Key Skills for Application Security Testing and Debugging
Build practical application security skills using industry-standard testing tools, debugging techniques and professional reporting
Duration
4 weeksWeekly study
2 hoursLanguages
English, Italiano, Español, Français, PortuguêsEnglish, Italiano100% online
How it works
Key Skills for Application Security Testing and Debugging
This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.
Find and fix vulnerabilities before attackers do
Too many organizations rely on ad-hoc security checks rather than systematic testing throughout the software development lifecycle.
This three weeks course builds essential application security testing skills, combining foundational security knowledge with hands-on practice in the techniques and tools that security professionals use every day.
Master SAST, DAST, and security-focused debugging
You’ll learn to use Static Application Security Testing (SAST) and Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) to identify common web application vulnerabilities before they reach production.
You’ll work with industry-standard tools including OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite, SpotBugs, and CodeQL to scan and analyze vulnerable applications. You’ll practice security-focused debugging techniques, learning to interpret tool findings accurately.
Practice penetration testing on realistic applications
Discover how to design and execute focused penetration tests that simulate real attack scenarios. Using guided labs with platforms like WebGoat, you’ll practice identifying, exploiting, and confirming security issues in a safe, controlled environment.
You’ll explore OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities, experiment with common attack techniques, and understand how penetration testing complements automated scanning and code review to provide comprehensive security coverage.
Communicate findings through professional security reports
Learn to document technical security findings for different audiences, from developers who need to fix issues to executives who need to understand business risk.
By the end of the course, you’ll produce portfolio-ready security reports that support your career development in security-focused roles.
Syllabus
Week 1
Foundations of Security Testing & SAST
Lesson 1: Introduction to Entire Course
Get an overview of the course structure, tools, and learning outcomes. Learn how SAST, DAST, penetration testing, and debugging fit together to build real-world application security skills.
Lesson 2: Application Security Fundamentals
Learn why application security is business-critical, understand today’s threat landscape, and explore how OWASP Top 10 risks affect real web applications.
Lesson 3: Static Application Security Testing (SAST)
Learn how static analysis tools identify vulnerabilities in source code and how to prioritise findings before applications reach production.
Lesson 4: Secure Code Review & Manual Analysis
Understand why manual code review is essential and how to find logic flaws and security issues automated tools miss.
Week 2
Security-Focused Debugging Techniques
Lesson 5: Security Debugging Fundamentals
Explore how security debugging differs from traditional debugging and how to trace vulnerabilities to their root cause.
Lesson 6: Vulnerability Discovery Through Debugging
Apply interactive debugging techniques to uncover authentication flaws, session issues, and complex execution paths.
Lesson 7: Automated Security Integration
Learn how to integrate security testing and debugging into CI/CD pipelines using DevSecOps practices.
Week 3
Dynamic Testing & Penetration Testing
Lesson 8: Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)
Learn how black-box testing identifies runtime vulnerabilities that static analysis cannot detect.
Lesson 9: Penetration Testing Fundamentals
Apply professional penetration testing frameworks and tools to validate application security controls.
Lesson 10: Advanced Exploitation Techniques
Test complex vulnerabilities using advanced attack techniques and exploit chaining.
Week 4
Professional Reporting & Real-World Applications
Lesson 11: Security Report Development
Turn technical findings into clear, prioritised reports for technical teams and executives.
Lesson 12: Case Study Analysis
Analyse real-world security assessments from discovery to final reporting.
Lesson 13: Professional Development & Best Practices
Explore certification paths, career options, and best practices for long-term success in security testing.
Lesson 14: Course Conclusion
Review key concepts from across the course, connect testing, debugging, and reporting skills, and get guidance on next steps for applying your learning and continuing your growth in application security.
Who is this accredited by?
The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Implement automated (SAST/DAST) and manual testing techniques to identify web application vulnerabilities and improve security posture.
- Apply advanced debugging techniques and security-focused analysis to diagnose, isolate, and resolve critical vulnerabilities in application code.
- Execute penetration testing engagements to simulate real-world attack scenarios and validate application security controls.
- Produce security reports with technical findings, business impact, and actionable remediation strategies for diverse stakeholders.
Who is the course for?
This course is ideal for developers, QA engineers, cybersecurity students, IT professionals transitioning to DevSecOps, and technical leads who want to understand how security testing integrates into the software development lifecycle.
Who will you learn with?
Who developed the course?
Starweaver
Starweaver is a next generation platform that engages your workforce as no other. Combining business and technical skills, Starweaver provides real-time skill building that is in line with your business objectives and strategies, and in your associates day to day tasks and jobs.
| Best ValueBest Value - learn more, save more! | |||
Ways to learn | Buy this course | Subscribe & save | Start learning today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choose the best way to learn for you! | $79/one-off payment | $244.99 for a whole year Automatically renews | Free |
| Fulfill your current learning need | Develop skills to further your career | Try this course - with limits | |
| Access to this course | tick | tick | Limited to 4 weeks |
| Access to 1,000+ courses | cross | tick | cross |
| Learn at your own pace | tick | tick | cross |
| Discuss your learning in comments | tick | tick | tick |
| Certificate when you're eligible | Printed and digital | Digital only | cross |
Cancel for free anytime |
Ways to learn
Choose the best way to learn for you!
Subscribe & save
$244.99 for a whole year
Automatically renews
Develop skills to further your career
- Access to this course
- Access to 1,000+ courses
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Digital certificate when you're eligible
Cancel for free anytime
Buy this course
$79/one-off payment
Fulfill your current learning need
- Access to this course
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible
Start learning today
Free
Try this course - with limits
- Limited to 4 weeks
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades) Sale price available until 2 November 2026 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply. | |||
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)
Sale price available until 2 November 2026 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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