How to Set Up Security Testing

SAST DAST dependency scanning OWASP Top 10 - the security testing process that protects users and passes compliance audits.

Security testing is not a one-time penetration test before launch. It is a continuous process integrated into the development pipeline. Most application security vulnerabilities are caught by three cheap, fast tools: static analysis (SAST), dependency scanning, and OWASP-based functional testing. This guide covers the setup that catches security issues before they reach users.

No fluff. Real test coverage from QA engineers who find bugs before your users do.

The Three Security Testing Layers Every Application Needs

Layer 1: Static Analysis (SAST). Analyzes source code without executing it. Catches SQL injection, XSS, hardcoded secrets, insecure patterns. Runs in CI, results in seconds. Tools: SonarQube, Semgrep, CodeQL. Layer 2: Dependency Scanning. Checks third-party packages for known CVEs. Catches vulnerabilities in libraries you didn't write. Runs automatically on every PR. Tools: Snyk, Dependabot, npm audit. Layer 3: Dynamic Analysis (DAST). Tests the running application. Catches authentication flaws, business logic errors, runtime vulnerabilities that static analysis misses. Tools: OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite. Slower, more expensive, most realistic.

At Valletta Software, we focus on:

SAST: SonarQube or Semgrep in CI - configured for your language - block merge on critical findings

Dependency scanning: Snyk or Dependabot - auto-PRs for vulnerability fixes - alert on critical CVEs

Secret scanning: GitGuardian or GitHub secret scanning - prevent credentials committed to repo

OWASP Top 10: test each category manually or with DAST scanner - authentication injection XSS

DAST: OWASP ZAP in CI against staging - passive scan on every deploy active scan weekly

Penetration testing: annual third-party pentest - required for SOC 2 ISO 27001 PCI compliance

Bug bounty: HackerOne or Bugcrowd for mature products - community finds what internal teams miss

The Security Testing Process for Regulated Industries

Healthcare fintech and regtech have higher security requirements. These are the minimum controls.

We give you more than just people. We give you top performers who drive results.

OWASP ASVS: Application Security Verification Standard - use as a checklist for security requirements

GDPR data mapping: test that PII is not leaked in logs API responses or error messages

Authentication testing: test all OAuth flows session management token expiry and revocation

Authorization testing: test IDOR (insecure direct object reference) - can user A access user Bs data

Encryption verification: TLS version cipher suites certificate validity - automated with testssl.sh

Data retention testing: verify data deletion actually deletes - GDPR right to erasure

Security regression: add test case for every security bug found - prevent re-introduction

You lead the work. We handle the rest. From EUR 45/h.

EU-incorporated in Malta - NDA on day one, full GDPR compliance. Trusted by startups and enterprise teams across 12+ industries.

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Generate test cases from specs and user stories automatically

Run visual regression across hundreds of screens in minutes

Build CI test gates that catch regressions before merge

Analyze test results and prioritize fixes by business impact

How to Set Up Security Testing - With QA Engineers Who Think Like Attackers

Lets keep it simple.

Our QA engineers use AI to write test cases from specs, generate edge-case scenarios automatically, and run visual regression checks across hundreds of screens in minutes - so they spend time on the bugs that matter, not the obvious ones.

Lets keep it simple.

Our QA engineers set up SAST with SonarQube, dependency scanning with Snyk, OWASP ZAP DAST, and GDPR-specific test cases - security testing that passes compliance audits and protects users

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