SAST, static application security testing, reads your source code for security flaws without running it. It points to the exact file and line, so developers can fix issues while the change is still in review.

DAST, dynamic application security testing, attacks the running application from the outside, the way a browser, client app or attacker would. It finds problems that only show up once the app is deployed, such as configuration, session and authentication weaknesses.

Do we need both SAST and DAST?

Most teams benefit from both. SAST finds problems early, in the code; DAST finds what is exposed in practice. Each catches issues the other can miss, and together they cover your code and your running app.

How are SAST and DAST different from a penetration test?

SAST and DAST are automated checks that run on every change and catch common, known flaw patterns. A penetration test is a manual, time-boxed attack by experienced testers that finds business logic flaws and chained weaknesses. Pipeline scanning keeps new issues out between penetration tests; it doesn’t replace them.

What is SCA, and is it included?

SCA, software composition analysis, checks the open-source packages your app depends on for published vulnerabilities. Yes, we set it up alongside SAST, together with secret scanning, because most modern code is largely third-party.

Which CI/CD platforms do you work with?

Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI and Azure DevOps. We add the checks as jobs in your existing pipeline, so results appear in pull requests and your tracker.

Which tools do you use? Can you use ours?

SonarQube, Snyk, Checkmarx, Semgrep, GitHub CodeQL and Gitleaks for code, dependencies and secrets; OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite, Acunetix and Nikto for running apps; Trivy and Kubescape for containers and infrastructure code; and DefectDojo and Jira to track findings. If you already own scanners, we tune and use those.

How do you deal with false positives?

New high and critical findings are verified by a tester. False positives are suppressed with a recorded reason, duplicates across tools are merged, and rules are tuned for your frameworks so the same noise doesn’t come back.

Will DAST scans affect our environment?

We run DAST against staging or a test environment by default, with test accounts and test data. Any scan of a live system is agreed in writing first and runs in an approved window with a named contact on call.

Will security scanning slow down our pipeline?

We keep pull request checks quick and focused on the changed code, and run full SAST and DAST scans on a schedule or before releases. The aim is feedback developers get in the same review, not a build that waits.

Who sees our source code, and how is it protected?

We sign your NDA before we see a single line of code. Access is limited to the named testers on your project, and reports and evidence are encrypted in transit and at rest.

Which findings should block a release?

That’s agreed with your team. A common starting point is to block new critical and high findings and report the rest, then tighten the rules once the backlog is under control.

What will we receive?

Pipeline jobs in your CI, agreed release gate rules, a triaged baseline report with CVSS ratings, fix guidance for each finding, findings tracked in Jira or DefectDojo, and a retest of fixed high and critical issues.

How do we get started, and what does it cost?

Book a call or send the form on this page. We review your stack, repositories and pipeline, agree the scope, sign your NDA, and you receive a fixed quote before any work starts.

SAST & DAST Testing Services

Catch security flaws in your code and your running app on every change, not once a year.

Static testing (SAST) reads your source code for flaws. Dynamic testing (DAST) attacks the deployed app from outside. We set both up in your CI/CD pipeline with dependency and secret scanning, remove the false alarms and agree with your team which findings should stop a release.

Get in touch Scope your setup

Jenkins, GitHub, GitLab, Azure DevOps
False positives removed by hand
Release gates you agree
OWASP and CWE mapped

What we set up

SASTCode before it runs DASTApp while it runs DependenciesOpen-source packages SecretsCode, history, config IaC & containersBefore it deploys Pipeline & gatesRelease gates Triage & tuningFindings you trust Code reviewExpert eyes

[ Why SAST & DAST ]

A flaw fixed in review never reaches a customer

A flaw found while code is still in review is usually a small change. The same flaw found after release means a hotfix, a retest and sometimes a conversation with customers. SAST reads your code before it runs; DAST attacks the deployed app from outside. Run on every change and tuned so developers trust the results, they stop new weaknesses slipping in between penetration tests.

Need a deeper, manual attack? See penetration testing, vulnerability assessment or all security testing services →

Flaws caught at the pull request

Developers see each issue in the change that introduced it.

Code and runtime both covered

SAST finds what’s written; DAST finds what’s exposed once deployed.

Noise your team can live with

Verified findings and tuned rules, so alerts get read, not muted.

Gates you agreed on

Clear rules for which findings stop a release and which don’t.

[ What we set up ]

Eight checks that keep security in step with your releases

Start with SAST and DAST, then add the checks your stack needs. Each card lists what we check, when you need it and the problem it prevents.

Static application security testing (SAST)

Your source code

We scan your source code for security flaws without running it, tune the rules to your frameworks and check results by hand before they reach a developer.

What we check

Injection, unsafe deserialization and path traversal
Hard-coded credentials and weak cryptography
Untrusted input traced through the code to where it is used
Rules tuned for your languages and frameworks

When you need it

On every pull request, with a full scan before each release.

The problem it preventsInsecure code merged because nobody read it from an attacker’s side

Dynamic application security testing (DAST)

Your running app

We attack the running web app or API from outside, signed out and with test accounts, the way a real client or attacker would talk to it.

