Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) Practice Exam

What is Static Application Security Testing (SAST)?

1. A method for encrypting application data

2. A way to analyze application source code for security vulnerabilities

3. A protocol for secure network communication

4. A standard for cloud computing security

The correct answer is: A way to analyze application source code for security vulnerabilities

Static Application Security Testing (SAST) is a method used to analyze application source code for security vulnerabilities. This technique is performed early in the software development lifecycle, allowing developers to identify potential security issues directly in the source code before the application is even run. By examining the code without executing the program, SAST can help uncover hard-to-detect vulnerabilities such as coding errors, insecure coding practices, and compliance violations. This proactive approach is essential for integrating security into applications, as it focuses on identifying weaknesses that could be exploited by attackers. SAST enables development teams to remediate vulnerabilities early, reducing the costs and risks associated with insecure applications deployed into production. Other options, such as encrypting application data or establishing secure network protocols, do not align with the primary focus of SAST, which is specifically related to analyzing the codebase for security flaws. Similarly, a standard for cloud computing security pertains to different frameworks and guidelines rather than the specific process of evaluating source code for security vulnerabilities.