What type of testing usually delivers more results and accuracy in security evaluations?

Static application security testing (SAST) is particularly effective in security evaluations for a few reasons. SAST analyzes the source code of applications without executing the program, allowing for the identification of vulnerabilities early in the development process. This proactive approach means that security issues can be detected and addressed before the application is even run, significantly reducing the potential for exploitation later on.

Furthermore, SAST tools can scan entire codebases, providing comprehensive coverage and making it easier to identify flaws that may be overlooked during runtime testing. The ability to evaluate code quality and security measures during the development phase helps developers adhere to secure coding practices.

Additionally, since SAST provides insights into the code structure, it allows teams to understand not only where vulnerabilities lie but also the potential impact and origin, thereby enhancing the overall accuracy of security evaluations.

In contrast, other methods like dynamic application security testing (DAST) and penetration testing depend on the application being in a running state, which can limit testing to only identified vulnerabilities at the time of testing, rather than giving a full scope of potential issues present in the codebase.