What we check

Injection and cross-site scripting in live requests
Authentication, session and access control weaknesses
Security headers, TLS, cookies and server configuration
API endpoints driven from your OpenAPI spec or Postman collections

When you need it

On every deploy to staging, with deeper signed-in scans before releases.

The problem it preventsFlaws that only appear once the app is deployed and configured

Dependency scanning (SCA)

Open-source libraries

Every open-source package in your build checked against published vulnerabilities, with the upgrade that fixes each one.

What we check

Direct and transitive dependencies
Known CVEs with a fixed version available
Container base images and OS packages
Alerts when new advisories hit packages you already use

When you need it

On every build, plus scheduled scans for new advisories.

The problem it preventsA known library flaw shipping in every release

Secret scanning

Keys, tokens, passwords

We search your code, commit history and config for API keys, tokens and passwords, help you rotate what was exposed and block new ones at commit.

What we check

Repositories and full commit history
Config files, build scripts and CI variables
Pre-commit and pull request checks with Gitleaks
A rotation checklist for every exposed secret

When you need it

Once across your full history, then on every commit.

The problem it preventsA cloud key pushed to a repository and found by someone else first

Infrastructure-as-code & container scanning

Terraform, Kubernetes, images

Cloud and Kubernetes settings checked while they are still code, so a public bucket or over-privileged role is caught in the pull request, not in production.

What we check

Terraform and cloud templates
Kubernetes manifests and Helm charts
Dockerfiles and container images with Trivy
Cluster settings checked with Kubescape

When you need it

On every change to infrastructure code or images.

The problem it preventsOne misconfiguration copied into every environment

CI/CD pipeline integration

Jenkins, GitHub, GitLab, Azure

View service

We add SAST, dependency, secret and DAST checks to your pipeline, keep them fast, and agree with your team which findings should stop a release.

What we check

Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI or Azure DevOps
Quick checks on pull requests, full scans on a schedule
Release gates by severity, agreed with your team
Results in pull requests and Jira, not another portal

When you need it

When you want security checks on every change without slowing delivery.

The problem it preventsScans that run but get ignored, or block every build

Triage & false-positive tuning

Noise removed

Raw SAST and DAST output is noisy. We verify findings, suppress false positives with a recorded reason and tune rules so developers trust what remains.

What we check

New high and critical findings verified by a tester
False positives suppressed with a recorded reason
Duplicates across tools merged in DefectDojo
Rules re-tuned as your codebase changes

When you need it

When an existing scanner has a backlog of findings nobody reads.

The problem it preventsReal issues lost in a pile of alerts

Manual security code review

High-risk code

Testers read the code that matters most, such as sign-in, payments, permissions and file handling, for flaws tools can’t reason about.

What we check

Authentication, authorization and session logic
Payment, pricing and other business rules
Cryptography and key handling
Areas SAST keeps flagging that need a human decision

When you need it

Before major releases and when SAST keeps flagging the same area.

The problem it preventsLogic flaws no rule set can describe

[ SAST vs DAST ]

SAST reads the code. DAST attacks the app. You need both.

Each catches issues the other misses. Neither replaces a penetration test or a vulnerability assessment; they keep new flaws out between them. On the right is what a pull request finding looks like.

Aspect	SAST	DAST
Looks at	Source code, without running it	The running app, from outside
Runs	On every pull request and build	On each deploy to staging or test
Needs	Access to the repository	A deployed app and test accounts
Best at	Injection, unsafe code patterns, secrets, weak crypto	Configuration, headers, sessions and sign-in
Can miss	Issues that depend on configuration or environment	Code paths the scanner can’t reach
Points to	The exact file and line	The URL, request and response

Sample pull request findingSAST check

Location: orders/search.py, line 42
Issue: Search text joined straight into a SQL query
Rule: SQL injection (CWE-89)
Verified: Input confirmed reachable from a public endpoint
Gate: High severity: merge blocked until fixed
Fix: Parameterised query; check passes on the next push

Example only. Real findings use your code, rules and gates.

[ How we work ]

Six steps from first scan to checks on every change

You agree the tools, rules and gates before anything goes into your pipeline. Every job and rule we add is documented and stays with you.

Step 1 of 6
Review your stack

Languages, frameworks, repositories, pipeline and how you release, plus what should stop a release.

You getScan plan and tool choice
Step 2 of 6
Set up and tune SAST

Rules matched to your frameworks, then a first full scan to see where you stand.

You getBaseline SAST report
Step 3 of 6
Set up DAST

Signed-in scans of your staging app and APIs, with test accounts for each role.

You getBaseline DAST report
Step 4 of 6
Triage the baseline

Findings verified, false positives suppressed with a reason and duplicates merged.

You getVerified findings list
Step 5 of 6
Wire it into CI/CD

Pull request and build checks, release gates and results in your tracker.

You getPipeline jobsRelease gate rules
Step 6 of 6
Fix, retest and hand over

Help with fixes that matter most, a retest, and a setup your team can run.

You getRemediation planRetest report

NDA before accessWe sign your NDA before we see a single line of code or a test account.
DAST in agreed windowsScans run against staging by default; live scans only in windows you approve.
Encrypted findingsReports and evidence are encrypted in transit and at rest, shared only with named people.

[ Tools ]