Securing software early in the development lifecycle is essential but not always straightforward. Static application security testing (SAST) tools are often the first port of call, designed to catch vulnerabilities in source code before it’s even compiled. But with so many options available and so much variance in the results they deliver, knowing how to select the right SAST scanner can make or break your AppSec program.

Whether you’re building a new security stack or re-evaluating your existing tooling, this guide outlines how to choose a SAST solution that aligns with your goals, and why pairing static testing with proof-based DAST from Invicti can transform how your team handles application security.

What SAST is—and isn’t

SAST tools analyze application source code or binaries to identify security weaknesses like injection flaws, hardcoded credentials, or insecure data handling. This analysis happens early in the software development lifecycle (SDLC) and doesn’t require a running application, making SAST an important shift-left control.

However, while SAST can flag suspicious patterns, it does not simulate real-world attacks. It doesn’t account for runtime behavior, API exposure, deployment configurations, or how external components interact with live environments. It’s valuable, but used on its own, it’s incomplete and noisy.

Why choosing the right SAST tool matters more than ever

Enterprise development isn’t just about writing code, it’s about writing secure, scalable code at speed. The wrong SAST tool can overwhelm teams with false positives, create integration headaches, and ultimately slow delivery. The right tool, however, fits seamlessly into dev workflows, catches critical issues early, and lays the groundwork for effective vulnerability management in combination with other security testing methodologies.

The benefits of using SAST tools

• Catching issues early in the SDLC: SAST supports shift-left strategies by detecting insecure coding patterns during development. This should allow teams to fix issues before they reach staging or production, where they’re more costly and risky to address.
• Enforcing secure coding practices: SAST helps standardize how developers handle input validation, encryption, session management, and other core security practices. This is especially valuable in organizations with distributed teams or varying code quality.
• Compliance and internal policy alignment: Many regulatory standards, including PCI DSS, HIPAA, and ISO 27001, require secure development practices. SAST reports support audit readiness and demonstrate secure coding at scale.

Core features to evaluate in a SAST scanner

SAST scanners range from simpler open-source and bundled tools to heavyweight dedicated solutions, so it’s important to look at the available capabilities as they apply to your specific needs.

Language and framework support

Choose a tool that supports your current tech stack, and anticipate future needs. Coverage for multiple languages and modern frameworks is essential for enterprise agility since, unlike DAST, SAST is not tech-agnostic.

Integration with developer tools and CI/CD

Look for solutions that integrate natively with IDEs, version control systems, CI/CD pipelines, and issue trackers that your teams already use, plan to adopt, or can easily add. This reduces friction and encourages adoption across developer teams.

Precision and false positive rates

High false positive rates can erode trust in security tools. While SAST tools are inherently more noisy than dynamic testing, there are ways to deal with that. Evaluate whether the scanner offers tunable rulesets, context-aware analysis, or machine learning to improve accuracy.

Support for modern dev environments and architectures

If you’re using containers, serverless functions, or microservices, your SAST tool should support scanning these architectures, or at least provide compatible outputs.

Remediation guidance and developer enablement

Effective SAST tools shouldn’t just point out problems but help solve them effectively. Look for contextual explanations, code samples, and links to documentation that assist developers in fixing issues fast.

Limitations and risks of relying solely on SAST

• Lack of runtime context = noise: SAST doesn’t see the full application environment. It can flag issues that aren't exploitable or miss those that arise only at runtime, such as broken access controls in APIs.
• No validation of exploitability: Without dynamic testing, there’s no way to know whether a finding is actionable. This leads to bloated backlogs and remediation efforts wasted on non-issues.
• Alert fatigue and developer friction: Excessive false positives can overwhelm teams and slow adoption. Developers begin to ignore or distrust security findings, weakening the entire AppSec process.

Why pairing SAST with proof-based DAST is essential

Having a SAST tool under your belt provides you with some measure of security testing from the moment a piece of code is first written. When you’re building on an enterprise scale, though, you need a fact-checker for your noisy static tests, and a good DAST makes all the difference.

DAST finds real, exploitable issues

While SAST looks at code in theory, DAST sees how your applications behave in reality. It simulates actual attacks against running apps to not only show which SAST findings are actually valid but also detect vulnerabilities that only surface at runtime.

Proof-based DAST eliminates guesswork

The best DAST tools can automatically verify vulnerabilities with safe exploits that mimic real-world techniques so you know which issues are definitely real and exploitable. This drastically reduces false positives and accelerates remediation.

Full-surface coverage—what static alone can’t reach

From APIs and SPAs to dynamic dependencies, an advanced DAST provides dynamic visibility across your entire application surface. This complements SAST’s code-level focus with real-world testing at scale.

How Invicti’s DAST-first platform complements your SAST investment

Invicti offers the world’s best DAST scanning but also far more than that. Instead of a standalone scanner, you get a full integrated platform for application security testing and posture management. And if you don’t have a SAST yet, that’s also available via a Mend.io partner integration.

Unified AppSec visibility across DAST, SAST, SCA, and more

Invicti brings together dynamic scanning, static analysis, software composition analysis (SCA), API security, and container security in one platform. By integrating SAST insights, it helps centralize risk management and streamline reporting.

Developer-centric workflows and automated validation

With integrations into JIRA, GitHub, GitLab, Jenkins, and more, Invicti enables seamless handoffs and automated ticketing. Each issue is verified, prioritized, and packaged with actionable remediation guidance.

Risk-based prioritization and remediation efficiency

By focusing on exploitable issues, Invicti empowers security teams to allocate resources based on real risk, not just scan volume. This reduces backlog bloat and improves time-to-fix metrics. Predictive Risk Scoring is also included to prioritize security work before scanning even begins.

Conclusion: Choose smart, validate continuously, prioritize what matters

SAST is an important foundation for any secure SDLC, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. For AppSec programs to be effective at scale, you need tools that don’t just find issues but validate and prioritize them with clarity and confidence.

Invicti bridges the gap with proof-based DAST, full-surface coverage, and seamless integration into your existing workflows, making it the ideal complement to your SAST strategy.

Ready to see how Invicti can strengthen your AppSec program?

Schedule a demo to learn how Invicti helps enterprises move beyond static analysis and take action on real risk.

Checklist for evaluating SAST scanners

Here’s a quick-reference checklist to guide your SAST selection process:

Evaluation criteriaKey questions to askLanguage supportDoes it cover all the languages and frameworks in your stack?Dev tool integrationCan it integrate with your IDEs, version control, and CI/CD pipelines?AccuracyWhat is the false positive rate, and how is it minimized?Modern dev supportDoes it support containers, microservices, and cloud-native workflows?Developer enablementDoes it offer clear remediation guidance and learning resources?Validation strategyCan findings be verified dynamically through DAST integration?Reporting & complianceDoes it support your audit and policy requirements?

Checklist for evaluating SAST scanners