DAST, or "Dynamic Application Security Testing," refers to the dynamic testing of an application's security. It is often contrasted with "SAST" (Static Application Security Testing). While DAST identifies security vulnerabilities in a running application, SAST inspects an application’s source code in a static state to uncover potential weaknesses.
Neither DAST nor SAST is sufficient on its own, as each has its strengths and limitations. DAST excels in detecting high-priority, real-world threats by evaluating the application in its operational state. However, achieving comprehensive test coverage requires extensive testing, and improperly scoped tests can risk missing critical vulnerabilities. Conversely, SAST provides more exhaustive testing by analyzing the entire codebase, but the vulnerabilities it detects may not necessarily represent high-priority, real-world threats.
To enhance application security, it is essential to adopt a combined strategy. DAST can help address immediate, high-priority vulnerabilities, while SAST ensures thorough static analysis of the application code, resulting in a more robust and security-focused development lifecycle.