Acunetix - Detailed Review
Developer Tools
Acunetix - Product Overview
Acunetix Overview
Acunetix is a comprehensive web application security solution that plays a crucial role in the Developer Tools category, particularly in ensuring the security of web applications, websites, and APIs.Primary Function
The primary function of Acunetix is to identify and remediate vulnerabilities in web applications. It automates the process of scanning for over 7,000 web vulnerabilities, including common attacks like SQL Injections and Cross-site Scripting (XSS), as well as checking for misconfigurations, unpatched software, weak passwords, and exposed databases.Target Audience
Acunetix is primarily used by companies with a significant online presence, particularly those in the Information Technology and Services industry. The user base includes companies of various sizes, but it is most commonly used by medium to large-sized organizations with revenues exceeding $1 billion. Key users include IT security teams, developers, and auditors who need to manage and secure multiple web applications and websites.Key Features
Ease of Use and Speed
Acunetix boasts a user-friendly interface that allows users to start scanning in just a few clicks. It is built with a C scanning engine, making it one of the fastest solutions on the market. The tool verifies newly detected vulnerabilities to minimize false positives, saving time and resources.Advanced Scanning Technologies
Acunetix employs unique technologies such as AcuMonitor and AcuSensor. AcuSensor combines black box scanning with feedback from sensors placed inside the source code, providing accurate vulnerability detection with less false positives. This technology supports PHP, .NET, and JAVA web applications.Integration and Automation
Acunetix integrates seamlessly with various development and operational tools like Jira, Jenkins, GitHub, GitLab, and more. This allows for automatic vulnerability scanning during the Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) process, ensuring vulnerabilities are detected and remediated early in the development cycle.Multi-User and Access Management
The tool offers multi-user capabilities with horizontal and vertical access rights management. Users can be assigned different roles such as admin, tester, and auditor, allowing for controlled access to different targets and functions.Reporting and Compliance
Acunetix provides detailed vulnerability assessment reports and supports the generation of executive, developer, and compliance reports (e.g., HIPAA, PCI-DSS, ISO/IEC 27001). This helps in tracking the security state over time and measuring improvements.Conclusion
In summary, Acunetix is a powerful tool for web application security, offering fast and accurate vulnerability scanning, seamless integration with development tools, and comprehensive reporting and compliance features, making it an essential asset for any organization serious about web security. Acunetix - User Interface and Experience
User Interface
The user interface of Acunetix, a web application security scanner, is crafted with a focus on ease of use and a streamlined user experience. Acunetix features a newly updated navigation menu that prioritizes frequently used features, making it easier for users to access the tools they need most. The most commonly used features, such as viewing targets, scans, and vulnerabilities, are placed at the top of the menu, while less frequently used options like email settings and WAFs are located at the bottom.
The interface is intuitive and user-friendly, with an easy-to-use dashboard that provides a clear overview of the application’s security status. This dashboard is particularly useful for both technically inclined and non-technically inclined users, as it displays statistics and summary reports of previous or current scans in a clear and color-coded manner based on severity.
Ease of Use
Acunetix is known for its simplicity and ease of deployment. Users can download, install, and start scanning with just a few clicks. The setup process is straightforward, and the interface is designed to be accessible to users with varying levels of technical expertise. This ease of use accelerates the adoption process within organizations.
User Experience
The overall user experience is enhanced by the software’s ability to generate easy-to-read reports with a single click. These reports can be customized based on the type of report needed, making it simpler for users to analyze and act on the findings. Additionally, the notifications system has been improved to include all updates from the past 30 days, ensuring users stay informed about any changes or issues.
However, some users have noted a few areas for improvement. For instance, some complex web applications can be challenging for the scanner to navigate, and there have been issues with session management during scans. Despite these, the vendor has been proactive in addressing these concerns through updates and improvements.
Conclusion
In summary, Acunetix offers a user-friendly interface, ease of use, and a positive overall user experience, making it a valuable tool for web application security scanning.
