Application security

Application security (AppSec) is all about protecting software applications from cyberattacks. It’s a continuous process that involves finding and fixing application weaknesses throughout their entire lifecycle, from design to deployment.

Breakdown of what AppSec entails:

• Protecting data and code: AppSec secures the data and code within an application to prevent unauthorized access, theft, or manipulation.
• Secure development lifecycle (SDLC): Security measures are integrated throughout the entire application development process, not just as an afterthought.
• Testing and monitoring: Regular testing helps identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited, and monitoring helps to detect and respond to attacks.

Importance Of Application Security

Application security (AppSec) is vital for several reasons:

• Reduced Cyberattacks & Data Breaches: Applications are a major entry point for attackers. Strong AppSec practices significantly reduce the risk of successful attacks that could steal data or disrupt operations.
• Protects User and Customer Trust: Data breaches can severely damage trust. By prioritizing AppSec, you demonstrate a commitment to user data security, fostering trust and potentially boosting customer loyalty.
• Compliance with Regulations: Many industries have regulations regarding data security. Robust AppSec helps ensure your applications comply with these regulations and avoid fines.
• Reduced Financial Losses: Data breaches can be costly, leading to financial losses from fines, remediation costs, and lost business. AppSec helps mitigate these risks.
• Stronger Overall Security Posture: Applications are often interconnected. An insecure application weakens your entire IT infrastructure. AppSec strengthens your overall security posture.

Advantages

There are several key advantages to having a strong application security (AppSec) program in place:

• Protection of Confidential Information: One of the primary benefits is safeguarding sensitive data like customer information, financial records, or intellectual property. AppSec helps prevent unauthorized access, theft, or manipulation of this data by attackers.
• Reduced Risk from all Sources: AppSec mitigates vulnerabilities not just from external attackers, but also from internal threats or weaknesses introduced by third-party code. This minimizes the overall attack surface and strengthens your application’s defenses.
• Enhanced Customer Confidence and Trust: By demonstrating a commitment to data security through AppSec, you can build trust with your customers. This can lead to increased customer loyalty and positive word-of-mouth promotion.
• Improved Brand Reputation: Data breaches can be very damaging to a company’s reputation. AppSec helps prevent these incidents and protects your brand image from negative publicity.
• Compliance with Regulations: Many industries have data privacy and security regulations. A strong AppSec program helps ensure your applications comply with these regulations and avoid potential fines or legal issues.
• Reduced Costs: Data breaches can be financially crippling due to fines, remediation efforts, and lost business. AppSec helps prevent these costly incidents.
• Streamlined Maintenance: By proactively identifying and fixing vulnerabilities during development, you can avoid more complex and expensive fixes later on. This leads to smoother application maintenance in the long run.

Jobs

The world of application security (AppSec) offers a variety of career paths. Here are some of the common AppSec jobs:

• Application Security Engineer (ASE): This is a core role, responsible for identifying, analyzing, and fixing vulnerabilities in applications. ASEs conduct security testing, penetration testing, and code reviews. They also work with developers to ensure secure coding practices are followed throughout the development lifecycle.
• Security Analyst: Security analysts with an AppSec focus broaden their analysis to include application security aspects. They monitor applications for suspicious activity, investigate security incidents, and stay updated on the latest threats and vulnerabilities.
• DevSecOps Engineer: This role merges development (Dev), security (Sec), and operations (Ops). DevSecOps engineers integrate security practices into the entire application development process, promoting a “security as code” mentality.
• Security Architect: Security architects design and implement secure application architectures. They understand the bigger picture, considering security throughout the application’s lifecycle and across the entire IT infrastructure.
• Application Security Manager: This leadership role oversees the AppSec program for an organization. They manage a team of security professionals, define security policies and procedures, and ensure compliance with regulations.
• Penetration Tester (Pen Tester): These specialists simulate real-world attacks to identify vulnerabilities in applications. They use hacking techniques to exploit weaknesses and help developers understand the potential impact of security flaws.
• Security Consultant: Security consultants with AppSec expertise provide guidance and support to organizations on how to improve their application security posture. They may conduct security assessments, recommend security tools, and help develop AppSec strategies.

