Application Security & Tools Mastery: The SAST/DAST + API Security + OWASP + STRIDE Checklist I Used Across Production Microservices and Audits
Application security is where theory meets production reality. At MotionPoint I designed and executed security testing for a large microservices-based website translation platform, integrated security into Agile SDLC, and helped pass PCI DSS and HIPAA audits. At SWBC I led secure design reviews of APIs and services, embedding DevSecOps practices and reducing risk through Nessus, Burp Suite, and manual reviews. At Citrix I managed Fortify static analysis and manual code reviews for core products.
Here is the exact practical checklist I still use today to ship secure applications fast while staying audit-ready.
1. Threat Modeling First (STRIDE)
- Run STRIDE threat modeling on every new service or major change (Spoofing, Tampering, Repudiation, Information Disclosure, Denial of Service, Elevation of Privilege)
- Document threats and map them to specific controls
- Use simple one-page templates — I still do this in every architecture review
2. SAST + DAST Integration into CI/CD
- Snyk (after migrating from Veracode) for code and dependency scanning in every PR
- Burp Suite or OWASP ZAP for automated DAST in staging
- Fail builds on Critical/High findings; auto-create Jira tickets for Medium
- Combine with Trivy for IaC and container scanning (ties into supply chain pillar)
3. API Security Hardening
- Enforce OAuth 2.0 + OIDC with short-lived tokens and proper scopes
- API Gateway authorizers + request validation + WAF rules
- Rate limiting, input sanitization, and schema validation on every endpoint
- Regular Burp Suite scans + manual design reviews for auth bypass and injection risks
4. OWASP Top 10 in Daily Practice
- Treat OWASP Top 10 as a living checklist in code reviews and design sessions
- Focus on the big ones in 2026: Broken Access Control, Cryptographic Failures, Injection, Insecure Design, and Supply Chain attacks
- Create internal secure coding guidelines and developer training modules (I built these at SWBC)
5. Tooling, Measurement & Culture
- Single pane of glass: Snyk + Security Hub + Jira
- Track metrics: Vulnerability density, mean time to remediate, % of PRs with security gates passed
- Make security part of Definition of Done and run monthly “secure code dojo” sessions
Free Instant Download
I compiled everything into a ready-to-use Application Security Playbook:
- STRIDE + OWASP checklist template
- SAST/DAST CI/CD pipeline diagram I actually implemented
- Secure API Design Review Checklist (with Burp Suite tips)
→ Download the 2026 Application Security & Tools Playbook + Templates (Free) (no email gate for now)
The matching high-resolution Secure SDLC + SAST/DAST Architecture Diagram (showing the full flow across all pillars) is available in the Visual Library.
What’s next? In the coming weeks I’ll publish:
- How all seven pillars come together in one Secure SDLC pipeline
- Secure integration patterns for Amazon Bedrock & Q Business
- My personal Snyk/Dependabot correlation tool deep dive
Bookmark this page — this eighth post completes the full foundational series covering my complete expertise.
Have a specific application security challenge (API auth patterns, STRIDE for microservices, SAST tool comparison, OWASP in Flutter/Firebase, etc.)? Drop it in the comments or reach out on the Contact page. Popular requests become dedicated guides.
— Alex Petrovic AWS Certified Security – Specialty Cloud Security Architect & Secure SDLC Practitioner