Acunetix - Key Features and Functionality
Overview
Acunetix, a leading web application security tool, offers several key features and functionalities that are particularly beneficial for developers and security teams. Here are the main features and how they work:Automated Vulnerability Scanning
Acunetix automatically detects and identifies a wide range of vulnerabilities in web applications, including multi-level forms, HTML5, JavaScript, password-protected areas, and Single-Page Applications (SPAs).Benefit
This feature accelerates the development process by reducing the time needed to hunt for bugs and vulnerabilities, allowing developers to focus more on fixing issues rather than finding them.Continuous Security and Scheduled Scans
Acunetix allows for regular and automated vulnerability scans to ensure ongoing security. These scheduled scans help identify new vulnerabilities as they emerge, enabling timely remediation.Benefit
Continuous scanning ensures that web applications remain secure over time, protecting against newly discovered vulnerabilities.Integration with Development Tools
Acunetix integrates seamlessly with various development tools, including issue trackers like Jira, Microsoft TFS (Azure DevOps), GitHub, GitLab, Bugzilla, and Mantis. It also integrates with Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) systems like Jenkins.Benefit
These integrations enable developers to receive vulnerability reports directly within their familiar tools, streamlining the process of identifying, tracking, and fixing security issues.Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) Integration
Acunetix can export scan data to popular WAFs such as Imperva SecureSphere, F5 BIG-IP Application Security Manager, FortiWeb WAF, and Citrix WAF. This allows for the automatic creation of WAF rules to protect web applications against attacks targeting identified vulnerabilities.Benefit
This integration provides an additional layer of protection by temporarily preventing the exploitation of high-severity vulnerabilities until they can be fixed.API Discovery and Management
Acunetix helps identify, locate, and manage all API assets, including hidden or undocumented ones, by integrating with API management systems and container management tools like Kubernetes.Benefit
This feature ensures comprehensive security by covering all API assets, which is crucial for maintaining the security of modern web applications.AcuSensor Technology
Acunetix uses AcuSensor Technology, which combines black-box and white-box testing to enhance web application scanning accuracy. This technology reduces false positive and false negative rates to industry-low levels.Benefit
The integration of AI through AcuSensor Technology provides more accurate testing results, helping teams to trust the scan results and focus on real vulnerabilities.Adaptive Training Plans
Through its integration with platforms like HackEDU, Acunetix can automatically generate dynamic training plans for developers based on the vulnerabilities found in web application security scans. This helps in improving developer skills in addressing specific security issues.Benefit
This feature ensures that developers receive targeted training, enhancing their ability to write more secure code and address vulnerabilities effectively.Developer Efficiency and Guidance
Acunetix provides guidance and recommendations to developers, helping them write more secure code. It also identifies specific lines of code that require attention, enabling prompt and efficient addressing of security issues.Benefit
This guidance promotes proactive vulnerability prevention and reduces the time developers spend on finding and fixing security issues.Conclusion
In summary, Acunetix leverages AI and advanced technologies to provide comprehensive web application security solutions that integrate well with existing development tools and processes, making it easier for developers to identify, track, and fix security vulnerabilities efficiently. Acunetix - Performance and Accuracy
Performance
Acunetix is known for its efficiency and speed. Here are some highlights:
- The scanning engine, built using C , is highly efficient, making Acunetix one of the fastest solutions on the market.
- It allows users to start scanning in just a few clicks, with industry-leading scan times and unique verification technologies that provide immediately actionable insights.
- However, some users have reported that the scanning process can be time-consuming, particularly because Acunetix passes multiple payloads to identify vulnerabilities, which can slow down the process compared to other tools.
Accuracy
Acunetix boasts high accuracy in detecting vulnerabilities:
- It scans for over 7,000 web vulnerabilities, including common attacks like SQL Injections and Cross-site Scripting (XSS), and checks for misconfigurations, unpatched software, weak passwords, and exposed databases.
