Mobile Application Security – Why independent 3rd party testing is important
We already introduced the Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS) which intends to increase the security of mobile applications by providing a guide and metric for app development. But mobile application security doesn’t end with that.
In order to function properly, mobile application development requires software teams to configure a variety of communication and component layers. However, each layer a developer adds to a mobile application increases the attack surface and opens up new intrusion points. As a result, development teams that fail to secure the layers of their mobile apps and services risk compromising business-critical information, user safety, and device control.
In addition, many of these vulnerabilities are in the application code itself. So developers play a key role in protecting mobile applications – not just in patching them but also in implementing security strategies that actively monitor and address potential threats, regardless of whether an organization has a dedicated security team or not.
The main objective to work with an independed 3rd party
To determine the overall security posture of a given application, expert mobile security specialists employ a rigorous methodology. They replicate the threat posed by a series of threat factors over several levels. Where security flaws are discovered, you’ll be told in easy-to-understand terms what the implications are and, most importantly, how to overcome the problem. This kind of mobile application security assessment will also inform you if any security controls are well implemented or not, so you will be aware of the implications in any case. One of the most well-known frameworks to perform this kind of evaluation is MASVS.
What happens if an external actor finds a weakness or vulnerability in your app
Weak app security can have both long-term and short-term effects on your business, including a bad reputation, financial ramifications of a decline in reputation, and sudden drops in customer numbers. The long-term consequences are greater than the short-term: once an attacker has discovered the vulnerabilities in your app, they can exploit them in various ways. While it’s simpler to patch these repetitive and rare security problems, they will damage your brand beyond repair, and you may not have any chance of recovery.
Conclusion
By integrating security assessment into the mobile application development cycle the developers/manufacturers can better identify security weaknesses of the app before a potential malicious attack. We can do this by carrying out mobile app security tests using different vector attacks, among the additional benefits, we could find:
By identifying potential attackers’ habits and anticipating their movements, you can prevent future attacks.
Ensure compliance with laws and regulations as well as meeting the industry’s security standards.
Before rolling out a new version of the mobile app, change the application’s architecture, design, and code by having a thorough understanding of the source code flaws, attack vectors, bottlenecks, and security holes detected during assessment.
To conclude, by adding a 3rd party assessment, you can make the most of the available labs. They have highly qualified personnel, using the best-in-class cybersecurity tools to achieve the requirements. Along with information on how to prevent security breaches, you’ll also receive neutral assessments of your app’s security status to help you receive more substantial feedback in the review process. All in all, 3rd party testing offers the best possibility to assure a secure and transparent application without any security pitfalls.