. Sustained monitoring ensures long-term application security resilience in operational environments.

What Is Application Security Testing?

Application security testing involves evaluating software applications to detect vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with security standards. This testing can be dynamically conducted at runtime or statically by examining the source code for weaknesses. Security testing encompasses vulnerability scans, penetration tests, and code reviews to cover various aspects of an application's security posture.

Static application security testing (SAST) and dynamic application security testing (DAST) are integral components of security testing. SAST identifies vulnerabilities in source code, while DAST examines applications in a runtime environment to detect issues like input validation errors. This multi-layered approach provides a thorough security assessment, ensuring applications are robust against potential threats before and after deployment.

Common Application Security Tools

Vulnerability Scanners

Vulnerability scanners automate the process of identifying security weaknesses in applications. They work by scanning an application's code and infrastructure to locate potential vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and outdated components. These tools provide reports, enabling organizations to prioritize and rectify security gaps effectively.

Vulnerability scanners are essential for continuous security assessment across development and production environments. They reduce the time and effort needed to manually audit large codebases, offering a proactive approach to threat identification. By integrating scanners into the development lifecycle, organizations can enhance security posture, ensuring vulnerabilities are addressed promptly before application deployment.

Attack Surface Management Platforms

Attack surface management platforms help organizations continuously monitor and reduce the exposed attack surface of their applications. They provide visibility into an application's potential points of vulnerability, such as open ports, misconfigurations, and exposed APIs. By continuously scanning and cataloging these entry points, these platforms allow security teams to identify and address risks proactively.

Using attack surface management tools, organizations can understand and prioritize their most critical exposures, reducing the risk of breaches. The platform’s automated and continuous assessments are particularly useful in dynamic cloud environments, where the attack surface can change rapidly. Integrating attack surface management into the security process helps keep applications secure by consistently identifying and mitigating new vulnerabilities as they emerge.

Web Application Firewall (WAF)

A web application firewall (WAF) is a security solution that monitors and filters HTTP traffic between a web application and the internet. WAFs protect against common web application attacks such as cross-site scripting, SQL injection, and file inclusion vulnerabilities. They provide real-time protection by blocking or restricting malicious requests before they reach the application.

WAFs can be deployed as hardware, software, or cloud-based services, offering flexibility in securing web applications. By analyzing traffic patterns, WAFs identify and mitigate threats, ensuring uninterrupted application access for legitimate users. Implementing a WAF is a component of a multi-layered security strategy, reducing the risk of web application breaches.

Learn more in our detailed guide to WAF security.

Software Composition Analysis (SCA)

Software composition analysis (SCA) tools help manage security risks associated with open-source components used in applications. These tools scan software codebases to identify open-source libraries and analyze them for known vulnerabilities. SCA provides insights into the licensing and risks of open-source components, helping organizations comply with regulatory requirements.

SCA is crucial as vulnerabilities in open-source software can be a significant attack vector. By continuously monitoring and updating libraries, organizations can mitigate risks associated with third-party dependencies. Implementing SCA in software development processes reduces exposure to open-source vulnerabilities, enhancing application security and enabling informed decision-making.

Static Application Security Testing (SAST)

Static application security testing (SAST) is a method of analyzing source code for security vulnerabilities at an early stage of development. It examines code without executing it, identifying security issues such as SQL injection, XSS, and buffer overflows. SAST tools provide reports, highlighting code sections and vulnerabilities, allowing developers to remediate issues efficiently.

SAST is integrated into the development workflow to provide continuous feedback on code security. This early detection reduces the cost of fixing vulnerabilities later in the software lifecycle. By incorporating SAST into development practices, organizations can enhance code quality, reduce security risks, and foster a culture of secure coding practices.

Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)

Dynamic application security testing (DAST) identifies security vulnerabilities in running applications by simulating attack scenarios. Unlike SAST, DAST tests applications in a runtime environment, focusing on interface testing, input/output validation, and session management. This real-world approach enables the identification of vulnerabilities that may arise only during execution.

