Integration Points in Development Workflows

SAST integration typically occurs at multiple points in the development workflow. IDE plugins provide immediate feedback as developers write code, catching vulnerabilities at their earliest point. Git hooks can enforce SAST checks before code commits. CI/CD pipeline integration runs comprehensive analysis with each build. This multi-point integration creates defense in depth, catching vulnerabilities at different stages.

DAST integration faces more constraints due to its requirement for running applications. Most commonly, DAST runs against applications deployed to test or staging environments. This might occur nightly, weekly, or as part of release processes. Some organizations run continuous DAST against production applications, though this requires careful configuration to avoid disruption. The later timing means DAST findings often require more effort to fix than early SAST findings.

Modern DevOps practices challenge both approaches to adapt. SAST must analyze code quickly enough to provide feedback within rapid build cycles. DAST must test ephemeral environments that might exist only briefly. Both tools increasingly offer incremental analysis capabilities, focusing on changed code or functionality to provide faster feedback while maintaining security coverage.