Salaries

The salary range for application security professionals can vary depending on several factors, including:

• Experience: Generally, salaries increase with experience. Entry-level roles might start around $74,000 annually, while senior positions can reach $200,000 or more.
• Location: Cost of living plays a role. Salaries tend to be higher in major metropolitan areas compared to smaller towns.
• Industry: Certain industries, like finance or healthcare, may offer higher salaries due to stricter security requirements.
• Skills and Certifications: Possessing in-demand skills and relevant certifications like Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) or Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) can increase earning potential.

Here’s a rough idea of the average base salary range for application security professionals in the United States:

• Systems/Application Security Analyst: $74,542 – $100,849
• Application Security Engineer: $92,335 – $116,541

Some sources report a higher average for Application Security Engineers, ranging from $146,000 to $177,000. This might reflect data skewed toward more experienced professionals or those in high-demand locations.

Criteria For Jobs

Technical Skills:

• Solid understanding of security concepts: This includes knowledge of common vulnerabilities (OWASP Top 10 is a good starting point), secure coding practices, cryptography, and network security principles.
• Proficiency in security tools: Familiarity with tools for static application security testing (SAST), dynamic application security testing (DAST), and penetration testing is essential. Experience with vulnerability scanners and web application firewalls is a plus.
• Programming knowledge: While the level may vary depending on the role, understanding at least one programming language is beneficial. Common languages used in application security include Python, Java, and C++. Scripting languages like Bash or PowerShell can also help automate tasks.
• Familiarity with development lifecycles (SDLC): Understanding the different stages of software development helps AppSec professionals integrate security practices seamlessly throughout the process.

Soft Skills:

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills: AppSec engineers need to collaborate effectively with developers, security analysts, and other stakeholders. They should be able to communicate complex security concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Problem-solving and analytical skills: Identifying, analyzing, and resolving security vulnerabilities requires strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Attention to detail: A keen eye for detail is crucial for spotting potential security weaknesses in code or application configurations.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team: AppSec professionals often work independently on tasks but also collaborate closely with development teams.

Additional Desirable Skills:

• Experience with security frameworks and methodologies: Knowledge of frameworks like the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) or methodologies like PTES (Penetration Testing Execution Standard) can be valuable.
• Security certifications: While not always mandatory, certifications like Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), or CompTIA Security+ demonstrate expertise and commitment to the field.

Education:

• While a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information security, or a related field is often preferred, some entry-level positions may be attainable with relevant experience and certifications.

Working For Jobs

The world of application security offers a range of exciting careers.

Entry Level:

• Security Analyst: You’ll assist senior security professionals, in learning the ropes of security procedures and threat analysis.
• Network Administrator: This role provides a foundation for understanding networks and how they are secured.
• Junior Developer: While not directly a security role, development experience is valuable in application security, as you’ll understand how applications are built and where vulnerabilities can creep in.

Core Application Security Roles:

• Application Security Engineer: This is a bread-and-butter role. You’ll identify weaknesses in applications, design secure systems, and conduct testing to ensure their safety.
• Penetration Tester (Pen Tester): You’ll ethically hack into applications, mimicking real-world attackers to find vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.

Advanced Roles:

• Application Security Officer: You’ll oversee and manage an organization’s application security program, ensuring best practices are followed.
• Application Security Architect: You’ll design and implement secure application architectures, working closely with developers to build security from the ground up.

What Is Application Security Testing? 

Application security testing, or AppSec testing (AST), helps identify and minimize software vulnerabilities. This process tests, analyzes, and reports on the security level of an application as it progresses across the software development lifecycle (SDLC). It enables teams to prevent software vulnerabilities before deployment and quickly identify vulnerabilities in production. The goal is to develop stronger source code and make applications more secure.

Why is Application Security Testing Important?

Security testing is the process of evaluating an application’s security posture, identifying potential vulnerabilities and threats, and remediating or mitigating them. Security testing is an important step in the SDLC, which can help teams discover security issues in applications before they escalate into damaging attacks and breaches. 

Application security testing can have several key benefits:

• Identifying security flaws in early stages of the development process, when they are simple and inexpensive to fix.
• Avoiding shipping software with security issues, which can have major impacts on a business, including compliance risk, legal risk, and reputation risk.
• Identifying security issues when applications are already running in production and rapidly mitigating them, to prevent attackers from causing damage.
• Continuously improving application security by identifying new vulnerabilities and threats and enhancing security measures.

Application Security Testing Techniques

Penetration Testing

A penetration test (pentest) is an authorized mock attack targeting a computer system to assess its security. Pen testers attempt to identify and test the business impact of system weaknesses by utilizing techniques, tools, and processes that would-be attackers might use.