- The tool uses technologies like AcuMonitor and AcuSensor to verify vulnerabilities, ensuring that detected issues are authentic and not false positives.
- Despite this, some users have noted issues with false positives and the need for more customized scans to reduce these occurrences.
Limitations and Areas for Improvement
While Acunetix is a powerful tool, there are several areas where it could be improved:
- False Positives and Customization: Users have reported that the tool could benefit from more advanced settings for authentication and authorization, as well as the ability to edit default payloads to reduce false positives.
- Scanning Speed: Although Acunetix is generally fast, some users find the scanning process slower than other tools, especially when it involves passing multiple payloads to identify a single vulnerability.
- Integration and Licensing: There have been issues with the licensing model, particularly with changes that restrict the number of scan targets. Users have also requested more flexible licensing options and better support for web services scanning.
- Reporting and User Interface: The report output and technical explanations can be complex, making it difficult for non-technical stakeholders to understand the issues. Simplifying these reports and explanations would be beneficial.
- Bandwidth and Resource Usage: Some users have noted concerns about bandwidth usage and traffic consumption during scans, which can be a significant issue in certain environments.
Integration and Continuous Scanning
Acunetix integrates well with various systems like Jira, Jenkins, GitHub, and CI/CD platforms, allowing for automated scanning during the development process. This helps in detecting vulnerabilities early in the SDLC, which is a significant advantage.
In summary, Acunetix is a strong tool for web application security, offering fast and accurate scanning capabilities. However, it has areas for improvement, particularly in reducing false positives, enhancing scanning speed, and providing more flexible licensing and reporting options.
Acunetix - Pricing and Plans
Pricing Structure of Acunetix
Pricing Tiers
Acunetix offers several pricing tiers, each with different features and target capacities:Acunetix Online Premium
- This plan is available through AWS Marketplace and other channels.
- For 5 targets (websites, web applications, APIs, or web services), the cost is $7,000 per year.
Acunetix Standard
- This plan is not detailed in the same financial terms as the Premium, but it offers subscription tiers for 5, 10, and 20 targets. If you need to scan more than 20 websites, you would need to upgrade to a higher tier or the Premium plan.
Invicti Ent On Demand and On Premise
- These plans, also part of the Acunetix family, support 50 targets and cost $37,000 per year each.
Additional Features and Costs
- Acunetix MSSP License: This is a Managed Security Service Provider License, priced at $15,960 per year.
- Premium Support: This option costs $150,000 per year.
- Premium Support and Guided Success: This comprehensive support package is priced at $300,000 per year.
General Pricing Range
- The average annual cost for Acunetix software can range from around $6,000 to approximately $27,000, with an average cost of about $16,000 per year.
Free Options
- Acunetix does not offer a free version, but it does provide a free trial for potential users to test the software before committing to a purchase.
Key Features
- All plans include features such as vulnerability scanning, reporting, and integration with Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) and issue tracking systems.
- The enhanced user interface allows for easier management of targets, scans, vulnerabilities, and reports, with filtering and grouping options.
In summary, Acunetix pricing varies widely depending on the number of targets and the level of support required, with no free version available but a free trial for testing.
