10 Types of Best Software Security Testing Methods to Know for 2024

As of now, most of the business owns web application software including websites and mobile apps. However, secure applications always remain in demand to prevent cyber threats and protect the user's privacy and system.

Choosing the best software testing solutions is very important just like collecting a boarding pass to onboard the flight.

You have to understand the 10 types of strategic security testing that exist and try to comply with your app.

Whether you're a web designer or developer and a business owner, you have to know about these security testing methods to make your application not just only secure but credible, too.

This article delves into the top security testing trends you should be aware of in 2024. So, without taking a single moment, let’s start it.

Here's the List of 10 Types of Best Strategic Security Testing

1. Penetration Testing

2. Static Application Security Testing (SAST)

3. Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)

4. Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST)

5. Software Composition Analysis (SCA)

6. Threat Modeling

7. Security Code Reviews

8. Application Programming Interface (API) Security Testing

9. Cloud Security Testing

10. Compliance Testing

1. Penetration Testing

This is the most common type of security testing used by industry experts from web designing to backend development. Penetration testing referred to as ethical hacking known for its fundamentals to identify any misconfiguration.

This software testing process involves simulating attacks on your web app. To measure any serious vulnerabilities or issues, penetration testing quickly identifies them and takes the preventional steps. It means before launching your mobile application, consider this security testing to avoid exposure.

• Current Trend for Penetration Testing:

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) for ethical hacking will be more prominent. Combining these two modern technologies with manual testing delivers the extra stance to get deeper insights and faster results. This saves time and effort to find the potential threats and take the steps to prevent them as soon as possible.

2. Static Application Security Testing (SAST)

The second software testing solution is referred to as Static Application Security Testing (SAST). This is a method of analyzing an application's source code, bytecode, or binary code to identify security vulnerabilities without executing the program.

SAST is performed early in the software development lifecycle, allowing developers to detect and fix issues before the application is deployed.

By examining the application's code and its structure, SAST tools can pinpoint security flaws such as coding errors, and unsafe coding practices, that could be exploited by attackers.

This proactive approach helps improve the overall security posture of the application and reduces the risk of vulnerabilities making their way into production.

• Current Trend for Static Application Security Testing:

As a web developer, you have to focus on the Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipeline standard practice. This kind of approach enables real-time code analysis and immediate feedback, especially when multiple developers are working on the same project.

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3. Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)

Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) is an app security testing method that studies a running application to identify exposures and security flaws.

Unlike Static Application Security Testing (SAST), which examines the application's source code or binary without execution, DAST tests the application in its operational state, while interacting with it as an external attacker would.

• Current Trend for Dynamic Application Security Testing:

Machine Learning is the best option to perform this security testing process. Modern tools heavily rely on ML for their proficient and complete testing. These systems help to analyze and detect the issue accurately within a short time.

4. Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST)

Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST) is a security testing method that combines elements of both Static Application Security Testing (SAST) and Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST).

This combined approach enhances the ability to identify and address problems early in the development process and reduces the risk of security issues in production environments.

One of the best parts of using IAST tools is to optimize the app's running time. This provides comprehensive insights into the application’s code and behavior. So, you can determine if there are any additional suggestions to be considered for quality development.

• Current Trend for Interactive Application Security Testing:

Preferring the modern development environment is very important in IAST. To make your application bug-free and engaging, make sure you opt for the correct IDEs. This helps you to manage the workflow with ease and get immediate insights.

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5. Software Composition Analysis (SCA)

SCA examines open-source and third-party libraries or modules that your application uses to ensure they are secure and comply with licensing requirements. It identifies known security vulnerabilities within these components by comparing them against a database of known issues.

With the increasing use of open-source components, ensuring these dependencies are secure is crucial to maintaining overall application security. This quality assurance software testing also checks if the components' licenses align with your organization’s policies and legal requirements.

• Current Trend for Software Composition Analysis:

Choosing modern SCA tools offers automated updates and instant alerts to identify the issues in integrated third-party applications. This can help manage the software development workflow.

6. Threat Modeling

Threat modeling is one kind of modern security testing technique that helps you understand what kinds of attacks could potentially target your application. It evaluates the possible impact of these threats on the system and its data.

Based on the identified threats, you can design and implement security measures to protect against them. Make sure you are aware of the web design challenges and web design trends to minimize the risk. Also, keep focus on the best code practices to prevent any unauthorized access to the mobile app.