DAST provides insights into potential exploits and attack vectors, helping organizations to strengthen application defenses. By incorporating DAST into regular security assessment cycles, businesses can maintain a security posture, ensuring applications operate securely under varying conditions. DAST complements SAST, providing a security evaluation throughout the software lifecycle.

Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST)

Interactive application security testing (IAST) combines elements of SAST and DAST to analyze application security during runtime. It works by instrumenting applications to monitor code as it executes, identifying vulnerabilities in real time. IAST provides insights into security flaws by observing application behavior, data flow, and interactions with external systems.

IAST is useful for providing immediate feedback to developers, allowing integration with DevOps practices. It detects both static and dynamic issues, offering a holistic view of application security. IAST tools enhance the ability to deliver secure applications quickly, reducing development-cycle costs associated with late-stage security fixes.

Runtime Application Self-Protection (RASP)

Runtime application self-protection (RASP) embeds security into applications to detect and block threats in runtime environments. RASP reacts to security events in real time, providing self-protective measures without external intervention. It differentiates between various threats, preventing exploits such as code injections and unauthorized access autonomously.

RASP delivers precise threat detection and response, significantly reducing false positives compared to traditional perimeter-based controls. By integrating with the application's runtime environment, RASP offers visibility into application behavior and security context. This approach strengthens overall application security by enabling rapid threat responses and minimizing potential damage.

Penetration Testing Tools

Penetration testing tools simulate cyber attacks on applications to identify exploitable vulnerabilities and assess security defenses. These tools help evaluate the effectiveness of security controls, providing insights into the real-world attack scenarios faced by applications. Penetration testing complements automated security assessments by uncovering vulnerabilities that require a human touch to exploit.

These tools are essential for determining the resilience of an application's security posture against sophisticated threats. Periodic penetration testing enhances risk awareness and informs remediation efforts, ensuring applications withstand potential breaches. By integrating penetration testing into the security strategy, organizations can identify weaknesses before malicious actors do.

Related content: Read our guide to web application penetration testing.

What Is Application Security Posture Management (ASPM)?

Application security posture management (ASPM) tools provide a centralized approach to managing and monitoring an application’s security health across its lifecycle. ASPM platforms offer continuous visibility into the application’s security posture by aggregating data from various security tools, such as vulnerability scanners, SAST, and DAST tools, to provide a unified view of vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and compliance gaps. This centralized approach helps prioritize security actions based on the risk and severity of issues, enabling more effective management of vulnerabilities.

ASPM solutions also help streamline incident response and remediation by identifying high-risk areas, automating security workflows, and ensuring that security policies align with organizational standards and regulatory requirements. With ASPM, organizations gain actionable insights into the overall security health of their applications, allowing them to proactively address risks, improve compliance, and enhance the effectiveness of their security efforts across both development and production environments.

Best Practices for Application Security

Application security best practices are essential for maintaining the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of software applications. Conducting threat assessments provides a clear understanding of the application's threat landscape and potential vulnerabilities. It enables organizations to implement security measures commensurate with the identified risks.

Conducting a Threat Assessment

Conducting a threat assessment involves evaluating an application's architecture, data flow, and environment to identify potential threats. This process helps organizations understand the security landscape and the potential impact of various vulnerabilities. It includes analyzing both external and internal threats, such as cyber attacks, data breaches, and insider threats.

Threat assessments provide insights into risk prioritization, enabling informed decision-making. By leveraging threat modeling techniques, organizations can simulate attack vectors, identify weak points, and develop mitigation strategies. Continuous threat assessments are necessary to address changing security dynamics, ensuring ongoing protection and the identification of new risks.

Shifting Security Left

Shifting security left refers to integrating security practices early in the software development lifecycle. By incorporating security measures at the initial stages of development, organizations can identify and resolve vulnerabilities before they reach production. This proactive approach reduces the cost and effort associated with remediating security issues later in the lifecycle.

By fostering collaboration between development and security teams, shifting security left promotes a culture of shared responsibility for application security. It involves implementing secure coding practices, automated security testing, and continuous integration pipelines. Ultimately, this strategy enhances the efficiency of security processes and helps deliver secure software more quickly.

