Measuring SAST Effectiveness

Quantifying SAST value requires tracking meaningful metrics over time. Vulnerability introduction rate measures how many new security issues appear in code, indicating whether secure coding practices are improving. Mean time to remediation tracks how quickly teams fix identified vulnerabilities. False positive rates indicate tool accuracy and configuration effectiveness.

Trend analysis reveals whether security posture improves over time. Track vulnerability counts by severity, type, and component to identify problem areas requiring additional training or architectural changes. Compare pre-SAST and post-SAST vulnerability escape rates to production to demonstrate tool effectiveness. Use these metrics to justify continued investment in security tooling and process improvements.

Developer adoption metrics indicate whether SAST tools actually influence coding practices. Monitor how many developers actively use IDE integrations, how often they interact with scan results, and whether they fix issues before code review. Low adoption often indicates usability issues or insufficient training rather than tool inadequacy.

Static Application Security Testing has evolved from a specialized security activity to an integral part of modern development workflows. When properly implemented, SAST tools help developers write more secure code while maintaining development velocity. The key lies in choosing appropriate tools, configuring them thoughtfully, and integrating them seamlessly into existing processes. As we'll explore in the next chapter, SAST works best when combined with Dynamic Application Security Testing to provide comprehensive security coverage throughout the development lifecycle.## DAST Scanning Tools: Dynamic Security Testing

Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) provides a fundamentally different approach to security assessment compared to static analysis. While SAST examines code structure, DAST tests running applications by simulating real-world attacks. This black-box testing methodology identifies vulnerabilities that only manifest during runtime, including configuration issues, authentication flaws, and injection vulnerabilities that depend on application state. DAST tools probe applications from an attacker's perspective, uncovering security gaps that code analysis alone cannot detect.