Top 15 Application Security Best Practices

Top 15 Application Security Best Practices

Try to think like an attacker and write the entire code you think they will use. Then, test how your system reacts and can it defend itself from same or the similar threats. It is great to check which are low points and if the application security features stand attack and how will they react. Updating the app regularly also improves the app’s functionality and user experience.

Attackers consistently search for ways to exploit security issues, and breaches in data can negatively impact your customer experience, reputation, and bottom line. By following mobile app security best practices, you’ll be prepared to launch a successful mobile app that keeps both your users’ and the company’s data safe. Read on to learn the top 13 security best practices you can use as a developer to reduce security bugs and defend your mobile app against security breaches. Companies in regulated industries like banking and healthcare must take extra caution during testing. Regulations often require that app developers test mobile apps to ensure that data stays secure.

Encryption of data on External Storage –

That means the new updated operating system is the improved version from the earlier. So, you need to ensure you develop your mobile app which is updated regularly based on the upcoming OS updates. But, if your mobile app is going to compromise on the data breaches, your reputation is all set to be ruined. They work day in and day out on codes on how to get within the code and open all doors to fetch the data that they want. Every mobile operating system is different, and this extends to security features too. To develop a secure application for a specific platform, it’s a great idea to begin by researching and understanding the security pros and cons of that platform.

Likewise, make sure to follow the specific platform guidelines for authorized APIs for maximum security and compliance. OTA recommends brands and developers move from a minimal compliance point-of-view to one of stewardship, making security and privacy a competitive business advantage. As outlined, it is paramount that developers implement adequate security controls, provide appropriate notification and understand privacy implications and boundaries of collection and use of data. Supported by industry-leading application and security intelligence, Snyk puts security expertise in any developer’s toolkit. While automated tests manage to catch most security issues prior to release, there may still be potential gaps that have gone unnoticed. To minimize this risk, it is worth employing an experienced pentester to test the application.

What is Mobile App Security? Definition

For example, tokens can be stolen if they are not properly protected or if the mobile app is compromised. Additionally, token revocation can be challenging, particularly if tokens have a long expiration https://www.globalcloudteam.com/ time. The JWT allows the developer to embed some data on the payload segment of the token, that is cryptographically signed with a secure algorithm, with the option of encrypting the payload.

• By using prepared statements and parameterized queries, you can prevent SQL injection attacks and protect your app’s data.
• By adhering to these practices, organizations can proactively safeguard sensitive information, minimize vulnerabilities, and fortify their overall security posture.
• With the growing reliance on mobile apps in both personal and business contexts, maintaining security for these applications is increasingly important.
• With the ever-increasing threats of cyber-attacks, it has become essential to implement strong authentication protocols in mobile app development.
• By validating user input, preventing SQL injections, and implementing proper error handling, you can ensure that your app is secure and free from vulnerabilities.
• Content providers must restrict the sets of data that can be accessible by the clients.

Now, the next best practice is to secure your servers and the network connections. We make security simple and hassle-free for thousands of websites & businesses worldwide. Our suite of security products include a vulnerability scanner, firewall, malware scanner and pentests to protect your site from the evil forces on the internet, even when you sleep. We make security simple and hassle-free for thousands
of websites and businesses worldwide. Aljohani has enjoyed being on the other side of the table and opening the door to new members of ASIS and deepening the engagement of other members. Knowing how much certification helped him, Aljohani also appreciates the chance to share that opportunity with other security professionals looking to grow.

Using Internal Storage for Sensitive Data –

For iOS apps, there are a few different open source libraries — such as DTTJailbreakDetection — that will look for files and other signs of a jailbroken device. Another method to prevent code tampering in Android apps is ProGuard, which is a feature of Android Studio that obfuscates an application’s code so attackers can’t reverse engineer and easily modify the code. Developers can easily implement ProGuard by adding the proguard.config property to the project.properties file. Other important considerations are to not allow self-signed certificates and to restrict application traffic to servers with trusted certificates.

Using a token system for sessions can greatly enhance the security of your mobile application, as tokens can be revoked at any time, session data can be wiped, and remote log-off is made possible. App development platforms provide data storage options for developers, depending on the requirements, such as the bulk of data to be stored, types of data, and accessibility. Internal storage should be the preferred option if the app contains access to sensitive data, which shall be held privately.

Website Protection

In parallel, there has been an increase in the development of the internet of things (IoT), which has enabled the automation of manual processes. Sensitive data within profiles is open to certain apps that have malicious code embedded within them. This leads to breaches that make all information stored in the device vulnerable. It can be easily prevented if a developer limits app usage for not rooted devices or warn users before using it on rooted devices.

The Dhahran chapter shared the many benefits of ASIS activities and events and introduced Aljohani to the vast network of security professionals in the ASIS communities. Aljohani feels that his engagement with thought-leaders in the security industry because of his membership in ASIS has been the most impactful part of his professional growth thus far. Aljohani’s security journey started in 2007 when he joined Aramco, one of the world’s largest integrated energy mobile app security and chemicals companies. In 2016, Aljohani was introduced to ASIS International via the Dhahran chapter in Saudi Arabia. Leveraging automation, you can automatically implement compensating controls through your Network Access Control (NAC) systems, Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools, and firewalls. The growing volume of new vulnerabilities, complex environment, and evolving threat landscape make intelligent automation necessary for cyber risk reduction.

Secure Backend

In this article, we will explore what are the essential mobile app security practices that you ought to implement after the development is finalized. If your mobile app has to access and store critical data of the app users, you need to enforce the toughest password security to ensure that the critical data is not exposed. Incorporating these rules in your development process will ensure that you develop a great, secure app your users can fully trust. Business leaders who want to have robust and secure applications must begin to think about software security right at the beginning. The implication is that app security should influence their important decisions, such as choosing an app development company and implementing the right technology stacks.

It arises when the app permits customers to carry out transactions without logging in or undergoing authentication. The data should be validated for length—it should include the expected number of digits and characters; it should be the correct size, length, etc. While whitelisting is recommended, this validation method is not always possible to implement. Learn how to set up product analytics dashboards and learn how to use them effectively. You will want to periodically test the app internally, even after its release, to find any security gaps and create patches.

Write a Secure, Hack-proof Code

Developers must regularly review and update their API security measures to ensure that they are still effective. They should also perform regular security testing and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities and fix them before they can be exploited by attackers. Secure APIs are essential to ensure that user data is protected, and only authorized parties have access to it. There are several ways to secure APIs, including using API gateways, implementing proper authentication and authorization mechanisms, and using SSL/TLS encryption to secure data in transit.