Qualys has introduced TotalAppSec, a cutting-edge AI-powered application risk management solution designed to assist organizations in monitoring and mitigating cyber risk stemming from critical web applications and APIs. This innovative platform aims to provide companies with a comprehensive view of their application security risk and posture by unifying API security, web application scanning, and web malware detection across a variety of environments, including on-premises, hybrid, and multi-cloud settings. By offering this consolidated approach to application risk management, Qualys TotalAppSec enables organizations to promptly assess and prioritize their most critical application risks enterprise-wide and streamline remediation efforts for more efficient risk reduction.
The prevalence of web applications and APIs has significantly altered the digital landscape and has become a major contributor to enterprise risk. According to the 2024 Verizon DBIR Report, breaches through web applications have remained the top entry point for cyber attacks, with a staggering 68% of breaches involving the human element and 32% leveraging ransomware attacks often delivered through compromised web applications and APIs. Security teams often struggle with fragmented and incomplete risk assessments, as traditional approaches treat application security as separate layers – web applications, APIs, and their supporting infrastructure. However, cyber adversaries are known to exploit vulnerabilities across these layers to maximize their impact, highlighting the need for a more cohesive and streamlined approach to application risk management.
Furthermore, existing siloed security tools often lack visibility into critical business information, threat intelligence, and do not adequately address vulnerabilities like API misconfigurations, Broken Object Level Authorization (BOLA), and sensitive data exposure. In response to these challenges, Qualys TotalAppSec leverages the power of the Qualys Enterprise TruRisk Platform to provide security teams with the ability to discover known, unknown, and shadow web applications and APIs for comprehensive visibility. Additionally, the solution detects critical vulnerabilities, including the OWASP Top 10 for web applications and OWASP API Top 10, to ensure robust protection against evolving cyber threats.
By harnessing advanced deep learning algorithms to identify and mitigate sophisticated malware threats, Qualys TotalAppSec offers accuracy and resilience against emerging risks, including zero-day exploits. The platform also features risk prioritization using Qualys’ proprietary TruRisk score, integrated CI/CD pipelines, and ITSM workflows with ServiceNow and JIRA, which automate vulnerability remediation processes and empower organizations to reduce their attack surface and secure web applications and APIs throughout the development lifecycle.
According to Katie Norton, a research manager at IDC specializing in DevSecOps and Software Supply Chain Security, “Enterprises are increasingly prioritizing the security of web applications and APIs as threats grow in complexity. Safeguarding these assets is now a fundamental requirement for maintaining trust and operational resilience. Solutions like Qualys TotalAppSec can help break down organizational silos between infrastructure, web applications, and API risk, providing the context and visibility security teams need to collaborate effectively. By delivering a holistic view of application security, teams can prioritize the most critical threats and take decisive action to mitigate risk more efficiently.”
Qualys TotalAppSec offers a range of robust capabilities in a single, AI-driven platform, including auto-discovery of every API and web application, simplified remediation with risk-based prioritization, advanced malware detection, ongoing compliance monitoring, and real-time feedback loops for rapid risk remediation. By consolidating these features, Qualys TotalAppSec provides comprehensive risk management across the entire application portfolio, enabling organizations to proactively address cyber threats and safeguard their critical assets effectively.
Sumedh Thakar, CEO of Qualys, emphasized the significance of APIs as the new attack surface for enterprises, noting the exponential growth of APIs in modern web applications. He stated, “TotalAppSec brings together our latest innovations in API security, deep-learning malware detection, and web application security to help security teams understand the business context with risk prioritization so the greatest risks can be addressed first.” Qualys TotalAppSec is set to be available in Q1 2025, offering organizations a powerful solution to enhance their application security posture and effectively manage cyber risks in today’s complex threat landscape.