mediumMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
CAS-004 Practice Question: Adopting a secure software development lifecycle…
A company is adopting a secure software development lifecycle (SDLC). Which two practices are most effective for identifying vulnerabilities early in the development process? (Select TWO.)
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the distinction between early-phase (SAST, code reviews) and late-phase (DAST, RASP, pentesting) security practices, and the trap here is that candidates may confuse DAST or RASP as 'early' because they are automated, when in fact they require a running application.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Regular code reviews with security focus
Options C and D are correct because both are early-phase security practices in the SDLC. Regular code reviews with a security focus (C) involve manual inspection of source code for logic flaws, injection vulnerabilities, and insecure design patterns, enabling detection before compilation or deployment. Static application security testing (SAST) integrated into the IDE (D) automatically scans source code for known vulnerability patterns, providing immediate feedback during development. Both practices target the coding phase, allowing early detection and remediation. In contrast, DAST, RASP, and penetration testing require a running application or occur post-deployment, making them late-phase practices.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Runtime application self-protection (RASP)
Why it's wrong here
RASP protects at runtime, not during development.
- ✗
Dynamic application security testing (DAST)
Why it's wrong here
DAST tests running applications, typically later in SDLC.
- ✓
Regular code reviews with security focus
Why this is correct
Code reviews can find logic flaws and security issues before build.
- ✓
Static application security testing (SAST) integrated into the IDE
Why this is correct
SAST scans source code during development, catching issues early.
- ✗
Penetration testing after deployment
Why it's wrong here
Penetration testing occurs late, after code is written.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every CAS-005 question from scratch — 968 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CAS-005 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CAS-005 exam.