IBM implements static analysis in AppScan update



Email    print   
September 23, 2008 —  IBM has released two new editions of its Rational AppScan security product to integrate security into the development and build stages of the software life cycle.

Rational AppScan Developer Edition (DE) and Rational AppScan Build Edition, released yesterday, give developers a “finite list” of vulnerabilities. They also integrate into IDEs like Rational Application Developer and Eclipse, according to IBM executives.

The integration feature of Rational AppScan DE makes it easier than using a separate product or scan. David Grant, director of marketing for IBM Rational’s security solutions, said it’s like a spell-checker built into those environments. It generates reports as actionable task lists instead of detailed vulnerability reports to help fix issues faster. The edition also integrates with Rational AppScan’s Reporting Console to provide Web-based reporting.

IBM executives claimed Rational AppScan DE is the first industry product to include static analysis, black box testing, runtime analysis and string analysis.

String analysis focuses on resolving false positives, which IBM said is the biggest challenge plaguing current security code scanning solutions. It is a patent-pending technique that brings automation to code analysis.

Until now, the most advanced technique for analyzing code security was taint analysis, which tracked input values through the system but relied on the developer to determine if the data was properly analyzed, IBM said. String analysis, however, automates code analysis configuration to help eliminate false positives.

“If you think about the problem with code testing for security, at least, you need a knowledge of both code and security,” Grant said. “String analysis is a form of static testing that gives the user more understanding of the application, and [it] automates more of the discovery of the application and the actual scan test configuration so that you’re not leaving [it] in the hands of the developer having to know how to tweak a test or scan before actually running the test.”

Rational AppScan Build Edition, meanwhile, embeds Web application security testing into build management in order to automate security testing. It is focused on finding vulnerabilities early in the development life cycle, and like Developer Edition, combines multiple analysis techniques for scanning, according to IBM. Build Edition can also automate application vulnerability scanning and do things like JavaScript execution and Web Service testing.

“When the build runs, whether it be nightly or weekly, we can test for security issues as part of that build automation, and then reject the build or send back the issues to developers,” Grant said. “They can then open AppScan DE within the IDE and fix those tickets and issues.”




Related Search Term(s): ALM, security, IBM


Share this link: http://sdt.bz/32889
 
Most Read Latest News Blog Resources

Add comment


Name*
Email*  
Country     


  • Comment
Loading




close
NEXT ARTICLE
Cigital Develops Ready-to-Use Tools for Securing the Smart Grid
Cigital Inc. announced the release of the Guide to Developing a Cyber Security and Risk Mitigation Plan Read More...
 
 
 
 
News on Monday
more>>
SharePoint Tech Report
more>>


   

 
 

Download Current Issue
FEBRUARY 2012 PDF ISSUE

Need Back Issues?
DOWNLOAD HERE

Want to subscribe?


 
blogs tab
Are you at risk for burnout?
Burnout is a severe problem and it can strike at any time. Here's how to tell if you are nearing the edge.
02/09/2012 02:16 PM EST

Agility, mom, and apple pie
If we're to evaluate the state-of-the-art in software development, we should start with the values espoused in the Agile Manifesto.
02/07/2012 11:57 AM EST

RIM woos developers with free tablet
How do you get more apps ported to the BlackBerry PlayBook? By giving every developer a free tablet, of course!
02/04/2012 01:57 PM EST

GitHire: Use Headhunters to Find Your Perfect Programmer
Are you a hiring manager tired of scouring the job boards? Check out this new service that will find 5 people interested in your jobs.
02/03/2012 12:17 PM EST

Facebook claims hacker cred
Facebook's SEC S-1 filing form includes a short essay on the Hacker Way by Mark Zuckerberg himself.
02/02/2012 08:26 AM EST

Ryan Dahl steps down
Ryan Dahl, creator of Node.js, steps back from his position as gatekeeper for the project.
02/01/2012 04:58 PM EST

 
Events calendar tab
2/13/2012 to 2/16/2012
Santa Clara
TechWeb

2/26/2012 to 2/29/2012
San Francisco
BZ Media

2/27/2012 to 3/2/2012
San Francisco
RSA

3/4/2012 to 3/7/2012
Las Vegas
IBM Tivoli

3/5/2012 to 3/9/2012
San Francisco
TechWeb