Now Available: The 2024 Application Security Testing Trends Report

As digital transformation evolves into the Digital+ era, the complexities of managing application security testing have grown exponentially. Some of the most pressing security challenges are examined in the 2024 Application Security Testing Trends Report from HCLSoftware. 

The findings in this third-annual report are based on a fall 2024 survey that was sent out to more than 45,000 professionals globally. The goal, as in years past, was to gain broader insight into how organizations are managing and reacting to emerging trends, technologies and methodologies.

Why Application Security Testing Matters

With global reliance on interconnected digital systems, application security has become an essential pillar of risk management for organizations across industries. The growing prevalence of cyber threats, such as API vulnerabilities and supply chain breaches, has heightened the importance of robust, continuous testing solutions. This comprehensive report underscores how companies are prioritizing various aspects of application security to better manage risk and protect their systems, reputations and data.

Key Findings from the Report

The 2024 Application Security Testing Trends Report highlights a range of insights based on the answers to our Fall survey. As we sifted through the results, a number of key findings stood out that tell us a lot about the state of application security.

Despite the industry's push to "shift left" and empower developers to identify and resolve vulnerabilities early, more than half (52 percent) of application security testing responsibility still rests with dedicated security teams. This finding reinforces the importance of centralized expertise while also signaling opportunities for tighter integration between development and security workflows.

Thirty-three percent of organizations are using critical vulnerabilities as their primary risk metric. This preference underscores the need for advanced, nuanced risk assessment tools that can balance threat severity with remediation timelines.

When it comes to testing technology, Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) tools lead the pack, with 32 percent of organizations using them — surpassing Static Application Security Testing (SAST) tools at 29 percent. The report also indicates that DAST adoption is poised to grow further, with 18 percent of respondents planning to implement it in the coming year. This trend highlights a shift towards real-time testing to uncover vulnerabilities in running applications and APIs.

Additionally, data privacy emerged as the top concern when it came to cloud security, cited by 46 percent of respondents. This priority surpasses other issues such as compliance or infrastructure security, reflecting the increasing focus on safeguarding sensitive information in a cloud-first world.

The Path Ahead: Security in a Digital+ Economy

The report delves into how application security testing tools and methodologies are evolving to keep pace with today’s rapid development cycles. Integration across every phase of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) is now vital to reduce risks without hindering agility. From APIs to open-source libraries, organizations are prioritizing solutions that secure their entire ecosystem.

Moreover, modern platforms are empowering businesses to confidently release software while managing the costs associated with security and development. By embracing continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) pipelines alongside real-time testing technologies, companies are building resilience against tomorrow’s threats.

Conclusion

As the digital landscape grows more interconnected and complex, the 2024 Application Security Testing Trends Report from HCL AppScan offers invaluable insights for security professionals navigating these changes. Whether it’s centralized testing, addressing critical vulnerabilities, or adopting dynamic analysis tools, the findings emphasize the need for proactive, innovative strategies.

By leveraging the trends identified in this report, organizations can fortify their defenses, ensure compliance, and foster a robust application security posture—laying the foundation for a secure future. 

Explore the full report to gain actionable recommendations and take your application security strategy to the next level.