Acunetix - Integration and Compatibility
Acunetix Overview
Acunetix, a web application security scanner, is designed to integrate seamlessly with a wide range of tools and systems, enhancing its utility in various development and security environments.Issue Tracking and Project Management
Acunetix integrates with several popular issue tracking systems, including Jira, Microsoft TFS (Azure DevOps), GitHub, GitLab, Bugzilla, and Mantis. This allows users to export vulnerabilities directly to these issue trackers, facilitating the tracking, prioritizing, and resolving of vulnerabilities.Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)
Acunetix supports integration with CI/CD tools, particularly through its plugin for Jenkins, a widely used open-source CI and automation platform. This integration enables automatic Acunetix scans as part of the web application build process, helping to identify and track vulnerabilities early in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).API and Web Application Management
Acunetix connects with API management systems such as MuleSoft Anypoint Exchange, Apigee API hub, and Amazon API Gateway. It also integrates with container management tools like Kubernetes, both natively and via Istio Service Mesh, to help identify, locate, and manage all API assets within an organization.Web Application Firewalls (WAFs)
The scan results from Acunetix can be exported to be used directly as WAF rules by systems like Imperva SecureSphere, F5 BIG-IP Application Security Manager, Fortinet FortiWeb, and Citrix Web Application Firewall. This allows for temporary prevention of high-severity vulnerabilities until they can be fixed.Single Sign-On (SSO) and Communication
Acunetix supports integration with Single Sign-On (SSO) providers, ensuring secure and centralized access management. It also integrates with communication tools, contributing to a cohesive security and development workflow.API and Custom Integrations
Acunetix exposes all its functionality via a REST API, enabling integration with any environment that supports REST. This API allows users to create and scan targets, retrieve scan results, and generate reports. Custom integrations can be achieved by using this API, and Acunetix experts can assist in building these integrations for enterprise customers.Additional Tools and Formats
Acunetix can import data from various sources such as web browser automation tools (Selenium), security testing proxies (Telerik Fiddler, Postman, Burp), and API definition languages (Swagger 2.0 and 3.0, WADL, WSDL). This versatility ensures that Acunetix can be integrated with a broad range of tools and formats, making it a flexible addition to any security and development toolkit.Conclusion
In summary, Acunetix is highly compatible across different platforms and devices, offering a wide range of integrations that make it an invaluable tool for web application security scanning and vulnerability management. Its ability to integrate with various issue trackers, CI/CD tools, API management systems, and WAFs ensures that it can be seamlessly incorporated into existing workflows. Acunetix - Customer Support and Resources
Support Options
Acunetix offers a range of customer support options and additional resources to ensure users get the most out of their web application security tools.
Support Plans
Acunetix provides three main support plans: Standard Support, Premium Support, and Premium Support Guided Success.
Standard Support
This plan includes expert-level support with rapid response times, service excellence, and convenient access. It covers support hours during local business days (24×5) and includes product and support documentation, as well as priority-based first reply guarantees (e.g., 1 hour for urgent issues, 2 hours for high-priority issues).
Premium Support
This plan enhances the standard support by offering 24×7 support hours, additional escalation paths for high-severity tickets, and a named application security manager for guidance and best practice recommendations.
Premium Support Guided Success
This comprehensive plan includes all the features of Premium Support plus strategic guidance. It provides implementation guidance, asset discovery, website grouping, scan optimization, and reporting analysis by a named application security manager. Users also receive ongoing expert assistance, regular technical check-in calls, and help with integrating third-party tools. This plan is particularly useful for organizations that need to achieve long-term web security goals and maximize the potential of their investment.
Additional Resources
Training and Documentation
Acunetix offers team training sessions, fundamental product adoption sessions, and advanced dynamic application security testing (DAST) best practices enablement sessions. These sessions are delivered live and recorded for future use.
Manual Pen Testing Tools
Acunetix provides free manual pen testing tools that include eight modules such as HTTP Editor, Subdomain Scanner, and Blind SQL Injector. These tools are useful for penetration testers to analyze and edit HTTP requests, inspect server responses, and detect advanced security vulnerabilities that automated scanners might miss.
Quarterly Business Reviews
For users on the Premium Support Guided Success plan, Acunetix conducts quarterly business reviews to ensure alignment with security objectives and to provide ongoing strategic guidance.
Integration Support
The support plans include guidance and support for integrating out-of-the-box third-party tools, which helps in streamlining the security workflow.
Custom Documentation
Users can receive custom documentation collages from selected topics, which can be particularly helpful for specific security needs and configurations.
