Essential Cyber Security Inquiries Every App Creator Needs to Ponder Upon
In the digital age, cybersecurity has become a paramount concern for developers and users alike. With the global financial loss due to cybercrimes estimated at approximately $300 billion annually, it's clear that the stakes are high.
The first step in developing a robust cybersecurity strategy for an application is to identify the stakes and potential losses in case of a security breach. For instance, an online banking app requires more consideration for cybersecurity than a food delivery app. This analysis of risks and stakes forms the foundation of the security strategy.
The approach to application security is another crucial aspect. Proper encryption is one of the most commonly lacking aspects of app security, with 76% of apps failing to meet data storage security requirements according to a study. Encrypting the data collected, transmitted, and secured by an application can protect it from being read if intercepted by someone with ill intentions. The choice of encryption technique and standards for an application should be discussed among the development team, considering the stakes and risks of the application.
Another important question is to identify the risk factors against which the application needs to be secured. By examining the history of similar apps and their security vulnerabilities, developers can learn from past mistakes and implement measures to prevent similar issues.
To ensure the security of open-source components, which can often be the weakest part of any software, it is advisable to use them from reliable sources/developers. Careful selection and regular updates of these components are essential to maintain their security.
In addition, striking a balance between strong authentication requirements and user convenience is crucial. Stricter requirements for financial transactions on banking apps compared to social media posts are common practice. Biometric authentication and password requirements should be decided upon, with two-factor authentication keys needed for sensitive actions.
Planning for encryption and data storage is essential in ensuring application security throughout its life. Backup plans should be considered in case the user loses the decryption keys or passwords.
Lastly, to avoid cybersecurity attacks, a secure software development life cycle (SSDLC) should be introduced, making security a part of every phase of application development. Vulnerabilities in open-source components are constantly discovered and fixed by their developers, so it is important to keep all open-source components updated at all times.
In conclusion, the five most important questions that any developer needs to consider regarding cybersecurity are the analysis of the stakes and risks of the application, the approach to application security, data encryption and storage, the use of reliable open-source components, and the implementation of a secure software development life cycle (SSDLC). By addressing these questions, developers can create secure applications that protect users and their data from cyber threats.
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