There are several advanced ways to improve web application security. According to recent studies, web applications have become one of the top targets for vulnerability exploitation. Notably, one study found that over 40% of web applications have critical vulnerabilities. As a web application developer, you need to know the top strategies to secure your software. This way, you can prevent costly data breaches and keep your company’s sensitive information safe. Read on to learn about the most advanced ways to improve web application security.
Use A Web Application Firewall
First, it is essential to use a web application firewall to amplify software protection. Importantly, a web application firewall (WAF) can work to protect your app from malicious HTTP traffic. Indeed, a WAF business firewall places a filtration barrier between the destination server and the cyber attacker. Once configured, it usually inspects every request against a rule engine. Based on these rules, the WAF blocks suspicious requests. Simultaneously, it routes legitimate ones to the destination. Notably, a web app firewall can protect your code from cross site forgery, cross site scripting, and SQL injections. Of course, you can also build your own specific rules for activity you would like to block. Definitely, use a web application firewall to place a barrier between hackers and your destination servers.
Implement The DevSecOps Methodology
Next, you can implement the DevSecOps methodology to upgrade security in your web application pipeline. With this development approach, security, operations, and development go hand-in-hand. Indeed, every member of a DevSecOps team is accountable for program safety and implementing security disciplines across each process. To learn more about devsecops fundamentals, you can take an online course such as JFrog Xray. Notably, this walks you through how to set up policies to ensure your platform is secure. Since policies control your vulnerability rules, compliance, and violation alert systems, proper training is critical for enterprises to maintain security. Absolutely, implement the DevSecOps methodology to protect your web apps through every stage of development.
Require Input Validation
In addition, you should also require input validation to strengthen security measures in your web applications. With input validation, you can prevent corrupted data from passing through your workflow and malfunctioning future components. downstream. For example, data format validation works to ensure your data meets the proper format guidelines, such as JSON or XML. On the other hand, you can also use data value validation to check that your parameters meet proper expectations for value ranges or lengths. Ideally, you should validate inputs with a syntactical and semantic approach. This way, you can enforce proper formatting and correctness for sensitive business values. In short, require input validation to secure your web application pipeline.
Scan Code With Black Box Tools
Moreover, you can also scan your code with black box tools to improve web application security. Notably, black box tools automatically scan software and web apps to identify vulnerabilities in your programs. Ideally, you should use automated web app security scanners throughout every stage of the software development lifecycle (SDLC). Even if your application only has a few non-visible inputs, testing in these early stages is critical. Indeed, your starting inputs are often the basis for all other inputs. Usually, it is much more difficult to secure these inputs later without rewriting the entire web application. Undoubtedly, you should scan your code with black box tools at every step of the way for the best web application protection.
Exercise Caution With Cookies
Furthermore, it is essential to exercise caution when using cookies for your web applications. Notably, many business websites use third-party cookies to speed up users’ future visits and increase personalization. However, hackers can easily manipulate cookies to gain access to protected information. Therefore, you should almost never use cookies to store highly sensitive data, such as users’ passwords. This makes it incredibly easy for hackers to gain unauthorized access. In addition, cookies with long use periods can increase security risks. Ideally, you should try to be conservative when setting expiration dates for your cookies. Certainly, exercise caution with cookies to protect your web apps.
There are several advanced ways to improve web application security. First, it is essential to use a web application firewall to establish a barrier between the destination server and cyber attackers. Next, implement the DevSecOps methodology to enhance security at every step of the way. In addition, require input validation to prevent corrupted data from passing through your workflow. Moreover, scan your code with black box tools to identify vulnerabilities. Furthermore, exercise caution with cookies, as they are often easier to infiltrate. Implement these advanced ways to improve web application security.
