In the age of constantly changing cyber security threats, enterprises are tightening up their prevention efforts. From training employees to recognize a phishing email to enforcing complex password requirements, each organization prioritizes their security approach differently. Some might count on keeping data within robust network firewalls, while others rely on managed service providers to handle security. What’s often not addressed is a strategy for application security.
Surprisingly, many enterprises don’t consider software applications to be a significant source of risk. While it’s the critical business applications that often sit at the center of what needs protecting in order for the company to continue to operate, the applications themselves often go unchecked.
The biggest risk related to application security is that applications often haven’t been examined for security flaws. Many mobile, web and client/server applications are used without any initial or regular monitoring for problems.
Why would such a critical set of tools go unnoticed in a strategic security plan? In many cases, IT may assume that the software is only an internal application or that it’s not storing or processing a set of critical data. They may also underestimate the importance of certain flaws, such as web server misconfigurations.
Additional security issues include remote file inclusion as well as login mechanisms that are poorly designed. Even when an enterprise does address software application security, it may be flawed, using quick vulnerability scans or suffering the limitations of manual analysis.
Another problem is that in cases where an organization has a plan for application security, they may not adequately use the tools they’re employing in their efforts. For instance, a security plan may only use one web vulnerability scanner, looking for weaknesses but failing to employ a web browser, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) proxy or other tools. When they don’t find any vulnerabilities using this approach, they may consider the application safe. The system is not without vulnerability; they simply didn’t look hard enough.
In other situations, application security falls through the cracks because nobody has been specifically assigned the duty of managing it. IT and security teams assume that the developers have fully vetted the solution, while developers assume that security is there to catch any problems they may have missed.
The following are some guidelines for creating a more secure software application environment:
Communicate the security goals: Ensure that everyone involved in the application development and life-cycle has a clear understanding of security goals and the role they play in supporting those goals.
Invest in training: Build awareness around the risk of unsecured applications and train employees on the proper ways to test and secure software applications.
Look for patterns: Do any problems seem to surface regularly or repeatedly?
Look for such patterns and develop policies and tools to address them.
Assign responsibility: Between security, developers and IT, determine who is responsible for testing application security and conduct regular reviews of policies and procedures surrounding software security.
For more information about securing your software applications or for guidance surrounding your comprehensive cyber security strategy, contact us at Cloud Source.