Enterprise DAST Platforms Compared: Accuracy, Automation, and Scale

As companies build more web applications and APIs, keeping everything secure becomes more difficult. New features are released all the time, so security tools need to keep up without slowing developers down.

That's where Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) comes in.

Instead of scanning your source code, DAST tests your application while it's running, similar to how a real attacker would. It helps find security issues before they become a bigger problem.

There are plenty of DAST tools available today, but they all work a little differently. Some focus on finding vulnerabilities as accurately as possible, while others make it easier to automate testing or manage security across a large number of applications.

To help you choose the right one, we've compared three of the best enterprise DAST platforms: Aikido Security, Invicti, and StackHawk.

Our Top Picks

1. Aikido Security

If you're looking for more than just a DAST scanner, Aikido is a great option. It combines DAST with API scanning, AI pentesting, SAST, SCA, and other security tools, so you can manage everything from one platform.

That means you don't have to jump between different products to test your applications, monitor APIs, and keep track of vulnerabilities.

Our Review

Key Features

● Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) for web applications and APIs.

● Automatic API discovery for REST and GraphQL endpoints.

● Authenticated scanning to test areas behind login pages.

● Integrates with popular developer tools and CI/CD pipelines.

What We Liked

● Combines DAST, API security, AI pentesting, SAST, SCA, and more in one platform.

● Automatically discovers REST and GraphQL APIs.

● Can scan parts of your application that require users to log in.

● Integrates with popular developer tools and CI/CD pipelines.

● Makes it easier to manage application security from one dashboard.

2. Invicti

Invicti is a well-known DAST platform that's designed to help organizations scan web applications and APIs on a large scale. One of its biggest strengths is Proof-Based Scanning, which helps verify many vulnerabilities before they're reported.

Our Review

Key Features

● Proof-Based Scanning to help verify vulnerabilities.

● Web application and API scanning.

● Scheduled and automated security scans.

● CI/CD integrations for continuous testing.

What We Liked

● Helps verify vulnerabilities before reporting them.

● Supports both web applications and APIs.

● Easy to automate with CI/CD pipelines.

● Good reporting for larger security teams.

● Strong focus on web application security.

Could Be Better

Mainly focuses on DAST, so teams looking for a broader security platform may need additional tools.

3. StackHawk

If your team wants to make security testing part of the development process, StackHawk is worth considering. It's designed to work closely with CI/CD pipelines, making it easy for developers to run DAST scans throughout development.

Our Review

Key Features

● Developer-friendly DAST for web applications and APIs.

● CI/CD integrations for automated testing.

● API security testing.

● Easy setup for modern development teams.

What We Liked

● Easy to add to CI/CD pipelines.

● Supports web applications and APIs.

● Simple setup for development teams.

● Encourages regular security testing during development.

● Good documentation and developer experience.

Could Be Better

Doesn't include as many application security features as an all-in-one platform like Aikido Security.

Conclusion

There's no shortage of good DAST tools, but the right one depends on what you're looking for.

If you want a platform that's focused only on DAST, Invicti and StackHawk are both worth considering. But if you'd rather have one platform that can handle DAST alongside API security, AI pentesting, SAST, SCA, and more, Aikido Security is probably the better long-term choice. It gives teams a broader set of security tools without adding more platforms to manage.