CCSP Cloud Application Security Practice Question
A company is implementing a secure software development lifecycle (SSDLC) for its cloud-native applications. Which practice should be automated to detect vulnerabilities early in the development process?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the distinction between SAST (white-box, early) and DAST (black-box, late), and the trap here is that candidates mistakenly choose DAST because they confuse 'dynamic' with 'automated,' forgetting that DAST requires a running application and cannot detect vulnerabilities in source code.
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
✓
Static application security testing (SAST)
Static application security testing (SAST) analyzes source code, bytecode, or binaries without executing the application, making it ideal for early detection of vulnerabilities during the coding phase of the SSDLC. By integrating SAST into the CI/CD pipeline, developers receive immediate feedback on security flaws such as SQL injection or buffer overflows, enabling remediation before the code is built or deployed. This aligns with the 'shift left' principle, catching issues when they are cheapest and easiest to fix.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Static application security testing (SAST)
Why this is correct
SAST scans source code early in development, enabling early vulnerability detection.
- ✗
Penetration testing in production
Why it's wrong here
Penetration testing is typically performed later and is not automated in early stages.
- ✗
Dynamic application security testing (DAST)
Why it's wrong here
DAST is performed on running applications, which is later in the lifecycle.
- ✗
Manual code review
Why it's wrong here
Manual code review is not automated, though it can catch issues.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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