Security testing is a form of software testing that checks whether an application, network or system protects data and behaves safely when someone tries to misuse it. It looks for vulnerabilities, weak authentication, exposed data and misconfigurations before attackers find them. For hiring teams, it is also a skill set that has to be verified with hands on tasks, not resume keywords.
This glossary entry explains the main types of security testing, which roles need the skill, and how to evaluate it with Glider AI Technical Assessments before a candidate reaches a final interview.
What security testing covers
Security testing asks one question in many forms: what happens when the system is used in a way its builders did not intend? Typical areas include:
- Authentication and session handling, such as weak passwords, broken logins or reusable tokens
- Authorization, such as a user reaching data that belongs to another account
- Input handling, such as injection flaws and cross site scripting
- Data protection, including encryption in transit and at rest
- Configuration, such as open ports, default credentials and verbose error messages
- Dependencies, such as libraries with known vulnerabilities
Good security testing produces findings with a clear risk level and a practical fix, so engineering teams can act on them.
Types of security testing
| Type | What it does | Where the skill shows up |
|---|---|---|
| Vulnerability scanning | Automated scans for known weaknesses | QA, DevOps and security operations |
| Static application security testing (SAST) | Reviews source code without running it | Developers and application security engineers |
| Dynamic application security testing (DAST) | Tests a running application from the outside | QA engineers and application security teams |
| Penetration testing | Simulates a real attack to exploit weaknesses | Dedicated security specialists |
| Security auditing and code review | Checks code and configuration against standards | Senior engineers, security architects |
| Risk assessment and threat modeling | Identifies what could go wrong and how badly | Security architects and engineering leads |
| API security testing | Tests endpoints for authentication, authorization and data exposure | Backend and QA engineers |
For a deeper look at the attack simulation side, see the guide on hiring a penetration tester. For the web layer specifically, see the glossary entry on web application security.
Which roles need security testing skills
Security testing is no longer limited to a dedicated security team. Hiring managers now expect at least part of the skill in several roles:
- QA engineers who add security checks to functional and regression testing
- Backend and full stack developers who write code that handles authentication and user data
- DevOps and cloud engineers who configure infrastructure and pipelines
- Application security engineers who own testing programs and remediation
- Security analysts who run scans, triage findings and report risk
The depth differs by role. A QA engineer may need to recognize common OWASP Top 10 issues and use a proxy tool. An application security engineer should be able to design a test plan, exploit a finding safely and explain the fix.
Why security testing skills are hard to verify
Security testing is easy to list on a resume and hard to prove in a conversation. Candidates can name tools and frameworks fluently without ever having found a real vulnerability. Recruiters, who rarely have a security background, cannot tell the difference in a phone screen, and senior engineers lose hours interviewing candidates who were never qualified.
Three gaps cause most mis hires:
- Tool familiarity is mistaken for testing judgment
- Theory questions reward memorization, not problem solving
- Take home tasks without monitoring are easy to outsource
The answer is a hands on, monitored task that mirrors the work: give the candidate a vulnerable application or code sample and see what they find, how they prioritize it and how they explain it.
How to assess security testing skills
A practical security testing assessment usually combines:
- Knowledge questions on core concepts such as authentication flaws, injection and access control
- A code review task where the candidate finds and explains vulnerabilities
- A hands on exercise against a test application or API
- A short written or recorded explanation of findings and fixes for a non security audience
- Proctoring, so you know the work is the candidate’s own
Score each part against a rubric agreed with the hiring manager before the first candidate starts.
How Glider AI helps
Glider AI, a Findem company, helps hiring teams validate technical skills before interviews. Glider AI Technical Assessments cover 250+ languages and technologies, with in depth skill reports you can share with hiring managers. Top candidates can be scored and shortlisted automatically, and AI proctoring with 50+ checkpoints helps prevent fraud and plagiarism so the result reflects the candidate’s own work.
For roles that need full project work, coding simulations can replicate your environment, including QA tasks such as writing functional tests and debugging automation scripts. You can also explore related roles in networking and cybersecurity job roles and skills.
Frequently asked questions
What is security testing in simple terms?
Security testing checks whether software or a system can be misused, broken into or made to leak data. Testers try the things an attacker would try, such as bypassing a login or injecting malicious input, and report any weakness with its risk level and a recommended fix.
What are the main types of security testing?
The main types are vulnerability scanning, static application security testing, dynamic application security testing, penetration testing, security auditing, risk assessment and API security testing. Most organizations use a mix, with automated scans running often and manual testing reserved for high risk areas.
What is the difference between security testing and penetration testing?
Security testing is the broad category. Penetration testing is one type within it, where a specialist simulates a real attack and tries to exploit weaknesses. Security testing also includes automated scans, code review and audits that do not involve active exploitation.
What skills should a candidate with security testing experience have?
Look for knowledge of common vulnerability classes such as the OWASP Top 10, hands on use of scanning and proxy tools, the ability to read code for security flaws, clear reporting, and judgment about which findings matter most. Senior candidates should also design test plans and explain remediation.
How do you test security testing skills in an interview?
Give candidates a realistic task: a vulnerable code sample or test application. Ask them to find issues, rank them by risk and explain fixes. Monitor the session so the work is their own, and score the result against a rubric set with the hiring manager in advance.
Do QA engineers need security testing skills?
Increasingly, yes. Many teams expect QA engineers to catch common security issues during functional and regression testing, especially for login flows, APIs and data handling. The expected depth is lower than for an application security engineer, so tailor the assessment to the role.
Hire for security testing skills you can see
Security testing is too important to judge from a resume line. See how Glider AI Technical Assessments let you verify security, QA and engineering skills with proctored, hands on tasks before your team spends time on final interviews.