ASPM adoption will more than double in the next two years. Gartner projects, “By 2027, 80% of organizations in regulated verticals utilizing AppSec testing will incorporate some form of ASPM, in contrast to the current adoption rate of 29%.”
Many factors drive this adoption. Application security has never been more critical or complex. Security leaders must eliminate coverage gaps, distill overwhelming alerts into exploitable risk-based priorities, protect software supply chains, and inform actions that measurably improve outcomes with less time, effort, and cost.
This is easier said than done. Finding a solution that aligns with your present and future enterprise needs requires incisive questions to inform evaluation and decision-making criteria. Based on experiences partnering with Fortune 500 customers to improve outcomes, Cycode’s RFP template will help you identify core requirements, uncover key differences, and confidently select a vendor that meets your complete needs — now and as you scale. Read on to understand the key questions to answer in your evaluation journey.
Platform Architecture: Does the solution meet your enterprise needs?
An effective ASPM platform should be built on a scalable architecture that supports multi-tenant environments, flexible deployment models, and real-time data processing. Whether cloud, on-premise, or hybrid, deploying an ASPM solution successfully starts with identifying solutions that conform to your enterprise needs and architecture. Beyond flexible deployment options, look for solutions that work with your single-sign-on and authentication platforms, scale to satisfy enterprise demands, and provide security attestation and compliance.
SDLC Discovery and Inventory: Does the solution automatically discover and continuously inventory assets across your SDLC?
You can’t protect what you can’t see. Your ASPM solution should automatically discover applications, services, and assets across the SDLC—from code and pipelines to deployed environments. Continuous inventory creation enables visibility into your actual attack surface, not just what’s documented, so you can close gaps and prevent shadow risk.
Application Security Testing: Does the solution simplify developer workflows and support consolidation?
An effective ASPM platform should offer proprietary capabilities for code security, including Static Application Security Testing (SAST) and Software Composition Analysis (SCA). These tools should integrate security analysis of proprietary code and open-source dependencies seamlessly within the developer workflow. Look for solutions that provide high accuracy with minimal false positives, fast scan times, and actionable results that help teams fix issues early before they reach production. Proprietary testing capabilities facilitate tighter integration, simplify complex technology stacks, and offer more options to improve ROI.
Data Ingestion & Integrations: Does the solution work with your SDLC ecosystem?
ASPM must connect to CI/CD, SCM, ticketing systems, cloud environments, and security tools to unify fragmented AppSec data. Native integrations, flexible APIs, and agentless deployment options reduce friction and maximize adoption across engineering and security teams alike. In addition to third-party extensibility, it should also offer proprietary scanning capabilities to fill coverage gaps and enable tool consolidation.
Data Processing & Interaction: Does the solution contextualize and process data into actionable insights?
Data alone isn’t valuable. Data with context is. The right platform normalizes, enriches, and deduplicates ingested data to cut noise and surface meaningful insights. Look for intuitive dashboards, customizable views, and search/query capabilities that enable your teams to explore data and collaborate on the fly.
Software Supply Chain Security: Does the solution protect against intensifying software supply chain threats?
The software supply chain–inclusive of open-source dependencies and the SDLC toolchain–is under increasing threat. Your ASPM platform should continuously scan for vulnerabilities, license issues, and misconfigurations across SDLC tools—all while mapping findings to the code owners and pipelines responsible.
Risk Analysis & Prioritization: Can the platform distill large volumes of findings into clear risk-based priorities?
Finding issues isn’t enough. You need to cut through the noise to know what issues matter most. ASPM solutions should correlate findings across tools and stages, then apply risk scoring based on exploitability, reachability, asset criticality, and business context. The goal is clear, defensible prioritization that drives action, not alert fatigue.
Remediation & Workflows: Does the solution enable developer-friendly remediation?
True value comes from fixing issues quickly and efficiently. Evaluate how each platform supports remediation through automated tickets, integrations with developer tools, and AI-generated fixes. Bonus points for solutions that combine no-code workflows, AI fixes, and developer tool integrations to streamline remediation without disrupting developer productivity.
Metrics, Reporting, and Compliance: Does the platform deliver metrics and reports to track posture, prove compliance, and drive continuous improvement?
Security leaders need to measure progress and prove value. Your ASPM platform should offer robust reporting capabilities, including compliance mapping, customizable KPIs, and executive-ready dashboards. Ensure it supports evidence gathering for audits and offers insights to track security posture over time.
Download the Complete ASPM RFP Template
Choosing the right ASPM solution isn’t just about checking boxes—it’s about future-proofing your AppSec strategy. As application environments become more complex and the stakes grow higher, your ability to centralize visibility, automate risk reduction, and empower developers with actionable intelligence is key. This RFP template will help you ask the right questions, challenge vendor assumptions, and align stakeholders around a solution that delivers lasting impact.
Download the ASPM RFP Template now to accelerate your evaluation and make a confident, informed decision.