Partnership and Consultation
For additional support, Acunetix recommends partnering with experienced IT security experts. These partners can provide thorough and customized training, strategic and ongoing consultation, and streamlined support processes. They can expedite issue resolution by contacting Acunetix headquarters on behalf of the customer.
By leveraging these support options and resources, users can ensure they are well-equipped to manage and enhance their web application security using Acunetix tools effectively.
Acunetix - Pros and Cons
Advantages of Acunetix
High Accuracy and Low False Positives
Acunetix is known for its precise vulnerability detection, minimizing false positives and ensuring security teams focus on genuine threats without unnecessary distractions.
Comprehensive Technology Support
It supports a wide array of web technologies, including HTML5, JavaScript frameworks (like Angular, React, and Vue.js), CMS platforms (such as WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal), and various server-side technologies. This broad compatibility makes it effective in diverse web environments.
Ease of Use
The intuitive user interface and straightforward setup process make Acunetix accessible to users with varying levels of technical expertise. This ease of use accelerates the adoption process within organizations.
Regular Updates
Acunetix consistently updates its vulnerability database and scanning engine to keep pace with emerging threats and new web technologies, ensuring it remains effective against the latest attack vectors.
Advanced API Security
Acunetix integrates advanced API security features, including complete API discovery, multi-protocol support for REST, SOAP, and GraphQL APIs, and automated vulnerability detection for issues on the OWASP Top 10 list.
Actionable Reporting and Prioritization
It provides detailed reports of vulnerabilities and prioritizes them based on severity and potential impact, allowing security teams to focus on the most critical issues first.
Machine Learning Integration
Acunetix leverages machine learning to improve the accuracy of vulnerability detection, reduce false positives, and enhance the efficiency of security assessments.
Custom Security Testing Profiles
Security teams can create customized security profiles to meet specific organizational needs, allowing for targeted scanning and accurate configurations.
Integration with Development Tools
Acunetix easily integrates with popular development platforms such as Jira and Jenkins, incorporating security testing into the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
Disadvantages of Acunetix
Cost
Acunetix is a premium tool, and its pricing can be a barrier for small businesses or individual users. The cost may be justified by its features, but it can still be expensive compared to other solutions.
Resource Intensive
Running comprehensive scans, especially on large or complex web applications, can be resource-intensive and potentially impact server performance during scanning periods.
Limited Manual Testing Support
While Acunetix excels in automated scanning, it offers limited support for manual testing activities. Users seeking a tool that combines both automated and extensive manual testing capabilities might find Acunetix lacking in this aspect.
Learning Curve for Advanced Features
Leveraging the more advanced features, such as API scanning or integrating with CI/CD pipelines, may require a deeper understanding and technical proficiency.
Customization Constraints
Although Acunetix allows for some level of customization, users with highly specialized needs might find the customization options insufficient compared to more flexible or open-source tools.
Dependency on Up-to-Date Configuration
For optimal performance, Acunetix requires regular updates and proper configuration. Neglecting these aspects can lead to suboptimal scanning results or missed vulnerabilities.
Customer Support Issues
Some users have reported poor response times from the customer service team, which can be a significant drawback for those needing timely support.
Acunetix - Comparison with Competitors
When Comparing Acunetix with Other Tools in Web Application Security Testing
Several unique features and potential alternatives stand out.
Unique Features of Acunetix
- DeepScan Technology: Acunetix uses a fully automated crawler that can interact with JavaScript-rich web applications, including client-side Single Page Applications (SPAs), and understand complex JSON and XML input schemes. This technology allows it to map the entire website, including links found in
robots.txtandsitemap.xmlfiles, and launch targeted vulnerability checks. - AcuSensor Technology: This technology combines black box scanning with feedback from sensors placed inside the source code, providing more accurate vulnerability detection and fewer false positives. It supports PHP, .NET, and Java web applications and can identify vulnerabilities in files not accessible from the web server.
- Login Sequence Recorder (LSR): Acunetix allows for the recording and replaying of complex login sequences, including multi-step and custom authentication schemes, Single Sign-On authentication, CAPTCHAs, and multi-factor authentication.
