Our 21st-century daily life has become increasingly dependent on the convenience and comfort offered by mobile and web applications. However, the convenience of these applications comes with Modern application security demands an evolved and robust approach to mitigate the growing risks posed by external threats. In a recent webinar hosted by Setu Parimi, CTO and Co-Founder of Risk Profiler, and joined by Eric Allard, CTO at SOOS, key strategies for developing a comprehensive Application Security Posture Management (ASPM) were discussed in great detail. This blog captures the insights shared by the industry experts during the webinar, offering actionable guidance for organizations to strengthen their application security frameworks.

What is Application Security Posture Management?

As the technology evolved, application security has undergone a transformative journey. Moving from static testing tools to integrated, dynamic solutions, it has come a long way. Organizations have incorporated different approaches like Static Application Security Testing (SAST), Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), runtime protection, infrastructure-as-code (IaC) scanning, and container security into application security posture. These tools, which were once isolated, are now consolidated under the broader framework of ASPM, providing unified platforms for comprehensive security management.

“Application Security Posture Management is no longer just a toolset; it’s a strategy that brings together multiple aspects of application security to address modern external threats in a cohesive way,” noted Setu Parimi during the session.

Setu highlighted that traditional setups often involve multiple tools deployed across different stages of the software development lifecycle (SDLC). The challenge lies in integrating these tools effectively. ASPM now serves as a unifying solution, making it easier to manage external risks holistically and address vulnerabilities at every stage of application development.

Key Components of Application Security Posture Management

Mr. Allard outlined the five core components of Application Security Management:

1. Software Composition Analysis: Software Composition Analysis can detect potential vulnerabilities in third-party components present in direct and transitive IT dependencies.

   Eric highlighted the importance of the Software Composition Analysis “Understanding what’s in your software is the first step to securing it. Software Composition Analysis provides the roadmap,” during the interview.

   
   

2. Software Bill of Materials: Maintain a detailed inventory of all internal and external software components and monitor all assets and dependencies in one place.

   
   

3. Static Application Security Testing: Detect source code vulnerabilities early in the development workflow with Static Application Security Testing. It simplifies the complexities in risk mitigation and offers a secure development process.

   
   

4. Dynamic Application Security Testing: Enable your DevOps teams to identify potential security risks in actively running applications from the external attackers’ perspective. It helps them find hidden system vulnerabilities and to address and fortify them with efficiency.

   
   

5. Container and Infrastructure-as-Code Scanning: Address security threats associated with container configurations and infrastructure management scripts. It thus aids you with application security posture management.

These components form a critical framework that can be tailored to fit the specific needs of organizations across industries. For instance, healthcare organizations can utilize Software Bill of Materials to track dependencies in their medical device software, while e-commerce platforms may prioritize Dynamic Application Security Testing to safeguard payment gateways.

Enhancing Visibility with External Attack Surface Management

Asset visibility remains a critical challenge in application security. Many organizations struggle to identify unknown assets, often referred to as shadow IT, which are not integrated into formal security pipelines but remain exposed to external threats.

“You can’t secure what you don’t know exists,” said Eric, emphasizing the importance of detailed asset visibility in today’s complex IT environments.

Setu explained how EASM complements Application Security Posture Management by identifying and managing these hidden assets. By scanning the internet for domains, subdomains, and IP ranges associated with an organization, External Attack Surface Management tools can uncover vulnerable endpoints that might otherwise remain unnoticed. This proactive approach is especially crucial in cloud-native environments, where ephemeral resources can appear and disappear rapidly, complicating visibility efforts.

Eric provided an example of how large organizations with decentralized teams often miss shadow IT assets, leading to critical vulnerabilities being exploited. By integrating External Cloud Attack Surface Management into application security posture, organizations can ensure that all assets are accounted for and monitored.

Application Security Posture Management & EASM for Comprehensive Security

The integration of Application Security Posture Management and External Attack Surface Management can offer unprecedented progress in terms of security measures to organizations. While Application Surface Posture Management tools focus on internal security measures—such as code analysis and vulnerability identification—EASM extends this scope to include external-facing assets. By combining the strengths of both, organizations can:

• Gain comprehensive visibility into their application security posture.

• Prioritize risks based on real-time threat intelligence.

• Address vulnerabilities that are actively exploited in the wild.

“It’s not just about finding vulnerabilities” Setu emphasized during the conversation, “it’s about understanding which ones matter most and acting on them.”

