Web application penetration testing is a comprehensive and methodological process that leverages various tools and techniques to identify, analyze, and prioritize vulnerabilities in the application’s code and configurations. It goes beyond basics to find interlinked business logic vulnerabilities before attackers can gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, disrupt operations, or steal user data.

Penetration testing, dynamic application security testing (DAST), and attack surface management (ASM) are all strategies designed to manage an organization’s digital attack surface. However, while each aids in identifying and closing vulnerabilities, they have significant differences and play complementary roles within a corporate cybersecurity strategy. Let’s take a quick look at the definition of each of these strategies.