How can we effectively integrate SAST and DAST into our Jenkins CI CD pipeline without delays?
Our engineering team is struggling with significant bottlenecks after integrating Static Application Security Testing (SAST) and Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) into our Jenkins pipelines. Every time we trigger a build, the automated security scans take nearly forty minutes to complete, which is completely killing our deployment frequency. We want to achieve a true shift-left security posture, but right now, it feels like security is just a gatekeeper slowing down our CI/CD flow. Are there specific strategies or tool configurations that allow for faster feedback loops without compromising on vulnerability detection? We are currently using SonarQube for static analysis and OWASP ZAP for dynamic checks, but the wait times are becoming a major point of friction between the Dev and Sec teams.
2024-05-14 in Software Development by Michael Henderson
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All answers to this question.
To mitigate pipeline friction, you should implement "incremental scanning" for SAST and "API-driven targeted scans" for DAST. Instead of running a full repository scan on every commit, configure SonarQube to analyze only the changed files during the Pull Request stage. For DAST, running a full crawl with OWASP ZAP on every build is overkill; try using a baseline scan for active branches and reserve the full attack surface scans for weekly or pre-release stages. Additionally, consider offloading these scans to asynchronous workers or parallel Jenkins agents so the build isn't blocked.
Answered 2024-05-14 by Sarah Jenkins
Have you looked into using "build breakers" specifically for critical vulnerabilities only, while allowing low-severity issues to be logged for later review? This keeps the flow moving while maintaining safety.
Answered 2024-05-16 by Robert Miller
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That’s a great point, Robert. We actually implemented a tiered threshold where only 'Critical' or 'High' CVEs stop the pipeline. For everything else, the build passes, but a ticket is automatically generated in Jira for the developer to address in the next sprint. This reduced our "failed build" frustration by about 60% while still keeping security visible.
Commented 2024-05-17 by David Thompson
We solved this by moving our DAST scans out of the main CI pipeline and into the CD staging environment. It ensures the app is running in a real state without slowing down the initial build.
Answered 2024-05-18 by Linda Carter
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I agree with Linda. Running DAST on every commit is usually unnecessary. Moving it to the staging phase allows for a more comprehensive scan in a production-like environment without impacting developer productivity.
Commented 2024-05-19 by Michael Henderson
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