Application security management (ASM)

Application security management (ASM) is a systematic approach to protecting software applications throughout their entire lifecycle — from design and development to deployment, maintenance, and retirement. It encompasses the policies, processes, tools, and controls used to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate security vulnerabilities and risks within applications. Key practices include secure coding, threat modeling, security testing (such as SAST, DAST, and SCA), continuous monitoring, and incident response planning.

Effective ASM integrates security seamlessly into the software development process, often through a DevSecOps methodology, ensuring that security is not an afterthought but a core component of every development phase. By embedding security assessments across the application pipeline and enforcing adherence to regulatory compliance frameworks, organizations significantly reduce their attack surface, prevent data breaches and unauthorized access, and maintain the integrity and resilience of their digital services against evolving cyber threats.