Getting Started with SAST: A Complete Guide

Static Application Security Testing (SAST) is one of the most effective ways to catch security vulnerabilities early in the development cycle. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know to implement SAST in your workflow.

What is SAST?

SAST (Static Application Security Testing) analyzes your source code without executing it, identifying potential security vulnerabilities, code quality issues, and compliance violations. Unlike dynamic testing which requires a running application, SAST examines the codebase itself.

Step 1: Choose Your SAST Tool

The right SAST tool depends on your tech stack, team size, and security requirements. Popular options include:

• Semgrep: Fast, customizable, great for custom rules (our choice at ElevatedIQ)
• SonarQube: Comprehensive with quality metrics and security scanning
• Checkmarx: Enterprise-grade with extensive language support
• Snyk Code: Developer-first with excellent IDE integration

Step 2: Set Up Your First Scan

Let's walk through setting up Semgrep, which powers ElevatedIQ's SAST capabilities. Here's a basic configuration:

rules:
  - id: sql-injection
    pattern: |
      $DB.query($USER_INPUT)
    message: Potential SQL injection vulnerability
    severity: ERROR
    languages: [javascript, typescript, python]
    
  - id: hardcoded-secrets
    pattern-either:
      - pattern: password = "..."
      - pattern: api_key = "..."
    message: Hardcoded credential detected
    severity: WARNING
    languages: [javascript, python, java]

Step 3: Integrate with CI/CD

The real power of SAST comes from automating it in your CI/CD pipeline. Here's a GitHub Actions example:

name: Security Scan

on:
  push:
    branches: [main, develop]
  pull_request:
    branches: [main]

jobs:
  sast:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
      
      - name: Run SAST Scan
        run: |
          docker run --rm -v $(pwd):/src \
            returntocorp/semgrep semgrep \
            --config=auto \
            --sarif > results.sarif
      
      - name: Upload Results
        uses: github/codeql-action/upload-sarif@v2
        with:
          sarif_file: results.sarif

Step 4: Handle False Positives

No SAST tool is perfect. You'll encounter false positives—legitimate code flagged as vulnerable. Here's how to manage them:

1. Review Each Finding: Don't auto-dismiss; understand why it was flagged
2. Use Suppressions Wisely: Document why you're suppressing a finding
3. Tune Your Rules: Adjust severity and patterns for your codebase
4. Track Metrics: Monitor false positive rates and improve over time

Step 5: Establish a Remediation Process

Finding vulnerabilities is only half the battle. You need a clear process to fix them:

• Critical/High: Block deployment, fix immediately
• Medium: Create ticket, fix within sprint
• Low: Backlog for future improvement
• Informational: Document and monitor trends

Best Practices

ElevatedIQ's SAST Capabilities

At ElevatedIQ, we provide production-ready SAST scanning with:

• 81+ custom Semgrep rules covering OWASP Top 10
• SARIF output for native GitHub/GitLab integration
• HTML dashboards for non-technical stakeholders
• Zero-infrastructure—runs entirely on Google Cloud Platform
• Pay-per-scan pricing with no idle costs

Next Steps

• Read our SAST service overview
• Check out writing custom Semgrep rules
• Learn about GitHub Actions integration
• Explore transparent pricing