Custom application development provides businesses with a simple solution to a common challenge. Off-the-shelf solutions are designed to cater to a wider audience, and this means their features are typically fairly basic. Due to this, they are not equipped to handle the unique needs of most businesses.
But while custom app development solves this problem, it introduces an entirely new one. Despite their flaws, pre-built solutions do typically come with security measures included. Your own in-house software will not. You are responsible for ensuring that these apps do not contain critical vulnerabilities.
Unfortunately, there are many key mistakes businesses make that put their data, customers, and staff at risk.
Mistake 1: Putting Security in a Silo
Many businesses make the mistake of treating security as an add-on. They plan their desired app, create it, and then consider how they will secure it. This is not good enough. The software already contains a number of serious vulnerabilities that any security measures added at this stage will barely address.
Instead, security should be built into the app from day one. Ideally, the concept should be introduced during the planning phase, before any actual work is done. This approach keeps your team focused and ensures that gaps are closed early in the development process.
Mistake 2: Dangerous Coding Practices
Secure app development is not possible if staff are not following secure coding practices. Teams relying on outdated or copy-pasted code are especially at risk, as there is no telling what vulnerabilities could be present within. Fundamental mobile app development security best practices such as static code analysis are essential, and should be applied consistently. Code should also be built from scratch where possible, to prevent security issues.
Mistake 3: Neglecting Runtime Security
Runtime Application Self Protection (RASP), defined by Gartner, is technology that implements security measures as an application is running. It is capable of identifying an attack in real-time, and enacting basic response tactics. Unfortunately, this is often neglected by businesses creating custom solutions.
It is not enough for your app to be secure in theory. If it cannot stand up to a real attack during normal runtime, it is vulnerable – and so is your business. RASP helps ensure that the app remains secure at all times.
Mistake 4: Weak Authorization and Authentication
User authentication and authorization are essential for app security. At the user level, this is the most basic (and important) thing a developer can do to prevent data breaches. However, it is also so commonplace that it tends to be taken for granted and forgotten about. This represents a major security risk.
When developing your own custom solutions, steps must be taken to prevent unauthorized access. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is one relatively simple access control that will help improve your app’s security standards.
Mistake 5: Forgetting About Tests and Patching
Security is a continuous, ongoing process, not a one-time concern. Over time new threats emerge and gaps start to appear. One crucial error that businesses make is creating the app, and then doing nothing else. No tests, no security patches. In the long-term, this approach results in even the strongest app being full of holes.
Instead, all custom apps must include a strategy for regular tests and updates. Not only will this maintain a strong security posture as time passes – it will also keep your software efficient years into the future, improving business productivity.
Cybersecurity vs App Development: Why It Can Be Easier Said Than Done
Why does this happen? How is such an important part of app development being ignored?
Instead of treating the two as parts of a whole, many developers see it as cybersecurity vs app development. That is, they are treated as opposing forces. This is somewhat understandable, as secure practices can negatively impact the development cycle.
The biggest way this occurs is through delays. Secure app development takes time. When a solution needs to be released quickly, to address an ongoing problem, this quickly presents issues. This is one reason it’s so important to build security into the heart of development. If they are treated as separate concerns, security falls down the priority list faster than you might expect. And when a threat emerges, it will ultimately be the entire business that suffers.
Mobile App Security Best Practices
When developing custom business applications, particularly for mobile (a platform especially fraught with security threats, due to poor defenses), here are some best practices that reduce the risk of a breach:
- Include a list of security requirements for the development team in your initial brief.
- Enforce secure coding practices. The NIST’s Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF) can provide you with a set of guidelines, if needed.
- Imbed runtime protections into the application.
- Implement access controls and authentication. Back this up with strict policies, such as Zero Trust architecture and the principle of least privilege.
- Create a testing schedule to identify vulnerabilities, and a patch schedule to address them
These measures will help prevent security breaches, protecting data, users, and your reputation.
FAQ
Not particularly, except that mobile devices can be more vulnerable. They often have weaker protection to start with, making them easier attack vectors. You should already be implementing a high enough security standard in your apps that this is not an issue.
Security testing should be performed at each step of development, and regularly after release. At bare minimum, tests should take place once per year or after a security incident.
One simple method is penetration testing. An expert will attempt to breach your software, using the same techniques that a real attacker would. This shows you not only where your biggest vulnerabilities are, but also how they can be exploited.
Yes, there are a variety of tools available online to ensure security in mobile app development. However, these are often limited. If you are not confident in your abilities, it may be better to ask a managed service provider (MSP) experienced in custom app development.
Custom Applications Should Strengthen Your Security, Not Weaken It
Ultimately, the biggest mistake made is seeing it as cybersecurity vs app development. Treating the two as separate, opposing forces leads to major vulnerabilities and eventually, data breaches. The best thing you can do for your business’ future is integrate security into every step of app development, closing gaps as they appear and constantly checking for new ones. This will protect you, your users, and your data.
With years of experience working in both security and app development, ION247 understands that they must work together. We want to show you how to accomplish this, so you don’t experience the devastating attacks that close many small businesses down for good. Get started by learning how to design a secure app from the ground up.
