Your firewall protects your applications and network from threats to network security by blocking malicious traffic. However, what if the threats originate internally? And what if they occur during application runtime?
In those situations, you need a self-protection layer at the application level to detect anomalies and prevent cyber attacks. Runtime application self-protection (RASP) software offers exactly this.
Runtime application self-protection (RASP) is a technology that keeps applications safe during runtime by analyzing behavior and spotting anomalies. It works inside the application rather than at network boundaries like firewalls.
RASP adds security checks to app environments and uses sensors in its code to recognize suspicious exploitation attempts. These attempts can be structured query language (SQL) injection or cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.
When RASP software detects a threat, it automatically ends a user’s session, blocks harmful requests, or notifies security teams to investigate. Changes in the code aren't required for RASP to function. It allows teams to update or move applications to different platforms, like moving an app from on-site servers to the cloud.
RASP understands applications’ behavior better than other tools. It can minimize false positives and effectively differentiate between real threats and careless authorized user actions. In this way, it keeps security teams focused on their most critical problems.
RASP expands the limitations of intrusion prevention systems (IPS) and web application firewalls (WAF). These tools inspect and analyze network traffic, but they don’t examine how applications process traffic and data within it. It leaves a gap in security since there is a lack of visibility.
RASP resides within the application’s runtime environment. It examines hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) requests, which may be harmless for one app, but devastating for another. Moreover, RASP analyzes data within the application because it might look different in transit.
Modern applications use protocols beyond HTTP. For example, JavaScript generates WebSocket in browsers or mobile apps. RASP works well with diverse protocols.
In the same way, modern apps work with dynamic environments like containers, infrastructure as a service (IaaS), or platform as a service (PaaS). RASP secures applications in these environments while keeping up with the pace of DevOps integration, deployment, and delivery.
RASP validates data requests directly within applications. It gives you visibility into and protection against threats as they block attacks.
Whenever there’s a security incident, RASP takes control to address the problem. It alerts security teams with regard to potential threats in diagnostic mode and stops the threat when its solution goes into protection mode.
For example, RASP can stop detected SQL injection attacks and alert relevant human teams about the breach.
RASP bundles with a web application firewall (WAF) to secure networks with context on an application’s runtime. In this way, you can fine-tune security for each application’s specific needs. Developers can involve RASP in function calls in source code or as a wrapper to secure applications with a single button push.
RASP’s flexibility allows developers to integrate it into various applications, making it a versatile security tool. However, some use cases for RASP are more commonly seen, such as:
RASP and WAF are both critical security technologies, and while they have overlapping functions, they work in different ways to protect applications. Here's how they can complement each other:
A WAF sits at the edge of the network, filtering and blocking malicious traffic before it reaches the application. It primarily focuses on defending against external threats such as SQL injection, XSS, and other OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities. In contrast, RASP operates within the application, providing real-time protection by monitoring and responding to threats as they occur during runtime. This layered approach ensures comprehensive protection against both external and internal threats.
While a WAF can prevent certain types of attacks from reaching the application, it can't always detect sophisticated, application-specific vulnerabilities that attackers may exploit once inside the system. RASP, operating within the application, can identify and mitigate these attacks in real-time, such as those targeting vulnerabilities that the WAF may not fully block.
A WAF typically blocks or allows traffic based on predefined rules, which can sometimes result in false positives or missed threats if the rules are not properly configured. RASP, on the other hand, can automatically detect and mitigate attacks in real time without blocking legitimate traffic. For example, RASP can stop an exploit attempt by blocking a malicious function call or altering the application’s behavior to neutralize the threat.
RASP provides deep visibility into the application’s behavior, generating alerts and logs for detailed forensic analysis. It can capture the specifics of an attack, including the exact point of exploitation and the impact on the application. A WAF offers a more general view of web traffic and threats. Together, they provide a broader picture of potential vulnerabilities and attacks, aiding in incident response and troubleshooting.
RASP can offer adaptive protection, adjusting its behavior based on real-time threat intelligence within the application. For example, if it detects a new attack vector, it can adapt its defenses on the fly. A WAF, while capable of updates, typically relies on signature-based defenses and may need manual updates to respond to new threats.
RASP uses contextual information from application runtime to look for anomalies and damaging behavior. This context helps teams protect applications more broadly and accurately.
Below are some more benefits you can expect when you set up RASP.