By thinking like an attacker and understanding potential risks, threat modeling helps you proactively address security concerns during the design and development stages, making your application more secure against real-world threats.

• Current Trend for Threat Modeling Security Testing:

This security testing method is usually integrated with DevOps (referred to as DevSecOps) and Agile software development methodologies. This ensures that security considerations are part of the development process from the start.

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7. Security Code Reviews

Security code reviews are a process where developers or security experts manually examine an application's source code to find and fix security vulnerabilities. This quality assurance security testing involves looking through the code to identify potential issues such as bugs, unsafe coding practices, and design flaws that could be manipulated by attackers.

This manual software security testing method helps ensure that the code is written securely, reducing the risk of threats making it into the final product. This hands-on approach can catch complex issues that automated tools might miss, contributing to overall application security.

• Current Trend for Security Code Reviews:

In 2024, security code reviews increasingly integrate with CI/CD pipelines and blend automated and manual reviews. This leverages AI for deeper analysis and emphasizes secure coding standards.

There's a focus on reviewing open-source components, integrating with development environments, and enhancing developer training for better security outcomes.

8. Application Programming Interface (API) Security Testing

To make your application accessible and proficient, APIs are required. However, API testing is very important to address the potential issues affecting the app. It identifies issues such as unauthorized access, data leaks, breaches of rules, and incorrect configurations.

If you do not prioritize the API testing, your software application might be exploited and it's easier for attackers to leverage the bad practices.

For example, you integrate a payment gateway API in an e-commerce mobile app development without testing. Meanwhile, when the user wants to make a payment it fails due to an internal server error and shows a bad request.

This will affect the reputation of the app and question about its best usage in the real world. It results in your application facing a ban or thousands of grievances from the customers. So, don't make this mistake.

• Current Trend for API Security Testing:

API security testing trends include using automated tests in development pipelines including CI/CD. Also, training the LLMs and AI to find threats and ensure encrypted security.

Focusing on common API security issues, and securing GraphQL APIs is very important. There’s also a strong emphasis on meeting privacy laws and combining automated with manual testing for better protection.

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9. Cloud Security Testing

Cloud Security Testing involves checking the safety of cloud-based systems to identify and fix vulnerabilities. It focuses on protecting cloud applications and data from risks like misconfigurations and unauthorized access. This testing ensures that cloud resources remain protected and that sensitive information is saved from potential threats.

Once you tested the app don't deploy it without testing the cloud platform's security. There are multiple organizations offering cloud infrastructure to manage your software's data.

Which one is perfect for you solely depends on your software application requirements. Not to forget their approach to security solutions regarding any violations that happen.

• Current Trend for Cloud Security Testing:

Cloud security testing trends include integrating security into DevOps (DevSecOps), using AI for threat detection, focusing on multi-cloud environments, and automated vulnerability scanning. There's also securing containerized applications and continuous monitoring for real-time threat response.

10. Compliance Testing

Compliance testing is one kind of common security checking method widely used in web applications and software development. It checks whether a system or application meets specific laws, regulations, and industry standards.

It ensures adherence to requirements like GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS, verifying that practices are in line with legal and regulatory guidelines. This process helps prevent legal issues and ensures data protection.

Compliance is not only a legal obligation but also a crucial component of building trust with users and stakeholders. As your software application follows all the required laws and regulations, it signals credibility.

• Current Trend for Compliance Testing:

There's a growing trend towards using specialized privacy management tools to ensure compliance with data protection laws like GDPR and CCPA. These tools help manage, track, and document data processing activities and user consent, facilitating more effective compliance and risk management.

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Conclusion

In 2024, staying ahead of cyber threats requires a multi-faceted approach to security testing. By understanding and implementing these ten types of strategic security testing, app designers, developers, and business owners can better protect their web and mobile applications from emerging threats.

Embracing current trends and integrating these practices into your development lifecycle will not only enhance your security posture but also build trust with your users and stakeholders.

Regularly updating your security testing strategies and staying informed about the latest trends will keep you one step ahead in the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity.

If you need perfect software security solutions, picking the best company is just like getting a ticket for a favorite destination. If you choose the incorrect and inexperienced QA and security testers, they will make your application more confusing and mess up the code.

All Clone Script is the best choice for modern software security testing services where the experience meets the requirements and delivers the extra opportunity.