In the evolving landscape of application security, organizations face the challenge of securing an increasing number of applications against a multitude of risks. To address this issue, two emerging technologies have gained prominence: application security posture management (ASPM) and application security orchestration and correlation (ASOC). While both aim to protect applications, they differ in their approach and functionality.
ASPM tools are designed to continuously monitor, assess, and manage an organization’s application security landscape. They ensure that all applications comply with security best practices, meet regulatory requirements, and are resilient to threats. These tools provide visibility into the security status of applications across different environments, including development, testing, and production. Key components of ASPM include continuous tracking of security metrics, risk management based on vulnerability assessments, automation to detect and mitigate security issues, compliance with industry standards, and facilitating collaboration among development, security, and operations teams.
On the other hand, ASOC tools focus on integrating various security tools and processes to create a unified approach to application security monitoring. They prioritize monitoring attacks and threat surfaces over configuration issues and vulnerabilities. ASOC tools automate the coordination and management of security tools, aggregate and analyze data to identify patterns and prioritize vulnerabilities, provide centralized management for monitoring application security posture, streamline repetitive tasks through automation, prioritize risks based on correlated data, and seamlessly integrate with DevOps pipeline tools to ensure security throughout the software development lifecycle.
When deciding between ASPM and ASOC, organizations should consider their specific needs and priorities. ASPM is ideal for organizations that require continuous monitoring and validation of the security posture of their applications. It is particularly beneficial for organizations with a large number of public-facing apps, as it helps security operations teams stay informed about potential threats and maintain the desired configuration state. On the other hand, ASOC is more suitable for organizations that need comprehensive integration across vulnerability management, development, deployments, and operations.
It is worth noting that ASPM and ASOC technologies have some overlap, and there is a possibility of them converging into a unified tool in the future. They could also potentially integrate into security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) solutions or cloud-native application protection platforms. As the application security landscape continues to evolve, organizations will need to adapt and leverage the right tools and technologies to protect their applications effectively.
Dave Shackleford, a renowned expert in the field of cybersecurity, emphasized the importance of choosing the right tool for application security and highlighted the potential convergence of ASPM and ASOC technologies in the near future. With the increasing complexity of application security challenges, organizations must stay proactive and agile in their approach to safeguarding their applications against cyber threats.