The Future of SAST

Artificial intelligence and machine learning continue enhancing SAST capabilities. ML models trained on millions of code samples identify subtle vulnerability patterns humans might miss. Natural language processing helps understand code comments and documentation for context. Automated fix suggestions evolve from simple patches to understanding architectural implications. These advances reduce both false positives and false negatives while improving developer productivity.

Cloud-native SAST leverages elastic computing for faster analysis. Rather than running on fixed infrastructure, cloud SAST scales with demand, enabling comprehensive analysis without performance penalties. SaaS delivery models reduce implementation complexity and ensure teams always use current vulnerability signatures.

Integration depth continues improving as SAST vendors recognize that isolated tools provide limited value. Modern SAST tools integrate with IDEs, source control, build systems, issue trackers, and security orchestration platforms. This integration transforms SAST from a standalone scanner to part of the development fabric.

SAST remains fundamental to application security despite its limitations. By analyzing code before execution, SAST prevents vulnerabilities from ever reaching runtime environments. While false positives and coverage gaps require attention, proper implementation and tuning create valuable security feedback loops. As development practices evolve toward continuous delivery and cloud-native architectures, SAST adapts to provide security analysis that matches development velocity. Understanding SAST's strengths and limitations enables organizations to implement it effectively as part of comprehensive application security programs.## What is DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing)

Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) takes a fundamentally different approach to application security by testing running applications from the outside, simulating how attackers probe for vulnerabilities. Unlike static analysis that examines code, DAST treats applications as black boxes, interacting with them through their exposed interfaces to identify security weaknesses that manifest during runtime. This chapter explores DAST technology, its unique capabilities in finding vulnerabilities that other methods miss, and how organizations can effectively implement dynamic testing in their security programs.