DAST Tools: Features, Capabilities & How to Evaluate Them

Static security checks are great, but they only tell you part of the story. Once your application is actually running, new risks emerge — misconfigurations, broken authentication, missing headers, API issues, and entire endpoints you didn’t even know existed. Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) tackles this problem by scanning your live application from the outside-in, the same way an attacker might.

If you need a refresher on SAST and how it compares, check out our guide on static code analysis.

Below, we break down the must-have and advanced features of a modern DAST tool, followed by a practical guide to choosing the right platform. We’ll wrap up with why Aikido’s Surface Monitoring DAST stands out.

Must-Have DAST Features & Capabilities

These are the essential capabilities every modern DAST tool should provide. If a solution lacks one of these, it’s likely to fall short in real-world situations.

Black-box, external testing

DAST tools should scan your application from the outside, without requiring source code. This provides a realistic view of vulnerabilities an attacker could actually reach. For an overview of attack types and testing methodologies, review the OWASP DAST home.

Comprehensive crawling & endpoint discovery

A strong DAST tool needs to detect everything your application exposes — pages, routes, APIs, forms, dynamic content, and even hidden or nested paths.

Real-world attack simulation

DAST should safely test for common vulnerabilities that appear at runtime, such as:

• Injection flaws
• XSS
• Broken access controls
• Misconfigurations
• Unsafe headers
• Error exposure

Static tools can’t reliably detect these in deployment environments. Learn more about common web app vulnerabilities in the OWASP Top 10.

Automatic attack surface mapping

Modern applications often have sprawling surface areas. A DAST tool must automatically discover and map:

• Domains
• Subdomains
• APIs
• Public endpoints
• Newly added or forgotten assets

You can’t secure what you don’t know you expose.

CI/CD integration & automated scanning

DAST should plug seamlessly into your workflows. Whether you scan post-deploy or run scheduled nightly scans, automation ensures coverage doesn’t require manual effort. For best practices on integrating security into CI/CD, see SANS' DevSecOps guidance.

Clear, actionable remediation guidance

Reports must be developer-friendly. A great DAST tool explains:

• What’s vulnerable
• Why it’s risky
• How to fix it
• How to prevent it

Clarity means faster, more confident remediation. For deeper remediation recommendations, check out our secure coding tips.

Low noise / accurate findings

Noise can ruin even the best tool. Effective DAST platforms validate findings where possible and avoid spamming developers with false alarms or vague warnings.

Advanced / Nice-to-Have DAST Features

These features go beyond baseline scanning. They make a DAST tool more effective, more accurate, and easier to fit into a modern engineering workflow.

Scheduled scans & continuous monitoring

Your application changes frequently. Automated recurring scans help catch new vulnerabilities as soon as they appear.

SPA & modern front-end support

Apps aren’t just server-rendered pages anymore. A modern DAST tool should handle:

• Single-page applications
• JS-heavy front-ends
• Client-side routing
• Dynamic content rendering

API-first support (REST, GraphQL, custom flows)

APIs are often the real attack surface. Advanced DAST tools understand and test:

• Token-based authentication
• API schemas
• GraphQL routes
• JSON-based interactions

Attack surface management (ASM) capabilities

Some DAST platforms include built-in ASM features, such as:

• Asset discovery
• Subdomain enumeration
• Exposure visibility
• Monitoring for new risks

This provides a broader defensive picture. For trends in ASM and threat intelligence, see NVD's vulnerability database.

Proof-based findings

Instead of “possible vulnerability,” modern tools validate issues to avoid false positives. This increases confidence and reduces wasted time.

Workflow and alerting integration

Teams benefit from tools that automatically push findings into Slack, Teams, Jira, or PR comments — ensuring nothing slips through the cracks.

Multi-environment support

The ability to safely scan development, staging, or production environments makes a DAST tool far more useful across release pipelines.

Scalability for multi-app organizations

As your application footprint grows, you need:

• Multi-project support
• RBAC
• Centralized reporting
• Team workspaces
• Policy management

How to Choose the Right DAST Tool for Your Team

Use this decision-making framework to narrow things down:

1. Evaluate your application architecture

Front-end heavy? API-driven? Microservices?
Choose a tool built to handle your actual technology landscape.

2. Prioritize automation

Manual DAST workflows rarely survive long-term. Look for scheduled scans, CI/CD triggers, and low-setup automation options.

3. Test accuracy & noise levels

During a trial, watch for:

• Redundant findings
• Timeout-based “vulnerabilities”
• Speculative alerts
• Missed exposures

Accuracy is more important than volume.

4. Assess developer experience

Clear messaging, practical fixes, and integration into dev tools make adoption smoother and shorten remediation time.

5. Think about platform consolidation

Security teams increasingly prefer a unified platform that includes SAST, DAST, SCA, secrets scanning, container scanning, and more — instead of stitching together multiple vendors.

Why Aikido Is One of the Strongest DAST Options Today

Aikido’s Surface Monitoring DAST combines modern attack-surface discovery with runtime vulnerability scanning. It’s designed not just to test your application — but to understand everything you expose.

Here’s what sets it apart:

Automatic attack surface discovery

Aikido continuously identifies domains, subdomains, URLs, APIs, and exposed assets — even ones you may have forgotten. This closes blind spots before attackers find them.

Strong runtime scanning for modern applications

Aikido handles:

• SPAs
• REST & GraphQL APIs
• Token-based authentication
• Dynamic front-ends

This allows deeper coverage where legacy tools fall short.

Fast, safe scanning

Aikido’s DAST is designed to be lightweight and production-safe, making it suitable for frequent or continuous scanning.

High-confidence, low-noise findings

Findings are validated where possible and written specifically for developers, reducing back-and-forth and accelerating remediation.

Full-stack security in one platform

Aikido offers:

• DAST
• SAST
• Software Composition Analysis
• Secrets detection
• Container scanning
• IaC scanning

Having all security checks in one place means easier onboarding, fewer blind spots, and simpler reporting.

Final Thoughts

DAST gives you the real attacker’s perspective: what your application exposes and how it behaves once deployed. It catches the runtime issues static tools overlook and ensures your external surface stays secure as your application evolves.

Whether you’re securing a monolith, a fleet of microservices, or API-first applications, look for a DAST tool that offers strong discovery, accurate findings, and smooth automation. If you want a modern solution built for real-world engineering, Aikido’s Surface Monitoring DAST is one of the best options to evaluate.

DAST Comparison Table

Tools compared: Aikido Security, OWASP ZAP, Acunetix