While RASP offers many benefits, it also has some challenges when it comes to app performance, integrations, and resource consumption. Take a look at some of these notable RASP challenges.
RASP tools integrate into applications' runtime environments and provide continuous protection against attacks from within the app. Companies use RASP to add a self-protection layer that complements other security measures, like WAFs.
To be included in the RASP software list, a product must:
These are the leading RASP software tools from G2’s Fall 2024 Grid® Report. Some reviews might have been edited for clarity.
Dynatrace’s RASP solution offers security directly into each app’s runtime environment and details insights into security issues. It helps developers quickly fix vulnerabilities and keeps applications secure in dynamic environments like hybrid or cloud infrastructures.
“The product works very well and does exactly as advertised. You can easily build a dashboard from system data to know exactly what is happening in your systems.”
- Dynatrace Review, Matt M.
“Feeling like experimentation is costly. With DDU cost and especially data query language (DQL) queries cost, it makes learning how to best use them feel dangerous and costly. Trial and error is a great way to learn, but it can really burn the money with Dynatrace.”
- Dynatrace Review, Nicholas W.
Appdome is a no-code mobile app security platform that offers RASP capabilities to safeguard mobile applications from real-time threats. By integrating RASP directly into the app’s code during the development process, Appdome provides a dynamic layer of security that works during runtime to detect and block attacks.
"One of the things I appreciate most about Appdome is how seamlessly it integrates with our applications. The implementation process is intuitive, and it offers a wide range of features tailored to mobile device security. While we encountered a few challenges during the integration, the support team went above and beyond to help resolve them. They were proactive in troubleshooting, even assisting with tasks like opening an account at Unicred, despite the capital quota requirements. Since the integration stabilized, we’ve been using the tool frequently with minimal issues."
- Appdome Review, Michel P.
"The interface for manual builds can be complex due to the wide range of features available. While this provides great functionality, it can be challenging for those who are new to the platform."
- Appdome Review, Neil R.
APP Shielding continuously monitors application behavior and detects any unusual activity, blocking attacks in real time. It safeguards company applications from cyber attacks without sacrificing user experience.
“APP Shielding provides best-in-class features for protecting mobile apps against various types of fraudulent acts, social engineering attacks, and various other threats with the convenience of easy implementation.
The application can be easily integrated and configured to be automated.”
- APP Shielding Review, Prashanth A.
“The integration process is intricate and time-consuming, posing problems for developers. The software lacks user documentation, making navigation and understanding its capabilities somewhat difficult.”
- APP Shielding Review, Philip T.
Contrast Security gives yo detailed insights into security vulnerabilities so your developers can address issues fast and accurately. It’s particularly effective for businesses that are seeking to improve their security posture without a lot of manual intervention.
“Contrast allows us to test an application during runtime, which reduces the number of false positives we have to deal with in traditional static application security testing (SAST) scans. Interactive application security testing (IAST) combines SAST and dynamic application security testing (DAST) into one platform as it identifies the issues in open-source libraries and custom code. The integrations are easy and don't consume more system resources to run the agent. The sales, management, and support team have the customer-first approach; their support is amazing, and they cater to your needs.”
- Contrast Security Review, Kiran S.
“It would be really useful to get some kind of log for the vulnerabilities that were closed as remediated/fixed/not a problem to know why contrast reopened them as reported status.”
- Contrast Security Review, Natasha M.
DexGuard is designed specifically to enhance the security of Android applications by providing robust RASP capabilities. It integrates directly into the app’s code, offering real-time protection against various threats during runtime, particularly for mobile applications.
“As a user of DexGuard, I find it to be an outstanding security solution for my Android app. It provides robust protection for both my app's data and code, ensuring its security and reliability. Additionally, the customer support is exceptional – they are always easy to reach and responsive to any inquiries."
- DexGuard Review, Shubhra M.
"A more user-friendly interface would greatly improve the overall experience and make the platform more accessible, especially for users focused on app protection."
- DexGuard Review, Harshita T.
RASP continuously monitors your apps in real-time, detecting and stopping attacks as they happen. It analyzes each app’s behavior and automatically blocks threats without triggering false alarms. This precision ensures that your applications run smoothly without interruptions, allowing security teams to focus on broader cybersecurity efforts.
Furthermore, RASP provides deep insights into potential vulnerabilities, offering proactive protection against new and emerging threats. Its seamless integration helps strengthen your app's defence without slowing down performance, giving you peace of mind that your applications are secure at all times.
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