Potential Alternatives
Akto
- API Security Focus: Akto is an API security platform that automatically discovers and tests APIs, including internal, external, and third-party APIs. It offers a large API security test library and integrates easily with CI/CD pipelines. Akto is ideal for organizations with complex API infrastructures and those using DevSecOps practices.
- Features: Akto includes automatic API discovery, a vast API security test library, and strong automation capabilities for continuous vulnerability scanning. However, it may require experience to install and configure, especially for beginners in API security.
OWASP ZAP
- Although not explicitly mentioned in the sources, OWASP ZAP is a well-known open-source web application security scanner that can be considered an alternative. It offers similar features like automated scanning, support for various web technologies, and integration with CI/CD pipelines.
Qualys Web Application Scanning
- Another alternative is Qualys Web Application Scanning, which provides automated web application vulnerability scanning. It supports a wide range of web technologies and offers features like continuous monitoring and integration with other security tools.
Comparison Points
- Automation and Coverage: Acunetix stands out with its DeepScan Technology and AcuSensor Technology, which provide comprehensive coverage of web applications, including dynamic content and files not accessible from the web server. Akto, on the other hand, focuses more on API security and automated API discovery.
- Integration and Workflow: Acunetix integrates well with CI/CD pipelines and supports various web technologies. Akto also integrates seamlessly with CI/CD workflows but is more specialized in API security.
- Customization and Flexibility: While Acunetix offers advanced features like AcuSensor Technology, Akto provides customizable security tests and a deep focus on API security best practices. This makes Akto more suitable for organizations with complex API infrastructures.
In summary, Acunetix is a powerful tool for web application security testing with unique features like DeepScan and AcuSensor technologies. However, for organizations with a strong focus on API security, alternatives like Akto might be more suitable due to their specialized features and automation capabilities.
Acunetix - Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about Acunetix
What is Acunetix and what does it do?
Acunetix is a web application and API security platform that automates the process of identifying and fixing vulnerabilities within an organization’s digital infrastructure. It uses a combination of Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) and Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST) to provide a comprehensive analysis of web applications and APIs, detecting issues such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and other vulnerabilities listed in the OWASP Top 10.
How does Acunetix’ AcuSensor Technology work?
Acunetix’ AcuSensor Technology combines black box scanning techniques with feedback from sensors placed inside the source code of the application. This approach allows for more accurate vulnerability detection and reduces false positives. The sensors can be installed transparently in .NET, PHP, and JAVA code, providing detailed information on where vulnerabilities are located in the code and additional debug information.
What types of APIs does Acunetix support?
Acunetix supports a wide range of API formats, including REST, SOAP, and GraphQL. It can discover and scan APIs defined in various specifications such as OpenAPI3, Swagger2, RAML, WADL, and Postman collections for REST APIs, WSDL for SOAP APIs, and GraphQL APIs. This ensures that all API endpoints are identified and included in security reviews.
How does Acunetix prioritize vulnerabilities?
Acunetix uses a risk-based approach to prioritize vulnerabilities. It ranks vulnerabilities based on their severity and the potential impact they could have, allowing security teams to focus on the most critical issues first. This approach helps optimize resource use and decrease remediation time.
Can Acunetix integrate with other development tools?
Yes, Acunetix integrates easily with popular development platforms such as Jira and Jenkins. This integration allows security testing to be incorporated directly into the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), ensuring that security measures are continuously implemented throughout the development process.
What kind of reporting does Acunetix provide?
Acunetix provides detailed and actionable reports of vulnerabilities. These reports include full information about the vulnerabilities detected, allowing security teams to triage and remediate them effectively. The platform also supports customizable security testing profiles to meet specific organizational needs.
Does Acunetix use machine learning?
Yes, Acunetix leverages machine learning to improve the accuracy of vulnerability detection. This integration helps remove more false positives and makes the overall security assessments more efficient and trustworthy.
