Advantages of IAST

Near-zero false positives stand as IAST's most compelling advantage. Because IAST observes actual vulnerability conditions rather than inferring them, it virtually eliminates false positives. When IAST reports a SQL injection vulnerability, it has observed user input reaching SQL queries without proper sanitization. This accuracy means developers spend time fixing real vulnerabilities rather than investigating false alarms.

Complete code coverage during testing surpasses what DAST can achieve. While DAST only tests code paths it can reach through external interfaces, IAST monitors all code executed during testing. If QA testing or automated tests execute code, IAST analyzes it for vulnerabilities. This coverage includes error handlers, background processes, and complex business logic that DAST might never trigger.

Detailed vulnerability information accelerates remediation. IAST provides complete stack traces showing exactly where vulnerabilities occur, what data was involved, and how it flowed through the application. This detail often includes specific line numbers, variable values, and remediation guidance. Developers receive actionable information that enables quick fixes rather than spending time reproducing and understanding issues.