DAST stands for which of the following?

Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) refers to a type of security testing methodology that focuses on evaluating the security of applications while they are running. This process involves testing the application from an external perspective, simulating attacks to identify vulnerabilities that may be exploited by malicious actors.

DAST tools typically interact with the application like an end-user would, making it effective for identifying issues such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other runtime vulnerabilities. Since DAST assesses applications in real-time, it can identify vulnerabilities that may not be visible during static analysis, where the code is analyzed without execution.

The other choices provided do not represent standard terminology used in the field of application security. Terms like "Data Application Security Tracking" or "Direct Application Security Test" do not align with recognized practices within cybersecurity frameworks, and "Distributed Application Security Testing" is not a recognized category in the same domain as DAST. Therefore, the correct answer clearly reflects the widely accepted definition and application of Dynamic Application Security Testing in securing applications in a live environment.