App Security Assessment: Does Your Business Need it?

 

In recent years, the number of apps available on the app stores has increased exponentially. You can easily find an app to help you assist in your tasks throughout the day. Moreover, in the last few years, businesses across the globe have realized the importance of having an app. Mobile apps allow these businesses to stay connected with their users and also provide them with better services. However, app security continues to remain a threat to the reputation of these businesses. 

Everything You need to know about App security assessment 

Data shows that almost 4 out of every 5 Android devices are vulnerable to one of the twenty-five threats present in the Android OS. This means that businesses are at an increased risk of getting attacked or losing their data if their app is not secure. Additionally, the OWASP mobile top 10 also poses a threat to mobile applications. Taking all of this into consideration, it is essential for enterprises to secure their apps with the help of mobile application security assessments. These assessments help in testing for a number of security threats such as unauthorized access, code injection, and data leakage. 

What entails a Mobile Application Security Assessment? 

From breach of data to complete loss of control to all kinds of compliance issues, mobile apps that are not secure can challenge the baseline security of developers. App vulnerabilities, whether they are being operated on iOS or Android, can be easily exploited by adversaries to gain access to sensitive data or steal personal information. Other malicious actions might also take place. This can often cost businesses millions. This is precisely why in-app protection is crucial. 

Regular security assessments help ensure that mobile apps are secure and safe for the end users. A proper security assessment helps in analyzing the code of the application, its architecture, and various other vulnerabilities that might exist. The following are some steps involved in the security assessment of mobile applications: 

Code Review: In this step, the application's source code is examined. This helps in addressing any inconsistencies in the code, incorrect coding practices, and other vulnerabilities that might exist. 

Static Analysis: The binary code of the application is examined in this step. This also helps in identifying any potential vulnerabilities that might exist in the code. As the name suggests, the code is not executed.

Dynamic Analysis: In this step, the code is executed on a mobile device or an emulator. The developers then interact with the app to figure out if there are any vulnerabilities. This includes testing the app manually as well as using automated tools that can simulate also kinds of attacks. 

Penetration Testing: The impact that a successful potential attack could have on the application is determined with the help of manual and automated techniques. 

Reviewing the configuration:  Examining the settings of the application as well as the configuration files to make sure that they are secure. 

Conclusion 

It is important to understand that a single tool is not enough for providing comprehensive security coverage. Hence, it is crucial to use all available resources for securing your app. Make sure to partner with a leading app security platform to help you keep your app secure and your end-users satisfied.