Penetration testing involves simulating various attacks that might threaten a business to verify that its security can withstand attacks from authenticated as well as unauthenticated locations and system roles. 

Ethical Hacking

Ethical hacking is an authorized attempt to breach computer systems, applications, or data. It involves imitating the behavior and tactics of a malicious actor. This method can help uncover security holes before actors can exploit them.

Security Audit

A security audit involves systematically assessing an information system’s security state by checking whether it conforms to established standards. A comprehensive audit evaluates the system’s physical configuration and the security of its software, environment, user practices, and information processing.

5 Types of Application Security Testing Tools

1. Static Application Security Testing (SAST)

SAST tools inspect code for vulnerabilities and defects. This white box testing technique helps locate problems and bugs in source code. A SAST tool scans static code instruction by instruction, line by line, and compares each against known bugs and established rules. By default, most SAST tools contain many known bugs. Administrators can define additional issues to add to the test plan when needed.

2. Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)

DAST tools examine vulnerabilities in web applications during runtime. This black box technique does not involve any prior knowledge of the code. Rather, DAST tools feed or inject malicious and faulty data into the software. It runs software builds, testing the software externally using hacking techniques to detect exploitable vulnerabilities.

A DAST tool is an input simulator, providing a prescribed input—test cases that simulate a malicious attack targeting an application. The tool compares the expected output to an actual result. A discrepancy between an expected and actual result can indicate a software defect and requires further investigation.

3. Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST)

• In the integrated development environment (IDE) during coding to help assess the code base.
• During software testing phases to report on flaws and performance. 
• When rolling out the built application into production to achieve ongoing security monitoring.

4. Mobile Application Security Testing (MAST)

MAST tools and techniques simulate attacks on mobile applications, combining static and dynamic analysis with investigations of the forensic data generated by the tested mobile apps. A MAST tool can look for security vulnerabilities, similar to DAST, SAST, and IAST, and also check for mobile-specific issues such as malicious WiFi networks, jailbreaking, and data leakage from mobile devices.

5. Software Composition Analysis (SCA)

SCA tools automatically identify open-source software components in a codebase. The goal is to evaluate license compliance, code quality, and security. SCA tools can inspect codebase components, including package managers, source code, manifest files, container images, and binary files, and compile all identified open-source components into a bill of materials (BOM).

Once the BOM is created, the tool compares it against various databases, such as the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) or commercial databases to identify the licenses associated with the code. The tool also uses these databases to analyze overall code quality, check version control, history of contributions, and other aspects. Comparing the BOM against these databases helps identify critical legal issues and security vulnerabilities so teams can quickly fix them.

What are 3 pillars of application security?

 In order to protect your organization’s applications from attack, it is essential to have a strong foundation in the three pillars of application security: process, technology, and people.  

Each pillar plays an equally important role in ensuring the security of your applications.  

In this article, we will dive into each pillar and provide actionable steps to help you implement measures to support all three pillars and protect your applications from potential threats. 

AppSec Pillar 1: Process 

The processes pillar refers to the policies, procedures, and workflows used to manage applications. These processes should be designed to minimize risk and ensure that applications are secure throughout their lifecycle. 

Let’s review how you can support the Process Pillar of Application Security: 

Adopt ‘Shift Left’ For Your SDLC 

According to 2023 EMA Research, 69.3% of organizations have SDLCs that miss critical security steps.  

The Shift Left Movement is dedicated to improving how organizations approach security testing and vulnerability management.  Instead of leaving security until the end, the movement’s goal is to “shift security left” into earlier phases of the development timeline. 

Let’s look at an example of shift left when for SDLC: 

Free Download: Secure Coding Practices – Growing Success or Zero-Day Epidemic? 

Address Security Concerns Early in the Development Process 

Security concerns should be addressed early in the development process, rather than waiting until testing or deployment phases. The development and security teams can work together to identify potential vulnerabilities and address them before they become critical issues. 

Some ways you can do this include: 

• Include security team members to give input on non-security requirements 
• Create threat models for new features and applications 
• Invite security team members to participate in the threat modeling process 

To ensure a more secure application and promote collaboration, involving the security team in the threat modeling process is crucial. In cases where the security team is unable to support every development team, implementing security champion programs can help ensure that the security team’s objectives are represented during the design and development stages. 

