Top DAST Tools Analysis

OWASP ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy) stands as the most popular open-source DAST tool, offering remarkable capabilities at no cost. ZAP provides comprehensive scanning, extensive API support, and a powerful extension framework. Its active community contributes plugins, scripts, and improvements continuously. However, ZAP requires significant expertise for effective use, and enterprise features like centralized management and advanced reporting require third-party additions or custom development.

Burp Suite Professional has become the de facto standard for security professionals performing manual testing, with strong automated scanning capabilities. Its proxy-based architecture excels at handling complex authentication and session management. The tool's strength lies in combining automated scanning with manual testing capabilities, making it ideal for security teams performing both activities. Limitations include single-user licensing models and resource-intensive scanning that can impact performance.

Commercial enterprise platforms like Micro Focus WebInspect and Synopsys (formerly WhiteHat) Sentinel provide comprehensive features for large organizations. These tools offer centralized management, role-based access control, compliance reporting, and integration with enterprise systems. They excel at scanning large application portfolios and providing executive-level reporting. The trade-off comes in complexity and cost—these platforms require dedicated personnel and substantial budgets.