With cybercrime on the rise, it has become more important than ever for businesses to protect their websites and web applications. As hackers evolve and think of new ways to attack websites, it is imperative that business owners take the initiative to protect their online assets. In this article, we will discuss what web application security is and how you can protect your website with the help of the best web application vulnerability scanner.

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What Does Web Application Security Mean?

The practice of creating websites that can resist attacks is more commonly called Web AppSec, or web application security. This concept relies on a series of security controls to protect a web application’s assets from unauthorized access and manipulation. However, all software contains defects—and web applications are no different. They unavoidably contain some vulnerabilities that could be exploited if not properly managed, posing significant risks for the organization involved.

The objective of web application security is to prevent any potential unauthorized access to sensitive data or systems through flaws. To achieve this, security measures must be in place throughout the entire software development life cycle (SDLC), from design to production, in order to ensure that all weaknesses are found and handled accordingly.

Web Application Security: Importance

Web security testing is identifying weak spots in web applications and their configuration. The main concern is with the application layer (i.e., what operates on the HTTP protocol). To find security issues, testers often send different types of input to an application to see if it produces errors or unexpected results. These so-called “negative tests” help identify whether a system can fail when it’s under stress outside its normal parameters.

Although it is vital to test an application’s security features, such as authentication and authorization, many people forget that other functions must be tested for safety too. For example, business logic and input validation. By ensuring all aspects of the Web application are secure, you can create a safe user experience.

How Web Application Security Testing Works

The purpose of web application security testing is to discover any weaknesses that could be used maliciously by individuals. This is done through various tools and methods.

One common approach is to send different types of input to an application and see if it produces errors or unexpected results. These so-called “negative tests” help identify whether a system can fail when it’s under stress outside its normal parameters.

Another approach is to try and bypass the application’s security controls. For example, if an application has a login page, a tester might try to input SQL commands into the username field in an attempt to access the database directly.

Testers will also look for vulnerabilities in the application’s code. This can be done manually or with the help of automated tools.

Finally, web application security testing is not just about finding vulnerabilities. It’s also about assessing the impact of these vulnerabilities and deciding whether they need to be fixed.

How Web Application Vulnerability Scanners Help with Web Application Security

A web application vulnerability scanner is a tool that automates the process of testing for vulnerabilities in web applications. They are designed to find problems that could be exploited by attackers.

Vulnerability scanners are helpful in detecting probable security concerns on a website, for example, cross-site scripting (XSS), SQL injection, and session hijacking. They can also be used to check for weak passwords, outdated software, and misconfigured servers.

With so many options for vulnerability scanners on the market, it can be tricky to determine which one is best suited for your needs. Consider what you need most from a scanner before making your decision.

Best Web Application Vulnerability Scanner in the Market

Astra’s Pentest

As the name suggests, Astra’s Pentest is more of a pentesting product than just a vulnerability scanner. However, it does come with a robust automated vulnerability scanner that you can purchase as a standalone product.

The DAST vulnerability scanner that comes with Astra’s Pentest is a fantastic tool for scanning any online application. Plus, they update the scanner rules every week to help you keep up with constantly evolving vulnerabilities.

Key Features:

Astra’s Pentest can scan regular applications as well as single-page ones.
It works in collaboration with the CI/CD pipeline and other platforms, such as Slack and Jira.
It scans pages that require a log-in by recording the process of logging in.
Astra’s vulnerability management dashboard allows you to do compliance-specific scans so you can ensure your company’s safety.
The free vulnerability scan comes with video walkthroughs to help your developers work more quickly on the fixes, as well as a prioritized list of security concerns.
You can be sure that if you choose a manual penetration, there will be no false positives.

Astra’s Pentest is an uncomplicated, easy-to-use security testing tool that includes 3000+ tests to confirm no vulnerability goes unnoticed. There is a team of qualified security experts that can assist you, even if you need assistance.

Intruder

The Intruder web application scanner helps you assess security risks quickly and easily. With this tool, you can check for a variety of vulnerabilities including misconfigurations, outdated patches, SQLi, XSS and CVEs noted in the OWASP top 10. Intruder is a powerful vulnerability and exploits testing tool for your IT environment.

Key Features:

Take a bird’s-eye view of your application security concerns.
Fewer entry points make it harder for hackers.
The report aids in the completion of compliance questionnaires.
By finding and fixing vulnerabilities quickly, you can prevent attackers from exploiting them.

Veracode

Veracode is a leading provider of application security testing and offers three main types of tests: static analysis (SAST), dynamic analysis (DAST), and software composition analysis. This tool is built to help manage the fast pace of development associated with DevOps. It can scan hundreds of apps and APIs at once, which helps you save time and identify potential issues early on. It’s an ideal solution for corporations with huge IT budgets.

Key Features:

With Veracode, you’ll have a less than 5% false-positive rate.
You can find security flaws in a live application.
The scan settings can be customised to meet your needs.
With this interface, you can keep track of how previous scans are doing while other scans are in progress.

Final Thoughts

Web application security is important for any company that wants to keep its online presence safe. Vulnerability scanners are excellent tools to find and fix security issues before they cause any damage. There are many different scanners on the market, so be sure to choose one that best meets your company’s needs.