Is hostile traffic stopped before it reaches your applications?
What I check
WAF / WAAP coverage and blocking mode Bot and abuse controls DDoS readiness Origin exposureRed flags I often find
! WAF still in monitor-only mode! Origins reachable directly from the internet! No bot controls on login or OTPDo you know every API you expose, and who can call it?
What I check
API inventory and shadow APIs Schema enforcement Object-level authorisation OWASP API Top 10Red flags I often find
! No complete API inventory! Authorisation checked in the app, not the API! Old API versions still liveAre you fixing the weaknesses an attacker would actually use?
What I check
Scanner coverage SAST / DAST in the pipeline Prioritisation beyond CVSS Time to remediateRed flags I often find
! Fixing by CVSS score alone! No credentialed or authenticated scans! Findings without a named ownerWould your SOC see an application attack while it is happening?
What I check
Security log coverage SIEM pipeline health Application attack detections Alert ownershipRed flags I often find
! WAF logs never reach the SIEM! Alerts nobody owns! No detections for app-layer attacksCan your customer app defend itself on a device you do not control?
What I check
In-app protection / RASP Anti-tamper and anti-hooking MASVS-aligned testing Runtime telemetryRed flags I often find
! No runtime protection in the customer app! Rooted devices not handled! Secrets inside the app binaryIs application security owned, measured and funded?
What I check
Ownership and policy OWASP SAMM maturity NIST CSF 2.0 alignment Roadmap and budgetRed flags I often find
! No named owner for AppSec! Maturity never measured! Budget not tied to risk