Implement Thorough Code Reviews 

Implement a code review process to identify security vulnerabilities in applications. A code review aims to identify and correct issues in the code, improve code quality, and ensure that the code meets the project’s requirements and follows best practices. 

AppSec Pillar 2: Technology 

The technology pillar refers to the security controls used to protect applications. There will always be new products and technologies being introduced to the market, so it’s essential to understand the core needs for technology in application security. 

Let’s review how you can support the Technology Pillar of Application Security: 

Code Scanning Tools 

Code Scanning Tools, or Source Code Analysis Tools, are programs designed to test and analyze code to identify bugs and vulnerabilities before the computer program or application gets pushed live.  

There are three types of Code Scanning Tools based on the type of scanning the tools are performing.  

• Static Application Security Testing (SAST) – designed to analyze the source code of an application and spot potential issues in the early development stages  
• Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) – examine a running web application from outside, simulating an actual attack just like a penetration test  
• Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST) – analyze the source code of the web application while it is running to identify more vulnerabilities with a lower rate of false positives 

Read More: How Code Scanning Tools Are Letting You Down 

Integrated Development Environment 

An Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is a software application that helps software developers write, debug, test, and deploy software. Essentially, it’s a tool that provides guide rails for developing applications. 

As you write code within the IDE, the program can assist by providing syntax highlighting, auto-completion, and debugging tools. These types of features can help developers write code faster and more securely – it can also be used as a learning tool. 

Just like most technology, it should be used as a tool and not as a substitute for the other AppSec pillars. These tools need human intervention to ensure they are programmed properly and working effectively.  

Intrusion Detection Systems 

An intrusion detection system is a software application that monitors a network for malicious activity or policy violations.  

There are two main types of IDS: 

• Network-based IDS (NIDS): NIDS monitor network traffic for suspicious activity. They are typically deployed at network choke points like firewalls and routers. 
• Host-based IDS (HIDS): HIDS monitor system activity for suspicious activity. They are typically deployed on servers and workstations. 

While intrusion detection systems are beneficial for application security, they are only as effective as the team programming them; this is why all three pillars are needed. 

AppSec Pillar 3: People 

Most organizations overlook this important pillar, they invest in the latest technology and implement strict processes, but your first two pillars are only as strong as your People pillar. 

This pillar is all about managing Human Risk. 

Human risk is the potential threat posed by human behavior to an organization, including the actions and behaviors of employees, contractors, and partners with access to the organization’s systems, data, and information.  

Examples of human risks include:  

• Insider Threats 
• Social Engineering Attacks 
• Negligence or Human Error 

Let’s review how you can support the People Pillar of Application Security: 

Security Awareness Training 

One of the most effective ways to manage human risk in application security is to provide security awareness training to employees and contractors. This training should cover topics such as:  

• Password hygiene  
• Phishing prevention  
• Social media oversharing 

Organizations can reduce the risk of social engineering attacks, unintentional data disclosure, and other human-related security incidents by educating employees on these topics. 

Secure Coding Training 

Provide employees with training on security risks and best practices. Secure coding training aims to create software designed with security in mind rather than trying to patch vulnerabilities after they have been discovered.  

Secure coding training typically covers topics such as common software vulnerabilities, secure coding best practices, and how to use security tools and techniques to find and fix vulnerabilities in software. By providing developers with secure coding training, organizations can reduce the risk of data breaches and other security incidents caused by vulnerable software. 

Read More: What Is Secure Coding Training? 

Access Control 

Implement access control policies and procedures to ensure that employees only have access to the data and systems they need to do their jobs. For example, organizations should limit access to sensitive data and systems only to employees who require it to perform their job functions.   

This can include measures such as:  

• Role-based access control  
• Two-factor authentication  
• Least privilege access 

What’s Holding Up Your Application’s Security? 

Application security is a complex and ever-evolving field. However, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of application attacks by focusing on the three pillars of people, process, and technology. Contact our team today to learn how to build an application security program for your organization. 

Application Security Tools and Solutions

Static Application Security Testing (SAST)

SAST helps detect code flaws by analyzing the application source files for root causes. It enables comparing static analysis scan results with real-time solutions to quickly detect security problems, decrease the mean time to repair (MTTR), and troubleshoot collaboratively.

 

Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)

DAST is a proactive testing approach that simulates security breaches on a running web application to identify exploitable flaws. These tools evaluate applications in production to help detect runtime or environment-related errors.

