Definition
Runtime security refers to the continuous monitoring and protection of applications and systems while they are actively running. It focuses on detecting and responding to threats in real-time, ensuring that malicious activities are identified and mitigated as they occur. This approach works by analyzing system behavior, network traffic, and process execution to spot deviations from normal patterns. Implementing runtime security is crucial for preventing breaches and minimizing the impact of attacks that bypass traditional perimeter defenses. For instance, it can detect and block a malicious script attempting to exploit a vulnerability in a live web application. Unlike static analysis which checks code before deployment, runtime security operates on active systems. You will encounter runtime security concepts on exams like CompTIA Security+, CySA+, and CISSP.