Implementing Authentication Mechanisms

Implementing authentication mechanisms is critical to securing applications against unauthorized access. Techniques such as MFA, single sign-on (SSO), and biometric verification enhance security by adding layers of user verification. These mechanisms ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive data and functions within applications.

Organizations should focus on adopting strong, passwordless authentication methods and ensuring compliance with security standards. Regularly updating authentication protocols and conducting audits help identify potential weaknesses. By prioritizing secure authentication, businesses can reduce the risk of data breaches and safeguard user credentials against theft and misuse.

Developing a Risk-Based Approach to Prioritize Remediation Efforts

Developing a risk-based approach involves prioritizing remediation efforts based on the potential impact of identified vulnerabilities. By assessing the likelihood and severity of threats, organizations can focus resources on high-risk vulnerabilities that pose a significant threat to operations and data security. This approach ensures efficient allocation of time and resources to areas of greatest need.

Risk-based prioritization requires a strong understanding of the application's threat landscape and business objectives. Regular risk assessments and vulnerability assessments provide the necessary data to inform decision-making. By integrating a risk-based strategy, organizations can enhance their ability to respond promptly and effectively to security challenges, minimizing potential damage and disruption.

Implementing Monitoring and Logging Mechanisms

Implementing monitoring and logging mechanisms is essential for detecting and responding to security incidents. Continuous monitoring of application activities provides real-time visibility into potential threats and anomalies. Logging critical events, such as authentication attempts and data access, helps in identifying security breaches and tracing attack paths.

Effective monitoring systems leverage automated alerting and anomaly detection to identify suspicious activities quickly. Regularly reviewing and analyzing log data ensures that security incidents are spotted and addressed promptly, minimizing impact. By maintaining monitoring and logging practices, organizations can enhance incident response capabilities and maintain a strong security posture.

Application Security with CyCognito

CyCognito identifies application security risks through scalable, continuous, and comprehensive active testing that ensures a fortified security posture for all external assets​​.

The CyCognito platform helps secure applications by:

• Using payload-based active tests to provide complete visibility into any vulnerability, weakness, or risk in your attack surface.
• Going beyond traditional passive scanning methods and targeting vulnerabilities invisible to traditional port scanners​​.
• Employing dynamic application security testing (DAST) to effectively identify critical web application issues, including those listed in the OWASP Top 10 and web security testing guides​​.
• Eliminating gaps in testing coverage, uncovering risks, and reducing complexity and costs.
• Offering comprehensive visibility into any risks present in the attack surface, extending beyond the limitations of software-version based detection tools​​.
• Continuously testing all exposed assets and ensuring that security vulnerabilities are discovered quickly across the entire attack surface.
• Assessing complex issues like exposed web applications, default logins, vulnerable shared libraries, exposed sensitive data, and misconfigured cloud environments that can’t be evaluated by passive scanning​​.

CyCognito makes managing application security simple by identifying and testing these assets automatically, continuously, and at scale using CyCognito’s enterprise-grade testing infrastructure.

Learn more about CyCognito Active Security Testing.

See Additional Guides on Key Security Testing Topics

Together with our content partners, we have authored in-depth guides on several other topics that can also be useful as you explore the world of security testing.

Cyber Security Solutions

Authored by Imperva

• [Guide] What is WAF | Types, Security & Features Explained
• [Guide] What is SIEM | Security Information and Event Management Tools
• [Blog] Imperva Detects Undocumented 8220 Gang Activities
• [Product] Imperva | Comprehensive Application and Data Security

OWASP Top Ten

Authored by Mend

• [Guide] What Are OWASP Top 10 Threats & When Will the Top 10 Be Updated?
• [Guide] The 2023 OWASP API Security Top Ten
• [Guide] Why You Shouldn't Use Components With Known Vulnerabilities

Dynamic Application Security Testing

Authored by CyCognito

• [Guide] What Is Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)?
• [Guide] DAST vs SAST: 5 Key Differences, Pros/Cons and How to Choose
• [Guide] DAST Tools: Capabilities, Benefits, and 9 Tools You Should Know