Automated Security Testing

Automated Security Testing is a software testing methodology that uses specialized tools and scripts to automatically identify security vulnerabilities in applications, systems, or networks. It involves scanning for common security flaws like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and insecure configurations without manual intervention. This approach enables continuous security assessment throughout the software development lifecycle.

Also known as: AST, Security Automation, Automated Security Scanning, Security Testing Automation, Automated Vulnerability Scanning

Why learn Automated Security Testing?

Developers should learn and implement automated security testing to proactively identify and fix security vulnerabilities early in development, reducing the risk of breaches and compliance issues. It is essential for modern DevOps/DevSecOps practices, enabling continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines to include security checks automatically. Use cases include web application security scanning, API security testing, and infrastructure-as-code security validation.

Learning Resources

• docs: OWASP Automated Threat Handbook
• course: SANS SEC540: Cloud Security and DevSecOps Automation
• tutorial: Automated Security Testing with OWASP ZAP - Tutorial
• video: DevSecOps: Automated Security Testing in CI/CD Pipelines
• docs: The DevSecOps Playbook by Sonatype