Measuring DAST Effectiveness

Vulnerability detection rates compared to known issues help calibrate DAST tools. Intentionally vulnerable applications provide benchmarks for detection capabilities. Comparing DAST findings with penetration test results reveals coverage gaps. This validation ensures tools are properly configured and catching relevant vulnerabilities.

Scan performance metrics guide optimization efforts. Track scan duration, pages covered, and requests per second to identify bottlenecks. Monitor false positive rates across vulnerability types to focus tuning efforts. Coverage metrics ensure scans reach all application functionality. These operational metrics enable continuous improvement.

Mean time to detect (MTTD) for new vulnerabilities indicates program maturity. How quickly does DAST identify newly deployed vulnerable code? Faster detection reduces window of exposure. Tracking MTTD over time shows whether security testing keeps pace with development velocity.