How Strata Approaches a Security Assessment
This is an engineering practice, not a compliance framework — how Strata's engineers actually work through an assessment, from the first conversation to the final walkthrough. Depth and sequence adapt to each engagement's real scope.
From Discovery to Validation
Discovery
An initial conversation about the application, its goals, and any constraints that shape the engagement.
Scoping
Engagement tier, boundaries, and authorized targets are defined and agreed in writing.
Environment Review
Understanding the platforms, frameworks, and deployment model the application actually runs on.
Repository Assessment
Source code, dependency, secrets, and configuration review where repository access is in scope.
Architecture Review
How the application's components fit together, and where trust boundaries actually sit.
Manual Analysis
Hands-on review of authentication, authorization, and application logic by the engineer performing the assessment.
Mobile Reverse Engineering
Where applicable — hands-on binary analysis of the distributed mobile application artifact.
Risk Prioritization
Findings are ranked by severity and real-world reachability, not a raw score alone.
Reporting
Executive and technical findings are documented with evidence and remediation guidance.
Executive Briefing
Business risk and priorities are presented to stakeholders in plain language.
Developer Walkthrough
Technical findings are reviewed directly with the engineering team.
Optional Validation
A follow-up review to confirm remediation, scoped and scheduled separately.
This sequence illustrates how a comprehensive engagement can unfold — it is not a fixed process applied identically to every project. Methodology is adapted to each engagement's actual scope, platform, and goals; a smaller engagement skips stages that don't apply.
What an Engagement Needs From You
The methodology above works best when a few things are in place before assessment work starts. None of this is unusual — it’s the same practical groundwork any engineering engagement needs.
Common Questions
See This Methodology Applied to a Specific Engagement
Security Snapshot
The Security Snapshot is a rapid, focused review built for teams that need a credible read on their security posture without committing to a full engagement. It suits a small repository, a single service, or a specific area of concern — the goal is a fast, prioritized signal, not exhaustive coverage.
Application Security Assessment
The Application Security Assessment is Strata's primary commercial engagement — a structured, engineer-led review that goes beyond what automated scanning alone can surface. It combines source code review with authentication, authorization, dependency, secrets, and configuration analysis, reported with clear risk prioritization and a remediation roadmap.
Product Security Assessment
The Product Security Assessment is Strata's flagship engagement, combining everything in the Application Security Assessment with hands-on mobile reverse engineering and client-side attack surface analysis. It's built for organizations that need the deepest level of manual validation available, culminating in executive-level presentation of findings.
Mobile Reverse Engineering
Mobile reverse engineering is hands-on, engineer-performed analysis of a compiled mobile application — assessing what sensitive information, credentials, authentication artifacts, application logic, or client-side functionality could realistically be extracted or abused from the distributed application. It is manual and tool-assisted work, distinct from and complementary to automated static analysis.
Rules of engagement and full deliverables live on the Services hub.
Discuss Your Assessment
Every engagement starts with a conversation about your application, not a purchase.