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What are the security testing methods for cloud-native applications?

Created on 2025-07-25 18:16:42
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Security testing methods for cloud-native applications include:

  1. Static Application Security Testing (SAST)

    • Analyzes source code, bytecode, or binaries for vulnerabilities without executing the program.
    • Example: Scanning containerized application code for hardcoded secrets or insecure API calls.
    • Tencent Cloud Recommendation: Use CodeScan for automated code security analysis.

  2. Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)

    • Tests running applications by simulating attacks to find runtime vulnerabilities.
    • Example: Checking an exposed Kubernetes API endpoint for misconfigurations.
    • Tencent Cloud Recommendation: Leverage Web Application Firewall (WAF) to detect and block runtime threats.

  3. Container Security Scanning

    • Examines container images for vulnerabilities in OS packages, libraries, or dependencies.
    • Example: Scanning a Docker image for CVEs before deploying it to a Kubernetes cluster.
    • Tencent Cloud Recommendation: Use TCR (Tencent Container Registry) with built-in image vulnerability scanning.

  4. Kubernetes Security Posture Management (KSPM)

    • Assesses cluster configurations, RBAC policies, and network rules for risks.
    • Example: Auditing whether default namespaces have overly permissive access.
    • Tencent Cloud Recommendation: TKE (Tencent Kubernetes Engine) provides security hardening guides and compliance checks.

  5. Penetration Testing

    • Simulates real-world attacks to identify weaknesses in cloud-native components.
    • Example: Testing service mesh (e.g., Istio) for misconfigured mTLS policies.

  6. Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM)

    • Reviews IAM roles and permissions to prevent privilege escalation.
    • Example: Ensuring no cloud account has unnecessary Admin access.
    • Tencent Cloud Recommendation: Use CAM (Cloud Access Management) with least-privilege principles.

  7. Fuzz Testing

    • Sends random or malformed inputs to APIs or services to uncover crashes or bugs.
    • Example: Fuzzing a serverless function’s JSON payload handler.

  8. Compliance Scanning

    • Validates adherence to standards like CIS Benchmarks or GDPR.
    • Example: Checking if a cloud-native app logs user actions for auditability.

Tencent Cloud Services: Tencent Cloud Security Center, TCR, TKE, and WAF provide integrated security for cloud-native workloads.