How much does Acunetix cost?
The pricing for Acunetix varies depending on the package. For example, the Acunetix Online Premium package, which includes scanning for up to 5 targets (websites, web applications, APIs, or web services), costs $7,000 for a 12-month contract. There are also other packages, such as the Acunetix MSSP License and additional support options, with varying costs.
What are some common areas for improvement in Acunetix?
Users have suggested several areas for improvement, including enhanced user-friendliness, better integration capabilities, and improvements in the interface design. Additionally, there is a need for more streamlined deployment speed and enhancements in the customization of reports.
Does Acunetix support multi-user operations?
Yes, Acunetix is designed to support large environments and multi-user operations. It provides role-based access control (RBAC), which allows teams of any size to collaborate effectively and maintain security.
How does Acunetix ensure API security throughout the lifecycle?
Acunetix ensures API security by providing complete API discovery, automated vulnerability detection, and easy integration with tools like Postman and Fiddler. This allows organizations to maintain a strong security posture throughout the API lifecycle by continuously implementing security measures.
Acunetix - Conclusion and Recommendation
Final Assessment of Acunetix
Acunetix is a comprehensive web application and API security platform that offers a wide range of features to identify, check, and fix vulnerabilities within an organization’s digital infrastructure. Here’s a detailed look at its benefits and who would most benefit from using it.Key Features and Benefits
Advanced Vulnerability Detection
Acunetix combines Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) with Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST) to provide a thorough analysis of web applications and APIs. It can identify over 6,500 vulnerabilities, including those listed in the OWASP Top 10.
AcuSensor Technology
This unique technology integrates black box scanning with feedback from sensors placed inside the source code, reducing false positives and increasing the accuracy of vulnerability detection. It supports PHP, .NET, and JAVA web applications.
API Security
Acunetix offers complete API discovery and scanning capabilities for REST, SOAP, and GraphQL APIs. It can find hidden and undocumented APIs and scan them based on various specification formats like OpenAPI3, Swagger2, and WSDL.
Reporting and Compliance
The platform generates detailed and configurable reports, including high-level reports, executive summaries, and compliance reports aligned with standards like OWASP Top 10, PCI, and HIPAA. The Developer Report is particularly useful for developers, providing a stack trace of how vulnerabilities were exploited.
Target Groups and User Management
Acunetix allows users to create target groups to manage multiple web assets efficiently. This feature is particularly useful for differentiating between staging and live environments, or grouping targets by location or technology. User accounts can be configured with different roles (Tech Admin, Tester, Auditor) to manage and monitor scans and reports.
Who Would Benefit Most
Developers and Security Teams
Developers will appreciate the detailed reports and actionable insights provided by Acunetix, especially the Developer Report which helps in identifying and fixing vulnerabilities quickly. Security teams can prioritize vulnerabilities based on severity and potential impact, optimizing their efforts and reducing remediation time.
IT Consultants and Administrators
IT consultants can manage multiple customers’ web applications and APIs through the multi-user feature, creating target groups and user accounts for each customer. This allows for efficient delegation of security tasks and regular scanning as needed.
Organizations with Complex Web Infrastructures
Companies with multiple web applications, APIs, and diverse technological stacks (PHP, .NET, JAVA) will benefit from Acunetix’s comprehensive scanning capabilities and the ability to integrate security testing into their development lifecycle (SDLC).
Overall Recommendation
Acunetix is a highly recommended tool for any organization serious about web application and API security. Its ability to combine different testing techniques, provide accurate and detailed reports, and integrate seamlessly with development platforms makes it a valuable asset. The flexibility in user management and target grouping adds to its utility, especially for large or distributed teams.
For those looking to enhance their security posture, Acunetix offers a robust solution that can be easily integrated into existing workflows. Its advanced features, such as machine learning integration and custom security testing profiles, ensure that it remains a reliable choice for identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities effectively.