The world continues to transform to become more connected and digital. However, with this progress, new challenges also arise in the security of the applications and software that we frequently use. According to Kaspersky, in 2023 alone, there will be a significant increase in attacks on applications reaching 33.8 million attacks, an increase of 50 percent from the previous year.
Facing these challenges in application security, Application Security is the key to ensuring that our applications and software are protected from cyber threats. Application Security is not just security, but a collection of advanced technologies such as encryption, authentication, verification, access control, and monitoring.
What exactly is Application Security and how does it work to protect applications and software from cyberattacks? Let’s learn more.
What is Application Security?
Application Security is a practice and process for protecting applications or software from various threats that could cause damage or breach security. This includes identifying, preventing, and mitigating security vulnerabilities that may exist in applications.
The goal of Application Security is to ensure that applications operate in the desired manner and is designed to protect data and system resources from unauthorized access or modification by unauthorized parties.
The Importance of Application Security for Data Compliance?
Unsecured applications can become entry points that make it easier for attackers to carry out various types of attacks, such as data theft, malware distribution, or information manipulation. Therefore, protecting applications from various security threats is a key step in mitigating cybersecurity risks that can compromise the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of company information and resources.
The importance of Application Security is also related to compliance with applicable regulations and security standards. Many regulations such as GDPR in Europe, PCI DSS for the credit card industry, or the PDP Law in Indonesia for the health sector require companies to maintain data and system security to certain standards. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in legal sanctions, fines and significant reputational harm for the company.
Apart from that, Application Security also plays an important role in building and maintaining customer trust. Strong security in applications can increase customer trust in a company, as they will feel more confident that their data and information is well protected.
Conversely, failure to protect applications from security threats can damage a company’s reputation and reduce customer trust, which can negatively impact a company’s long-term growth and success.
Several Types of Application Security
There are several types of Application Security that focus on different aspects of a software application to protect it from security threats. Here are some common types of Application Security:
Application Security Testing
It includes various testing methods to identify security vulnerabilities in applications. These methods can include penetration testing, functional testing, and source code security testing to find and fix existing vulnerabilities.
Secure Application Development
It is an approach to integrating security principles into the entire software development lifecycle. This includes practices like security frameworks, secure source code, and the selection of secure development tools.
Vulnerability Management
It involves the process of identifying, assessing, and managing security vulnerabilities found in applications. This includes vulnerability monitoring, risk assessment, and implementation of mitigation measures to reduce associated risks.
Authentication and Authorization
This is a basic security control that ensures that only authorized users have access to the application and its associated data. This includes the use of strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and user access rights management.
Data Encryption
This involves encryption technology to protect stored data and data transmitted between applications and other users or servers. This helps prevent unauthorized access and data snooping.
API Security
With increasing integration and dependency on APIs, it is important to protect APIs from security threats. This includes the use of API authentication, encryption, and access control to ensure the security of communications between applications.
Implementing a combination of the types of Application Security above can help companies build a strong security layer to protect their applications from various existing security threats.
One security solution that is gaining widespread recognition in application security is OpenText Fortify. This advanced application security platform enables organizations to identify, prioritize, and address security vulnerabilities throughout the software development lifecycle. With leading technologies such as SAST, DAST, SCA, and IAST, OpenText Fortify provides comprehensive visibility into application security posture and enables proactive risk management.
Strengthen Your Cybersecurity with Application Security OpenText from Fortify
OpenText Fortify is an advanced application security platform designed to help companies identify, prioritize, and address security vulnerabilities throughout the software development lifecycle.
By integrating leading technologies such as Static Application Security Testing (SAST), Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), Software Composition Analysis (SCA), and Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST), OpenText Fortify provides comprehensive visibility into an application’s security posture.
With various comprehensive features, such as Fortify Static Code Analyzer, Fortify WebInspect, Fortify on Demand, Mobile Security, Fortify Insight, and Software Security Assurance, this platform allows companies to secure various types of applications and systems, ranging from web applications, APIs, applications mobile, to code infrastructure.
Some of the main advantages of OpenText Fortify include:
- Recognized as a market leader by well-known research institutions such as Gartner, Forrester, IDC, and G2
- Over two decades of empowering enterprises with AppSec platforms that include SCA, SAST, and DAST
- Guarantees security throughout the software lifecycle for any application
- Secure modern web applications with advanced AST solutions
- Provide confidence to mobile app users with thorough security testing at all layers
OpenText Fortify also offers additional benefits to enterprises, such as compliance and regulatory support, cost savings through early detection and treatment of security vulnerabilities, increased time-to-market through integration with development tools and CI/CD pipelines, and proactive risk management by detecting and addressing safety issues before reaching production.
OpenText Fortify Features
1. Fortify Static Code Analyzer by OpenText™ (SAST)
Identify and discover security vulnerabilities in source code early in the software development cycle.
2. Fortify WebInspect by OpenText™ (DAST)
Simulation of security attacks on running applications for comprehensive analysis of web applications and complex services.
3. Fortify on Demand by OpenText™ – Security as a Service
A simple, easy, and fast way to test applications with accuracy without having to install or manage additional software.
4. Mobile Security
A mobile testing methodology that tests all three levels, including client, network, and server.
5. Fortify Insights
Collect and analyze previously disparate data sources, visualized in company dashboards for valuable insights.
6. Security Assurance Software
Centralized management repository that provides visibility to help resolve security vulnerabilities.
7. Fortify Software Security Center by OpenText™
Centralized management repository that provides visibility into the entire application security testing program.
Get OpenText Fortify on VTI
With the support of a certified IT team, Virtus will help you improve application and software security quickly and efficiently. Complicate things with Virtus now! For more information about OpenText Fortify, contact us by clicking here.
Author: Ary Adianto
CTI Group Content Writers