 

Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST)

IAST utilizes SAST and DAST elements, performing analysis in real-time or at any SDLC phase from within the application. IAST tools get access to the application’s code and components, which means the tools achieve the in-depth access needed to produce accurate results.

 

Runtime Application Security Protection (RASP)

RASP tools work within the application to provide continuous security checks and automatically respond to possible breaches. Common responses include alerting IT teams and terminating a suspicious session.

 

Mobile Application Security Testing (MAST)

MAST tools test the security of mobile applications using various techniques, such as performing static and dynamic analysis and investigating forensic data gathered by mobile applications. MAST tools help identify mobile-specific issues and security vulnerabilities, such as malicious WiFi networks, jailbreaking, and data leakage from mobile devices.

 

Web Application Firewall (WAF)

A WAF solution monitors and filters all HTTP traffic passing between the Internet and a web application. These solutions do not cover all threats. Rather, WAFs work as part of a security stack that provides a holistic defense against the relevant attack vectors.

WAF works as a protocol layer seven defense when applied as part of the open systems interconnection (OSI) model. It helps protect web applications against various attacks, including cross-site-scripting (XSS), SQL injection (SQLi), file inclusion, and cross-site forgery (CSRF).

 

CNAPP

A cloud-native application protection platform (CNAPP) centralizes the control of all tools used to protect cloud-native applications. It unifies various technologies, such as cloud security posture management (CSPM) and cloud workload protection platform (CWPP), identity entitlement management, automation and orchestration security for container orchestration platforms like Kubernetes, and API discovery and protection.

4 Application Security Best Practices

The following best practices should help ensure application security.

1. Asset Tracking

An organization must have full visibility over its assets to protect them. The first step towards establishing a secure development environment is determining which servers host the application and which software components the application contains.

Failure to track digital assets can result in hefty fines (such as Equifax’s $700 million penalty for failing to protect millions of customers’ data). The development and security teams must know what software runs in each app to enable timely patches and updates. 

For example, Equifax could have prevented the breach by patching an Apache Struts component in a customer web portal, but they were unaware they were using the vulnerable component.

Asset tracking prevents security issues downstream. Automation can accelerate this time-consuming process and support scaling, while classification based on function allows businesses to prioritize, assess, and remediate assets. 

 

2. Shifting Security Left

The modern, fast-paced software development industry requires frequent releases—sometimes several times a day. Security tests must be embedded in the development pipeline to ensure the Dev and security teams keep up with demand. Testing should start early in the SDLC to avoid hindering releases at the end of the pipeline. 

Understanding the existing development process and relationships between developers and security testers is important to implement an effective shift-left strategy. It requires learning the teams’ responsibilities, tools, and processes, including how they build applications. The next step is integrating security processes into the existing development pipeline to ensure developers easily adopt the new approach. 

The CI/CD pipeline should include automated security tests at various stages. Integrating security automation tools into the pipeline allows the team to test code internally without relying on other teams so that developers can fix issues quickly and easily.

 

3. Performing Threat Assessments

After listing the assets requiring protection, it is possible to start identifying specific threats and countermeasures. A threat assessment involves determining the paths attackers can exploit to breach the application. 

With the potential attack vectors identified, the security team can evaluate its existing security controls for detecting and preventing attacks and identify new tools to improve the company’s security posture.

However, when evaluating existing security measures and planning a new security strategy, it’s important to have realistic expectations about the appropriate security levels. For instance, even the highest level of protection doesn’t block hackers entirely. 

One consideration is the long-term sustainability of the security strategy—the highest security standards might not be possible to maintain, especially for a limited team in a growing company. Another consideration is the acceptable level of risk and a cost-benefit evaluation of the proposed security measures. 

 

4. Managing Privileges

Not every user in an organization requires the same access privileges. Restricting access to data and applications on a need-to-know basis is a key security best practice. There are two main reasons for limiting privileges: 

• If hackers can access the system with stolen credentials (e.g., from an employee in the marketing department), there must be controls to prevent them from accessing other data. Least-privilege access controls help prevent lateral movement and minimize the blast radius of an attack. 
• Insider threats are more dangerous when the network has open internal access. These threats may be malicious or unintentional, such as an employee misplacing a device or downloading malicious files. 

Privilege management should adhere to the principle of least privilege to prevent employees and external users from accessing data they don’t need, reducing overall exposure.

FAQs