Configuring Rules and Policies

Default SAST rule sets rarely align perfectly with organizational needs. Start with vendor-recommended configurations but plan immediate customization. Disable rules generating excessive false positives in your environment. For example, if your framework automatically escapes output, XSS rules might generate numerous false positives. Document why rules are disabled to maintain configuration rationale.

Create custom rules for organization-specific security requirements. Many SAST tools support custom rule creation through various mechanisms—regex patterns, semantic analysis templates, or full programming languages. Custom rules might enforce use of approved cryptographic libraries, detect organization-specific anti-patterns, or ensure compliance with internal security standards. Invest in custom rules that address your unique risks.

Implement severity tuning based on your risk profile. A SQL injection in an internet-facing application demands different response than the same issue in an internal tool. Configure severity levels that reflect actual risk, considering factors like data sensitivity, exposure, and compensating controls. Accurate severity ratings ensure teams address the most critical issues first and prevent alert fatigue from overblown warnings.