In recent years, the software development lifecycle has undergone a paradigm shift toward hyper-agile delivery. Monolithic release cycles have been replaced by continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) pipelines, where new features and critical updates are shipped in weeks, or even days. While this acceleration drives business innovation, it leaves development teams with virtually zero margin for error. 

Simultaneously, the threat landscape has evolved. Breaches rarely originate solely from highly sophisticated cyberattacks; they frequently stem from seemingly benign misconfigurations or unchecked third-party dependencies introduced during rapid coding sprints. When security is treated as an afterthought, these early-stage oversights can compound into devastating vulnerabilities by the time an application reaches production. 

 

This friction between speed and safety is driving forward-thinking enterprises toward Application Security Testing, a proactive strategy that embeds security deeply within the development lifecycle, rather than treating it as a final hurdle before release. 

What Is Application Security Testing?

Application Security Testing is a comprehensive framework for evaluating application security with the goal of identifying vulnerabilities before an application is widely used. It looks at application security as a whole, from how code is written and which components are used, to how the application runs and interacts with users. By doing so, risks can be identified and addressed earlier, before they affect application operations. 

Why Traditional Security Struggles to Keep Up with Development Speed?

Traditional security approaches often come into play only after an application is already live. As a result, vulnerabilities are discovered once systems are exposed and in active use. At that point, fixes are rarely simple. Teams may need to make major changes, roll out emergency patches, or adjust systems quickly, all of which can disrupt release schedules. 

As development cycles continue to accelerate, this reactive model increases risk. Vulnerabilities accumulate over time, and security teams spend more effort responding to incidents than preventing them at the source, within the code itself. 

OpenText Fortify for Modern Development 

As application development becomes faster and more complex, security approaches need to evolve as well. Today’s applications are built using multiple programming languages, rely heavily on open-source components, run in dynamic environments, and operate across many platforms. Managing security risks in isolation is no longer effective. 

OpenText Fortify is designed as an Application Security Testing platform to address these challenges. Rather than functioning as a standalone tool, Fortify delivers a set of integrated application security solutions that work together, helping teams consistently identify and manage security risks throughout the application development lifecycle. 

OpenText Fortify SAST

Fortify SAST (Static Application Security Testing) helps teams identify vulnerabilities directly in source code early in development. By finding issues while applications are still being built, teams can remediate risks faster and with less effort, long before they impact production environments. 

OpenText Fortify DAST

Fortify DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing) complements SAST by testing applications while they are running. This approach helps uncover vulnerabilities that emerge when applications interact with users, APIs, and external systems, providing runtime insight that static analysis alone cannot deliver. 

OpenText Fortify SCA

Fortify SCA (Software Composition Analysis) helps teams understand and manage risks introduced by open-source and third-party components. It provides visibility into known vulnerabilities, licensing issues, and software supply chain risks that can affect overall application security. 

OpenText Fortify MAST 

Fortify MAST (Mobile Application Security Testing) delivers security testing tailored specifically for mobile applications. It helps identify risks in Android and iOS apps related to code, configuration, and runtime behavior, allowing mobile security to be addressed as part of a broader application security strategy. 

Read More: Implementing Application Security to Protect Critical Company Data 

Application Security Testing Best Practices 

To be effective, Application Security Testing should be implemented as a continuous process rather than an occasional checkpoint. Security testing should begin early in development and continue as code, configurations, and application components evolve, allowing risks to be managed alongside application growth. 

Security testing should also be integrated into development workflows so findings are easy for developers to understand and act on. Clear visibility across teams is equally important, ensuring security, development, and management share a common understanding of application risk and can make informed decisions together. 

Accelerate Your Application Security Journey with Virtus 

Virtus Technology Indonesia (VTI), part of the CTI Group, brings deep experience in application security to help organizations implement OpenText Fortify as a comprehensive application security solution. Supported by certified professionals, Application Security Testing can be applied in a structured and effective way, from initial assessment through full integration into development workflows. 

Contact the Virtus team to discuss how OpenText Fortify can be aligned with your development environment and application security needs. 

  

Author: Danurdhara Suluh Prasasta 

CTI Group Content Writer