As major data breaches continue to make headlines and cyber-attacks grow in scale, a secure digital environment becomes non-negotiable. Off-the-shelf applications typically come with built-in security features – but for many reasons, you may choose instead to create your own. Perhaps nothing exists that meets your needs, or you desire more control. But that control comes with risk.
Instead of relying on a third-party provider to secure applications for you, you are entirely responsible for ensuring that custom solutions cannot be breached. This can be complex, confusing, and stressful when approached without the correct foundational knowledge. Fortunately, secure app development doesn’t need to be complicated. All you need to ensure success is the right information.
What is Custom Application Development?
Custom application development is the process of designing, building, and deploying software tailored to your business’ unique needs. This route is increasingly popular, and for good reason: off-the-shelf solutions often do not properly address the challenges you face. Your options in this situation are to work around the software’s limitations, or design your own.
Custom application development allows you to create the exact solution you need, built specifically to suit your business. This prevents you from needing to wrestle with software that doesn’t meet your requirements – but it also creates more responsibility.
Learn more: What is Custom Application Development?
The Importance of Custom Application Development Security
When you design a custom application, you also define its attack surface. Failing to take security into account can make your new solution a major threat to your company’s safety. Malicious actors are always waiting for a vulnerability to exploit, and you may not even realize that anything’s wrong until you experience a data breach.
By prioritizing secure application development from the beginning, you can mitigate any potential risks before they present a serious problem. This strategy improves your overall security posture by leaps and bounds, making it significantly more difficult for attackers to reach your systems and data.
The Threats You’re up Against
The threats targeting custom applications are as diverse as the software itself. It is critical to understand the most common attacks you are likely to face.
Injection Attacks
Threat actors can inject malicious code directly into your application, allowing them to remotely and secretly enact harmful behaviors.
Zero Day Exploits
It will take time to identify vulnerabilities within your application post-deployment. If threat actors are able to find them first, they can attack your systems before you even have an opportunity to patch these weaknesses.
Broken Access Control
Weak or broken access controls can allow unauthorized access to sensitive accounts. Once in, cybercriminals can reach data, workflows, and your company network.
Insecure APIs
Application programming interfaces (APIs) allow your custom application to communicate and interact with others. If these are unsecured, they can be used as an attack vector. This is an increasingly common tactic.
Even the most well-designed application can be undermined by a single unpatched vulnerability. By prioritizing security from day one, you can mitigate your risk of experiencing these threats.
Secure App Development: Your How-To Guide
Make Security a Priority
It isn’t enough to tack security measures on at the end – you must think about how you will protect your apps from the outset. Implement a layered defense that accounts for the main threats you will face. Treat security as a core principle, not a secondary concern.
Conduct Threat Modeling Early
Before any action is taken to design the application, assess your biggest security issues. Who is your userbase? What sensitive information will be handled? Which parts of your app will be most vulnerable? This process helps you choose the most effective defenses.
Follow Secure Coding Standards
Adhere to secure coding practices such as those recommended by the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP). These remove the guesswork from secure app development, giving you a clear set of guidelines to follow.
Implement Strong Authentication and Authorization
Ensure that users cannot access your application without identifying themselves, and implement ways to control permissions based on job title. Limiting access to sensitive data reduces the opportunities threat actors will have to cause harm.
Keep Dependencies in Check
Many modern apps rely on third-party frameworks to function. Keep an inventory of your dependencies, and check regularly for any known vulnerabilities.
Perform Regular Pen Tests and Monitor for Threats
Perform penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities within your application, then enact additional security measures to address them. Continuously monitor for potential threats, so you can respond quickly and limit damage.
Hire a Cybersecurity Expert
Your development team may not have the necessary knowledge to implement application security tools. Partnering with professionals grants you access to their combined expertise, allowing you to create custom applications with strong defenses.
Discover How Secure Development can Protect Your Business
While custom applications are essential for many businesses, they can also be dangerous. Treating security as an afterthought leaves your entire company vulnerable to a variety of cyber threats, potentially resulting in lost finances, data, and trust. Application development security is essential, as this will mitigate potential risk factors and help you prevent attacks. A secure app is not the result of luck – it’s the outcome of intentional, informed, and proactive choices during the development process.
Need help developing a secure custom app? ION247 understands that you shouldn’t have to choose between the perfect software solution and your business’ safety. We deliver applications tailored to your precise needs and built with security in mind. If you want to learn more, get in touch.
