Security is an important aspect of mobile app development. It should be as important as functionality and flexibility. This is an essential aspect of mobile app development and must be treated with more seriousness, given the real risks to businesses (hacking, loss sensitive data, ransomware, etc.). Many companies have begun to minimize security in app development and maintenance to keep up with the growing demand for mobile apps. They cannot afford this risk.
Security threats are well-known to organizations and must be heightened during app development. As threat actors shift their focus from traditional networks to mobile applications, they are more likely to target the user with sophisticated attacks that exploit security flaws in apps or development tools. To ensure that the app is more user-friendly and agile, it’s important to keep cybersecurity in mind when developing mobile apps. This will help increase the ROI on the investment.
Mobile App Security Improves
To provide mobile apps with key capabilities, organizations need to be able to increase operational efficiency and improve productivity. Mobile apps must also deliver consistent performance under any threat scenario. In an “always-on” world, mobile device hardware such as fingerprint scanners and cameras should be utilized to improve cybersecurity. Biometric access controls such as facial recognition and fingerprint scanning are excellent examples. Two-factor authentication 2FA is a method where a unique password is sent to the registered phone to increase user authentication. So that users can work even when connectivity is lost, apps should not require WiFi or cell signal. Mobile apps must run on every operating system and mobile device while providing consistent security for users.
Cybersecurity is critical to protect data from leakage, and prevent unauthorized access to data assets (e.g. pricing, patient information, financial systems etc.). A compromised mobile app could allow intruders to access these assets, or even the capability to take users offline. An attacker may be able to access and steal sensitive information through mobile apps’ security vulnerabilities. Cunning hackers may exploit security vulnerabilities in mobile apps’ WiFi environments, especially in work-from-home settings, to access sensitive business information. They also have the ability to tap into security holes in the app to steal authentication data (user IDs and passwords as well as biometric credentials). to launch attacks against the business and apps later.
These problems can be avoided by developers who consider cybersecurity at every step of developing mobile apps. Techniques to be considered include encrypted databases (with stringent management of encryption/decryption keys), and encryption of all data while in transit over public networks. This ensures that any data stolen from the network or app will not be readable by hackers. A user can sign and time stamp all corporate data changes using appropriate encryption methods. This is useful for lawsuits, or if it becomes necessary to rebuild lost databases.
Coding Security is Important
Mobile app development is plagued by insecure code. In order to hack into mobile app development, hackers often exploit insecure code. They can steal sensitive data and demand ransoms that are exorbitant (now worth millions of dollars).
Enterprises should use best-practice security measures when developing mobile apps. This includes code scanning that can be manually or automatically performed to find security flaws such as insecure libraries, unpatched tools, breaches in development standards and insecure third party code. Also, strict standards must be applied for testing, coding and updating production libraries. To protect your security, a good encryption strategy will be essential.
Mobile app software that is low-code or no-code can be helpful, particularly when it comes to creating tasks-based apps for small businesses transactional systems, web applications and analytics apps. They are easy to use and require minimal IT expertise. These types of mobile apps require some technical knowledge, such as cybersecurity, integration with mission-critical systems, and other necessary skills.
Security verification is simplified by low-code and no-code apps. This ensures that security code integration occurs early in development cycles, with regular updates. Automation pipelines that include security code validation and integrated testing help streamline the verification process. It ensures app development is more fluid and cybersecurity best practices are embedded in code seamlessly.
Testing Should be More Important
App developers make the fatal security error of not testing their apps properly or skipping them. Apps that are low-code or no-code often run the first time, so it is easy for naive developers to assume the apps will work well enough to be ready for prime-time. Relaxed testing can lead to subtle security flaws in code that could have serious consequences. One oversight could leave an organization open to ransomware attacks and compromised infrastructure.
To protect against evolving threats, security is constantly improving. This protection can be accessed by companies if they work with experts in mobile app development to ensure that their apps are secure and effective before being deployed. By collaborating with mobile app developers, companies can keep up to date by taking advantage of the most recent cybersecurity trends and techniques.
Usability testing is a key component of mobile app development. It is used to make sure that the user has the best experience possible and create an intuitive, flexible interface that conforms to all standards. This testing is used to determine the app’s speed and provides better user experience.
Penetration testing is a tool that allows app developers to find and mitigate any mobile app vulnerabilities. This allows for optimization of different phases in the development process. This testing identifies potential vulnerabilities hackers might try to exploit in order to compromise app data and features.
Using High-Level Authentication Methods
Mobile apps are vulnerable to security breaches due to authentication issues. Mobile app developers have been looking into passwordless options. Biometrics and 2-factor authentication are being explored to provide alternative credential validation. Developers and organizations that aren’t comfortable using the passwordless approach should make sure the app can only accept strong alphanumeric passwords. Also, authentication should prompt users to update their passwords regularly.
Apps that are sensitive should require biometric authentication. This includes retina scanning and fingerprint scans. Mobile app development should focus on security and authentication, in line with smart cybersecurity practices. App breaches are becoming more frequent. High-level authentication must be a priority.
As data breaches are financially devastating for any organization, no matter what the cause, mobile app developers should make cybersecurity their primary concern. Organizations are becoming more aware of cybersecurity best practices, and they should include them in every aspect of their development processes.
Jeff Kalwerisky is a former Senior Information Security Architect at TIBCO Software Inc. He also served as CISO for Alpha Software. CISO of Alpha Software Jeff supervises data protection and strategic management.
