Application Security Tool Overview: Netsparker vs. StackHawk

Choosing between application security testing tools like Netsparker and StackHawk can be challenging due to their distinct approaches to security testing. StackHawk is designed for integration into continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, enabling developers to quickly identify and rectify security vulnerabilities during the development process. This tool supports a developer-first workflow, allowing developers to triage and fix issues with immediate context, which can lead to increased efficiency and quicker resolution of vulnerabilities. In contrast, Netsparker is more suited for periodic scans of production applications, with vulnerabilities being reviewed and managed by security teams before being integrated into the broader engineering workflow. This approach can result in vulnerabilities being exposed for longer periods, but it allows security teams to maintain control over the triage process. The choice between these tools largely depends on an organization's security and engineering culture, with StackHawk favoring teams that embrace DevSecOps and developer empowerment, while Netsparker aligns with traditional security team-led processes.