Protecting a web app is of paramount importance. Improper security can lead to catastrophic results. A developer should take care of them at the time of web app development. So the question is how to secure the web apps? Most of the cyber breaches involve web applications. However, few organizations try to improve web security. Most web applications become vulnerable because the coding has flaws. If one Fails to filter input/output it can lead to cross-site scripting and SQL injection. They are the two main types of web application attacks.

A Web Application threat model

Businesses must keep up with the incredible growth. Customer portals, new applications, payment solutions and other activities happen at lightning speeds. Thus, an organized approach is not a priority.

Companies cannot implement a web application security model without a blueprint or assets in use list. They need to create a database of applications and their use. This consists of an inventory sheet, their last updated version and their plans to use them in future. It is also important to note the deployment mode. One should also check the layers of the application and the security measures in existence in the web app.

Prioritize the applications to secure Web apps:

You might lose focus because of numerous applications. So sort them in order of priority after or during the inventory of applications. Sort the applications into critical, serious and normal.

Critical applications are primarily for external-facing apps that deal with customer data and other monetary transactions. This is the most important data for any business. These applications are most likely to be attacked by the hackers. So, secure the Web apps and give it utmost importance.

Serious applications can be both – internal and external. – contain sensitive customer as well as company information.

Normal applications are less exposed, but they should be included too during the tests.

prioritize the applications- You can reserve extensive testing for the critical applications and can reserve intensive testing for the less critical or normal applications.

Analyze App vulnerabilities:

A vulnerability is a weakness in an application that makes a threat possible. Once you start testing your applications, you’ll start getting a list of vulnerabilities. An average application has around 20 vulnerabilities. However, not all vulnerabilities are critical. But cross-site scripting and injection are critical vulnerabilities and should be solved immediately.

Fix critical and serious vulnerabilities:

Solving the vulnerabilities takes a considerable amount of time and resources. Do not solve all the vulnerabilities together. Instead of that prioritize them. One should take care of critical issues which create a terrible impact on the business and brand reputation. As soon as these critical and serious vulnerabilities are solved, the low or medium vulnerabilities should be solved.

Deploy protection:

No matter how small or large your business is, find and solve the vulnerabilities that might take weeks or months.

• Get a Web Application Firewall for your application

Traffic routed through WAF is blocked if found malicious. One should block Exploitation of any vulnerability, generic or app logic specific can also be blocked with the help of advanced WAF.

• Restrict application functionalities

If you want to wait until you solve the app vulnerabilities, you can restrict the application functionalities.

Use Advanced Application Security Measures:

Frequent changes in the code, third-party source code, zero-day vulnerability and many other circumstances make application security a difficult and never-ending project. Implementing the above steps along with these quick tips will help you make your application secure.

• Most businesses rely on automated app testing. They are critical to finding vulnerabilities. A machine does not recognize logical flaws in an application. Thus Penetration testing with the help of security experts is the best way to crack the application like the hackers.
• Retire applications that are no longer in use. Forgetting about such applications is extremely dangerous.
• Update passwords of the administrator regularly. This is the most basic step of security which is not given enough importance.
• Redirect all HTTP traffic to HTTPS.
• It is necessary to implement a content security policy.

Maintaining the security of web applications is a team effort. You can immediately start by creating the blueprint of the applications. The above steps will keep your application safe to use.

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