Application security involves a series of tools and processes that prevent applications from vulnerabilities. This form of security can be used throughout all stages of an application from its beginning developmental stages to when it’s a fully running application.
With cybersecurity on the rise and criminals being more advanced with stealing data, it’s vital to keep your applications protected. Application security can be a convenient and effective way to keep your code and data safe from being misused by others.
What Is Application Security?
Application security is the measure taken to stop code or sensitive data from being stolen or taken and used in different ways than originally intended.
This type of security covers apps after they’ve been successfully deployed, as well as when they’re in the developmental stage of creating code within an app.
Developers and security teams use application security to find and deal with vulnerabilities and it can be used in software and hardware forms. For example, a firewall that is built into an app is a type of software security measure as it stops prohibited actions from being taken.
An application security measure that has something physical, like a router, is a hardware version
A hardware version of application security includes something physical. For example, a router that stops people from looking at the IP address of a desktop is a hardware version of application security.
Application security is primarily used by organizations to test and edit elements within their applications to minimize vulnerabilities.
Different Kinds Of Application Security
There’s a variety of application security available that developers can use for easy security testing. Developers can even create code for applications to minimize security risks themselves which can be more effective at minimizing risks against more specific issues within an app.
The different kinds of application security include the following:
- Authentication
During the development stages of a new application, developers can create security measures to ensure that only authenticated users have access to the software. This system makes sure that people who are trying to get access to the app are really who they claim to be.
You can achieve authentication in the form of passwords and usernames that people use to log in to the application. Application security can also take this a step further by requiring multiple stages of authentication that could include you providing facial recognition or confirming details through a separate confirmed device.
- Authorization
Authorization is a type of application security that ensures only someone who has been properly authenticated can have access to the app. The application security software works by providing validation that the person attempting to access the app has the correct permissions.
The authentication process must happen before the authorization process so that the system knows to authorize users with the correct credentials.
- Encryption
Once the authentication process has taken place and the person is using the app, you can increase the security measures, even more, to stop data from being used or seen during cyber attacks.
Encryption keeps cloud-based apps more secure to prevent sensitive information from being accessed by others.
- Logging
Logging is used to help developers and security teams find out who had access to the code or data during breaches of security. This process provides you with accurate records of when the app was breached to give organizations a better idea of who was responsible and to prevent it from happening again.
- Application Security Testing
Application security testing is one of the vital stages that’s required to ensure that all of the aforementioned types of application security work effectively.
Mobile, Web & Cloud Application Security
When you use a mobile device to send and receive data through the internet, the transmissions are more vulnerable to attacks due to how they aren’t being sent via a secured private network.
Therefore many organizations opt to use virtual private networks to provide application security to mobile devices being used by employees who are at work. You can also have teams in IT carry out tests with mobile apps to ensure that they work within the constraints of the security policies that you currently have in place.
When it comes to web application security, you’re open to similar risks compared to using mobile devices due to how information is being sent and received online through the internet.
Application security for the web is especially important for organizations that offer services over the internet or host applications through the web. Typically, a firewall is integrated into the system which works by preventing potentially dangerous pieces of data from having an impact on your application.
When it comes to the cloud, application security testing can be extra risky due to how many shared resources are being used within an app. Therefore, organizations must ensure that people who are authorized are the only ones who can have access to the cloud-based apps.
This works as a preventative measure to stop data from being viewed and used by anyone who shouldn’t be in the application.
Application Security Testing
Application security testing is becoming a standard part of the developmental process for applications. It helps organizations reduce security risks in new apps so that developers can spend more time developing the new app and carrying out updates rather than worrying about potential vulnerabilities.
Application Security Controls
Application security controls are implemented to help boost the security within the code of applications to minimize threats. These types of controls are effective at helping developers see how apps react when it comes to cyber-attacks.
This provides programmers with the ability to edit code to ensure that they’re provided with more control over how it will react when being probed by unexpected events during cyber attacks.
Conclusion
Now that you know a little more about what application security testing is, you can be sure to integrate it into your organization. It works as an excellent preventative method against security vulnerabilities. It also helps you identify where attacks have happened so that you can put stricter security measures in place to stop it from happening again.
Application security testing is incredibly important in today’s world due to how hackers have easier access to cloud-based networks to access sensitive information. Application security increases your network security while keeping the code and data within your apps more protected too.
