Ultimate Guide to App Wrapping (2022)

 

Every single day, numerous apps are launched across the globe. From entertainment to education, from buying stocks to selling old clothes - there is an app for every possible activity under the sun. In fact, data shows that there are around 2.87 million apps on the Google Play Store. Moreover, an average smartphone user makes use of almost 10 apps on a daily basis. These numbers are a reflection of how integral apps have become in our life. However, as the use of apps increases, so do security concerns. Making sure that the apps being developed have a robust layer of security is imperative. Some ways of achieving these goals are to make use of application hardening, shielding, or wrapping. 

 

What is Application Wrapping? 

Developers and software administrators can make use of app wrapping for the implementation of security policies and this will help them in both allowing as well as restricting certain actions. This means that employees can download applications without any concerns irrespective of whether the device is corporate-owned or is a personal device. It should be noted that this does not impact the functionality of the app and simply helps in protecting the source data. App wrapping protects the operating system and hence, users can only take actions that are governed by rules and policies. For instance, one can only send an SMS through an iOS device from its built-in app only. App wrapping takes place by the usage of an SDK of the application or via an Enterprise Mobility Management Vendor. 

 

How does App Wrapping Work? 

An important aspect of app wrapping is that it is mainly concerned with the actions that the users can take. It focuses on avoiding any security loopholes or breaches of sensitive data. This is done by injecting a simple code into the enterprise binary. This does not impact the features of the app or its functionality in any manner. It needs minor modifications, permits users to select elements that need to be controlled and a pre-existing software is provided for elements that are commonly restricted. 

 

What are the Pros and Cons of App Wrapping? 

No security solution is fool proof. App wrapping has come a long way. It provides protection to the OS as well as the user in a simple way via tight controls. For instance, an admin is capable of restricting copy-paste activities of the corporate data present in an application. Restrictions specific to the OS can also be imposed. For instance, blocking camera capture for certain applications is possible. However, this puts a ton of pressure on the available resources such as the performance of the processor, data storage, etc. This can result in slower performance and ultimately affect the experience of the users. At times, you may have to invest in procuring an additional tool in order to protect the wrapper itself. 

 

Conclusion 

App wrapping is a great starting point for app security but you shouldn’t rely on it heavily. Given that security policies are updated regularly, it is important to make use of holistic approaches to protect the app. You can make use of app shielding and RASP security as well. These mechanisms will ensure that your application is well protected against threats.