Why Regression Testing is So Important for Application Security Automation

It’s the reality that almost all applications we utilize and develop currently are constantly changing. The features are constantly modified or added as bugs are being addressed, and the last update has brought about a plethora of new bugs. It also opened a few that were resolved. Here we go again.

We’ve mastered the assembly line in the development of products Regression testing is one of the factors that allow us to do this. Each time the source code is changed and you run tests to test for any new bugs as well as old new bugs that could bring your application to a halt.

What does Regression Testing have to have to do with Application Security?

Okay, now is the time to go over some basic information — Regression testing is the process of testing software for bugs that were solved in previous iterations before the release. Its primary goal is to ensure that bugs that were addressed in previous releases, even if they were regressed, are discovered for the team working on development to address within the timeframe. Also, it is done to ensure that the modifications are working as planned and that the changes were not causing problems with functions that functioned correctly before the modifications.

But, historically, regression testing has been mostly limited to the performance and functional aspects of an app. However, changes to the source code don’t only impact the functionality of an application. They can also affect the security aspects of the application.

Let’s look at expanding the idea for regression into security. What happens if previously discovered vulnerabilities to security, both manually and automated, within an application are analyzed for regressions before release? It’s pretty cool, isn’t it?

Does Regression Testing necessary?

Absolutely! If you’d like to know why there are two reasons.

1. It enhances the effectiveness of security automation.

As organizations move to DevOps or Agile frameworks Applications undergo major changes to code throughout its brief development life cycle. Implementing security regressions together with an automated toolchain and existing QA automation frameworks can boost the test coverage of your application in leaps and leaps.

This means that the application doesn’t only function as it was designed to, but it also operates with security. This means that there is less chance that the app will malfunction or experience production delays, reducing the loss of business and reducing the time needed to address the issue when they are discovered later on.

2. It is not necessary to perform manual tests for bugs each time

Pen-Testers do not rely solely on automated tools for security checks, but they also spend hours examining deeply-rooted logic flaws which can not be found by point-and-click tools. Imagine the scenario where these vulnerabilities would be checked manually before each major update.

It’s not just difficult, but it’s also an absolute waste of human resources It’s straightforward. Automated security regressions help save vital time for penetration testers and can be put to greater use.