Why Your DAST Program Is Failing — and How to Fix It

Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) is supposed to be your safety net — scanning live web applications for vulnerabilities before attackers find them. But for many organizations, DAST tools underdeliver: low coverage, noisy reports, and no developer buy-in. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone — and you’re not stuck.

Here are the top reasons DAST programs fall short, and what you can do to turn things around:

1. Are You Only Scanning the Login Page?

Why it happens: Misconfigured authentication, expired tokens, or lack of automation.

How to fix it:

Use token-based flows with Postman or Selenium scripts.
Automate token generation for SAML, OAuth2, and session-based apps.
Validate access with test scans before production runs.

2. Are You Getting Flooded with False Positives?

Why it happens: Default signatures, lack of tuning, and duplicate endpoint testing.

How to fix it:

Customize severity profiles and filtering rules.
Enable vulnerability validation (e.g., Qualys QIDs, Tenable plugins).
Tag or suppress known harmless patterns.

3. Are Developers Ignoring the Findings?

Why it happens: Reports lack clarity, prioritization, or integration into developer workflows.

How to fix it:

Push findings into ticketing systems with context.
Use dev-friendly formats like JSON, GitHub issues, or JIRA tickets.
Prioritize by exploitability and business risk — not just severity.

4. Are You Skipping API Scanning?

Why it happens: APIs require authentication, headers, and input sequences that DAST tools don’t handle well out of the box.

How to fix it:

Import OpenAPI, Swagger, or Postman collections for better targeting.
Set headers and tokens dynamically before scans.
Schedule recurring API-specific scans tied to your dev cycle.

5. Do You Know What Was Actually Scanned?

Why it happens: Poor visibility into scan scope, asset tracking, and endpoint coverage.

How to fix it:

Use tagging and metadata to map apps to scans.
Run both pre-auth and post-auth scans when applicable.
Track metrics like % of pages, forms, or endpoints reached.

6. The Bigger Fix: Treat DAST as a Program, Not a Tool

Successful DAST isn’t about pressing “Scan” — it’s about building a process:

Adopt a maturity model with clear stages of improvement.
Automate workflows for repeatability and scale.
Integrate security testing into CI/CD pipelines for earlier feedback.
Measure value: time-to-fix, risk reduction, and coverage — not just scan counts.
Partner with experts who can help you tune tools like Qualys WAS and Tenable WAS to fit your environment.

Ready to Fix Your DAST Program?

If your current DAST strategy isn’t delivering real value, let’s change that. At Iron City Cyber, we help organizations turn underperforming DAST tools into developer-friendly, risk-prioritized security solutions.