Best Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST) Software

IAST (interactive application security testing) is a method of testing an application’s security while the app is running and being interacted with through automated tests, human testers, or any activity involving the application’s functionality.

Key features include:

1. Sensor modules integrated into the application code
2. Real-time monitoring and analysis of application behavior
3. Detection and alerting of security vulnerabilities
4. Integration with development environments, CI/CD pipelines, and production systems

The core component of an IAST tool is a set of sensor modules, which are software libraries included in the application code. These sensors track the application’s behavior as interactive tests are executed. If a vulnerability is detected, an alert is sent in real-time.

The IAST sensors have access to:

• The entire application code
• Dataflow and control flow information
• System configuration data
• Web components
• Back-end connection data

To qualify as an IAST solution, a product must:

• Integrate sensor modules into the application code
• Monitor and analyze application behavior during runtime
• Detect and report security vulnerabilities in real-time
• Support integration with development environments, CI/CD pipelines, and production systems

The primary value proposition of IAST is to provide a comprehensive and continuous approach to application security testing by analyzing the application’s behavior during runtime, enabling the identification and mitigation of security vulnerabilities throughout the software development life cycle.