What is Application Security Testing?
Book a demoApplication Security Testing covers the analysis methods that reveal an application's flaws and unwanted behaviours before they turn into an incident. An application is tested for several reasons: to protect the data it handles, to meet regulatory obligations, and to avoid costly fixes once in production.
Pradeo can test an application in two ways. The Static Application Security Testing (SAST) solution analyses the source code of a web or mobile application, line by line, during development. The Mobile Application Security Testing (MAST) solution analyses the binary code of a mobile application.
Analysis tailored to you
Analyze the source code or the binary of your applications as needed, within your development and validation processes.
- Source code or binary analysis
- Integration with your IDE, CI/CD or via API
- Customizable rules
Ensure compliance
GDPR, NIS2, DORA, OWASP: analysis reports document the level of security your obligations require.
- Credentials and personal data
- Transactions
- Data sent to third-party components
Fix at the right moment
A vulnerability caught before going live is fixed quickly, with no consequence for your users; the same one, found afterwards, takes a whole team.
- Detection from development onwards
- Validation before release
- No consequences for your users
When AI speeds up code writing, stay in control with a European vendor
Code is written faster with AI, and so are its flaws. Attackers, for their part, use AI to find them. Pradeo Application Security Testing detects them before release, in your source code as well as in your applications' binaries.
Meet regulatory requirements
Regulation is tightening: the first Cyber Resilience Act obligations have applied since September 2026. Analysis reports document the required level of security, with technology designed and hosted in Europe.
- GDPR, NIS2, DORA, Cyber Resilience Act
- OWASP, SANS, CVSS, MASVS frameworks
- Your code stays in the environment you have chosen
AI specialized in application security
Our analyses rely on AI specialized in application security, developed by Pradeo's research team, to target what matters in your applications.
- Prioritization according to your context
- Explanation of flaws and their impact
- Identification of data leaks
Two approaches to Application Security Testing
SAST and MAST do not come in at the same moment. The first analyses the application during development. The second audits the compiled binary file.
Static Application Security Testing
Pradeo's SAST analyzes the source code of your web and mobile applications during development. It prioritizes vulnerabilities by the risk they pose in your context, and helps your teams understand their impact with AI.
- Analysis as you code, inside the IDE and CI/CD
- Detection mapped to OWASP Top 10, SANS Top 25 and CVSS
- AI-assisted remediation
- Code written by your teams or generated by AI, analyzed to the same standard
Mobile Application Security Testing
Pradeo's MAST analyses the published file of an Android or iOS application, with no access to the source code. It reveals what the application actually does once installed: data collected, servers contacted, embedded trackers and libraries.
- Binary analysis, no source code required
- Detection of behaviours, data leaks, trackers and third-party SDKs
- GDPR and OWASP compliance reports
- Available as a SaaS platform or via API
SAST or MAST: which application security analysis to choose
| Criterion | Static Application Security Testing (SAST) | Mobile Application Security Testing (MAST) |
|---|---|---|
| What is analysed | Source code | Binary file (APK / IPA) |
| Scope | Web and mobile | Mobile (Android & iOS) |
| Integration | IDE and CI/CD | CI/CD or API |
| Applications covered | In-house applications | In-house or third-party applications |
| Type of analysis | Static code analysis, without running the application | Analysis of the application's behaviour from its binary (data processed, network connections, malicious behaviours) |
| Typical users | Developers, security teams, auditors | CISOs, Product Owners, MSSPs, auditors |
Stronger application security by combining both approaches
SAST and MAST can also work together: the first secures the code, the second verifies the published application.
During development
SAST detects flaws in the code commit after commit and guides developers to the fix.
Before release
MAST validates the final binary: compliance, behaviours, embedded libraries, data transmitted.
On third-party applications
MAST assesses applications you did not build, before allowing them on your fleet.
After testing comes protection
Testing reveals flaws so you can fix them before release. Once published, the application runs on devices you do not control: that is the role of In-App Protection.
Application shielding
Protects published code against reverse engineering, tampering and cloning.
Discover →Runtime self-protection
Detects attacks in real time and responds to them, directly on the user's device.
Discover →What is the difference between SAST and MAST?+
SAST analyses an application's source code during development: it pinpoints vulnerabilities at their origin, down to the file and line. MAST analyses the published file of a mobile application, with no access to the source code: it reveals its real behaviour once installed. The first checks how the application is written, the second what it does.
Do you have to choose between SAST and MAST?+
No, they apply at different moments. If you build your own applications, SAST secures the code upstream and MAST validates the binary before release. If you did not build the application, only MAST applies, since it requires no source code.
Can an application be tested without its source code?+
Yes. MAST only needs the application file, the one published on the stores. That is what makes it possible to audit applications built by a contractor, or third-party applications your employees use.
How long does an application security analysis take?+
Both analyses are automated. A MAST audit returns actionable results within minutes of submitting the file. SAST runs continuously in your CI/CD pipelines, every time the code changes.
Do SAST and MAST cover regulatory requirements (GDPR, NIS2)?+
The reports document vulnerabilities against recognized frameworks (OWASP Top 10, SANS Top 25, CVSS, MASVS) and data processing against GDPR, NIS2 and DORA. They serve as supporting evidence during a compliance audit.