What best describes DAST "headless" scans?

DAST, or Dynamic Application Security Testing, refers to a method of testing an application while it is running, simulating attacks on a live application to identify vulnerabilities. "Headless" scans specifically refer to automated testing processes that do not require a graphical user interface to operate. This makes them suitable for integration into continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, allowing for efficient and consistent security testing as part of the development process.

By being integrated into the pipeline, these automated tests can run at any stage of the application lifecycle, delivering immediate feedback to developers and enabling quicker identification and remediation of security vulnerabilities. This aspect of continuous automation is crucial in modern agile development environments, emphasizing the importance of integrating security practices directly into the development workflow.

In contrast, choices related to manual testing or tests that involve visual interfaces do not align with the objective or nature of headless scans in the context of DAST. Manual tests require human interaction and expertise, whereas visual tests imply the presence of a GUI, both of which are distinct from the automated, headless approach used in CI/CD pipelines.