Top 10 Web Application Security Tools That Every Developer Should Use

Cyberthreats are evolving, and there is a rise in the number of attacks on web applications. Traditional security measures are no longer effective in the complex digital landscape. Nowadays, organisations need robust and comprehensive security strategies to protect their digital ecosystem. Thus, web application security tools have become essential to protect the data and prevent breaches. This blog provides details on the top 10 web application security tools that offer diverse functionalities.

What are Web Application Security Tools?

Web application security tools are specialised software designed to provide security for web-based applications. These tools identify, assess, and mitigate security risks. Cybercriminals exploit flaws, configuration errors, and vulnerabilities that might be present in the code. Security tools provide different testing methodologies to detect these so that preventive measures can be adopted. These solutions integrate seamlessly into the development workflows.

Key functionalities of web application security tools are:

Real-time detection of security flaws
Unauthorised data access prevention
Regulation compliance for data protection
DevSecOps workflow support

The security tools provide specific solutions and can be used as per the requirements of the application infrastructure.

Category-based Web Application Security Tools

Below is a list of the web application security tools, segmented on the basis of specialisation.

Static Application Security Testing (SAST) Tools

SAST tools provide early detection of security vulnerabilities through analysis of the source code and application binaries before deployment. They are more suitable for the development phase.

Key SAST Solutions:

1. SonarQube:

SonarQube is an open-source platform that analyses code quality and security. It supports more than 25 programming languages, including Java, C#, C++, Python, and JavaScript.

Features:

Consistent monitoring of the code quality.
Real-time feedback during development.
Customisable quality gates and security rules.

2. Coverity by Synopsys:

With advanced static analysis capabilities, Coverity identifies critical flaws and compliance violations across codebases.

Features:

In-depth statistical analysis with improved accuracy.
Supports over 70 programming languages and layouts.
Compliance reporting for MISRA, CERT, and ISO 26262.
Complex vulnerability detection.

3. HCL AppScan Source

This security tool provides enterprise-level static analysis. With the focus on accuracy, HCL AppScan Source conducts an in-depth assessment for vulnerabilities. It is guided by the principle of prioritised remediation.

Features:

Detailed remediation guidance.
High accuracy with multi-language compatibility
Supports integration with popular IDEs and build tools
Compliance monitoring
Scalability potential

Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) Tools

DAST tools examine the running applications by simulating real-world attacks. They identify security vulnerabilities without needing access to source code.

Key DSAT tools:

1. OWASP ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)

OWASP ZAP is the leading open-source web application security solution. The tool offers extensive vulnerability scanning with automation as well as manual options.

Features:

Automation for security scanning.
Testing capabilities for interactive applications.
Supports API for CI/CD integration.
Passive scanning mode for manual testing.

2. Burp Suite

Burp Suite is the industrial standard choice for professional security testing. The tool enables automated scanning as well as manual testing.

Features:

Advanced crawler and scanner (algorithms)
Supports custom plugin
Professional-grade reporting abilities
Offers collaboration tools
Advanced traffic analysis
Integrated proxy

3. Acunetix

Acunetix offers automated scanning and uses advanced crawlers to detect complex security gaps with minimal false positives.

Features:

JavaScript-heavy application scanning capabilities.
Automation for vulnerability evaluation.
High accuracy rates
Offers network security scanning as well.

Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST) Tools

IAST provides comprehensive vulnerability detection as these tools combine the functionalities of SAST and DAST. These tools operate within the applications to analyse the behaviour and gather information during runtime.

Key IAST tools:

1. Contrast Security

Contrast Security offers real-time monitoring for web applications during execution. It uses innovative instrumentation technology and continuous security evaluation.

Features:

Real-time detection when the application is running.
Runtime application self-protection capabilities.
In-depth analysis of attack path with remedy suggestions.
Integration with DevOps workflows.

3. Checkmarx CxIAST

This web application security tool provides continuous monitoring and interactive testing. It combines the methodologies of static and dynamic testing.

Features:

Hybrid analysis with SAST and DAST capabilities
Scanning during runtime
Code-level insights
Prepared advanced threat models
Integration with Checkmarx ecosystem

Web Application Firewalls (WAF)

WAFs provide filtration and monitoring for the HTTP traffic. They block malicious requests and active threats that are targeted towards web applications.

Key WAF tools

Cloudflare WAF

Cloudflare WAF provides cloud-based security protection and combines it with global threat optimisation. The platform delivers scalable solutions for web application security. It is ideal for organisations with distributed operations.

Features:

Real-time updates
Built-in DDoS protection
Advanced bot management
Global threat intelligence

AWS WAF

AWS WAF offers a web application firewall with scalability potential. It allows integration with the Amazon Web Services ecosystem and provides flexible protection for cloud-based applications.

Features:

Integration with AWS services
Real-time traffic monitoring
Automated threat protection
Pay-as-you-use pricing model

Benefits of Web Applications Security Tools

There are significant benefits of implementing web application security tools into your web infrastructure. Some of them include:

Improved Security Structure

The security tools enable you to adopt a proactive approach for threat detection. You can identify vulnerabilities and implement preventive measures in advance. This reduces the chances of cyberattacks and data reaches being successful.

Cost-effective Risk Managment

SAST and DAST tools detect the vulnerabilities early, saving resources that would have been spent on remedial measures. Organisations can reduce expenses by fixing the security gaps during the development phase.

Regulatory Compliance

Modern web application security tools enable compliance with industry standards and regulations for different regions, such as GDPR (EU), SOX (USA), PIPEDA (Canada), PCI DSS, HIPAA, and more. They also provide automation for compliance logging, making the audit process easier.

Faster Development Speed

When the security tools are integrated into CI/CD pipelines, it allows developers to identify the security issues and resolve them without interrupting the workflow.

Comprehensive security coverage

You can achieve comprehensive protection using a multi-layered security approach that utilises several tools with different functionalities.

Protection against Business Downtime

Operational bottlenecks and downtime can be avoided with the robust application of the security tools. Businesses can reduce the risk of disruptions, data breaches, and reputational damage.

Conclusion

The modern digital world needs robust security infrastructure that can protect the web architecture against evolving cyberthreats. The above-mentioned web application security tools can assist developers in building a comprehensive security strategy. Their strategic implementation facilitates a multi-layered approach that ensures advanced protection, regulatory compliance, and uninterrupted workflows. Organisations can save resources while securing their digital assets.