Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) is essential for modern application security. At its core, DAST analyzes running applications for vulnerabilities without requiring source code. However, the effectiveness of these tools often hinges on the infrastructure and teams behind them—this is where DAST sub-processors come into play.
Understanding DAST sub-processors is key to making informed decisions about your security tools. They can directly impact tool performance, data handling, and overall security compliance. Let’s explore what DAST sub-processors are, why they matter, and what you should look out for when evaluating a solution.
What Are DAST Sub-Processors?
DAST sub-processors are third-party services or entities that a DAST provider relies on to operate its product or deliver specific features. These sub-processors might handle tasks like cloud infrastructure, data storage, or specialized scanning components.
For example:
- Hosting and Cloud Providers: Services like AWS or Google Cloud that provide compute resources for running DAST scans.
- Data Enrichment Services: APIs or tools used to analyze results or provide additional details about identified vulnerabilities.
- Authentication Services: Systems that support secure logins during tests to access protected resources.
While they might operate behind the scenes, sub-processors play a vital role in the quality and reliability of a DAST tool. Their performance, policies, and capabilities directly affect how the main product works for you.
Why Do Sub-Processors Matter for DAST?
The involvement of sub-processors isn’t just a technical detail—it has real implications for application security and risk management.
1. Data Security and Privacy
Sub-processors often handle sensitive data, such as scan results, authentication details, or system configurations. If their security practices fall short, it could place your data—and your users’ data—at risk. Transparency is critical. Reputable DAST providers will clearly disclose the sub-processors they use and ensure these vendors meet stringent security standards.
Key Question: Does your DAST provider outline how your sensitive data is stored, processed, and secured?
When a sub-processor is responsible for a critical part of the DAST workflow, their uptime and latency directly affect scan speed and coverage. For example, cloud service issues can slow down or even interrupt your testing. Knowing which sub-processors are involved and understanding their performance guarantees can help you gauge the reliability of the overall solution.
Key Question: Are the sub-processors used by the DAST provider known for high availability and low downtime?
3. Compliance and Regulations
Depending on your industry, compliance with standards like GDPR, CCPA, or ISO 27001 may be mandatory. DAST providers must ensure that all sub-processors adhere to these regulations to avoid non-compliance by extension. If this information isn’t clear, it’s a red flag.
Key Question: Can your DAST provider confirm compliance for every sub-processor they onboard?
4. Scalability
Scalability isn’t just about growth—it’s about being consistent under stress. Sub-processors need to handle large-scale operation demands without compromising speed or integrity. This is especially important if your team needs to run DAST scans frequently or on multiple environments simultaneously.
Key Question: Can the sub-processors keep up with bursts in DAST scan demands?
How to Evaluate a DAST Provider’s Use of Sub-Processors
Choosing a DAST solution means looking beyond surface-level features. Investigate how the provider integrates sub-processors into their ecosystem and hold them to high standards.
- Request Transparency: Reputable providers list or disclose their sub-processors and what services they handle. Ensure the list aligns with your security requirements.
- Assess Security Practices: Confirm third-party data handling aligns with your organization’s policies, including encryption and secure storage methods.
- Check Audit Records: Providers that audit sub-processors regularly signal better security oversight and risk management.
A thoughtful evaluation of these factors can help you identify the best tools while minimizing risk.
Simplify DAST with Hoop.dev
DAST tools are only as good as the ecosystem supporting them, and sub-processors are an integral part of that ecosystem. Hoop.dev takes the guesswork out of this process by offering a platform built on transparent, secure, and performance-driven partnerships.
With Hoop.dev, you’ll see how modern DAST processes can work seamlessly and securely. Experience how it streamlines security testing while staying compliant and scalable. See what it can do live in minutes. Give it a try today.