Elaborating on the importance of APSM integration, Eric noted that it not only fortifies security posture but also streamlines the prioritization of remediation efforts. For example, an organization might identify thousands of vulnerabilities using Application Security Posture Management tools. External Attack Surface Management integration helps narrow the focus to vulnerabilities that are actively being targeted by attackers, ensuring swift and effective remediation.

Addressing Third-Party Risk Management

Third-party dependencies constitute a significant portion of modern application codebases. Eric and Setu discussed the risks associated with these dependencies, such as the poisoning of popular libraries like Colors.js and Faker.js, which disrupted thousands of applications.

“Third-party risks aren’t just theoretical. Every dependency you include is another layer of potential vulnerability,” Eric warned.

For effective third-party risk management, a business must follow these steps:

• Maintain an up-to-date inventory to monitor all third-party components.

• Regularly assess the dependencies for vulnerabilities and licensing risks.

• Implement automation and machine learning tools to identify and mitigate security risks in third-party libraries proactively.

In the webinar discussion, Setu also elaborated on the importance of vendor intelligence. It provides detailed insights into third-party vendor’s security practices and their impact on your business security posture. For instance, a comprehensive vendor risk assessment can reveal whether a critical dependency is maintained by a single developer or a robust team, enabling informed decision-making.

Application Security Posture Management and EASM in Regulatory Compliance

Regulatory adherence is crucial to maintaining an efficient application security posture. Frameworks such as the EU Cyber Resilience Act and the U.S. FDA’s requirements for software inventory in medical devices underscore the need for transparency in software components.

ASPM tools support compliance by offering detailed Software Bill of Materials and mapping vulnerabilities to frameworks like NIST, GDPR, HIPAA, SOX, ISO 27001, etc. External Attack Surface Management complements these efforts by identifying non-compliant resources exposed to the internet, enabling organizations to address gaps proactively.

As Setu mentioned during the webinar, “Compliance isn’t just about meeting standards; it’s about fostering trust and showing your commitment to security”.

Tackling Zero-Day Vulnerabilities

Zero-day vulnerabilities present unique challenges, as they are often exploited before patches become available. To address these threats, organizations need:

1. Comprehensive Software Inventory: A detailed inventory ensures rapid identification of affected components when a zero-day vulnerability is disclosed.

   
   

2. Real-Time Threat Intelligence: External Attack Surface Management tools can map exposed assets to trending vulnerabilities, enabling organizations to prioritize critical fixes.

   
   

3. Automated Detection and Response: Integrating Application Security Posture Management and EASM with automated workflows accelerate the identification and remediation of zero-day vulnerabilities, minimizing potential damage.

“When a zero-day hits, the speed of response can make all the difference. Automation is key,” Eric emphasized.

The Future of Application Security Posture Management

As technology evolves, so does the field of application security. Eric and Setu highlighted several emerging trends:

• AI-Driven Threat Modeling: Tools leveraging machine learning and LLMs can analyze application architectures and identify vulnerabilities in minutes, reducing the dependency on manual processes.

  
  

• Enhanced Dependency Management: Machine learning models simplify the identification of transitive dependencies, helping organizations address vulnerabilities efficiently.

  
  

• Developer-Centric Security: Advanced tools now provide developers with actionable recommendations to fix vulnerabilities without disrupting application functionality. These solutions reduce the time required for remediation, enabling faster deployment cycles.

  
  

• Continuous Monitoring: Maintaining an updated inventory of software components is critical for addressing emerging threats. Real-time monitoring ensures that organizations remain proactive in their security efforts.

“The future is about integrating intelligence into every step of the process, empowering teams to work smarter, not harder,” Eric said.

Conclusion

Building an effective application security posture requires a combination of robust tools, proactive strategies, and continuous monitoring. By integrating Application Security Posture Management with External Attack Surface Management, organizations can achieve:

• Comprehensive visibility into their application security landscape.

• Real-time intelligence to prioritize and address risks.

• Enhanced compliance with regulatory requirements.

As the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, leveraging advancements in AI, machine learning, and real-time threat intelligence will be key to staying ahead of external threats. Organizations that adopt these practices will not only strengthen their security posture but also streamline compliance efforts and improve risk management outcomes. The future of application security lies in the seamless integration of technology, processes, and people.

By implementing these strategies, organizations can position themselves as leaders in cybersecurity, safeguarding their assets, customers, and reputation in an increasingly complex digital landscape.