6 Ways to Build A Secure Business Application

Building a secure application is the most important thing you can do for your business. It’s not enough to think about security when designing, but rather it should be considered in every design and development phase. The more data collected or stored by an organization, the greater the potential exposure risk they have.

The last decade has seen many high-profile breaches of sensitive information (e.g., Target, Yahoo), which have cost organizations millions in fines and customer losses. Organizations must therefore set out clear strategies for protecting their data from attackers before beginning any project involving collecting or storing sensitive information electronically.

This article provides some techniques for building a secure application that you may wish to consider implementing into your work environment:

• Enable Two Factor Authentication
• Require a Strong Password
• Restrict Access to Sensitive Data
• Encrypt Sensitive Data
• Regularly Audit Systems for Security Vulnerabilities

Enable Two Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an effective way of increasing the security of an account. In addition to a username and password, 2FA requires additional information to authenticate a user.  The user provides a code generated by an app or sent via text message. This makes it much more difficult for attackers to access an account, even if they have obtained the username and password.

If your business applications require users to log in, you should consider enabling 2FA. There are many different 2FA solutions available, so be sure to find one compatible with your systems and that works for you.

Require a Strong Password

Passwords are the first line of defense against attackers who want to access sensitive information on your business applications. The more difficult the password, the less likely it will be for an attacker to guess correctly. Here are some good guidelines for choosing passwords:

• Use at least twelve characters in length
• Do not use any part of your name or organization name as part of the password (e.g., “MyName1234”)
• Do not use words from a dictionary (or other common words)
• Create unique passwords, don’t reuse passwords across multiple sites and accounts

You can require that all passwords be changed every sixty days for even greater.

Restrict Access to Sensitive Data

It’s not enough to protect your data with a strong password if you’re going to store it in an easily accessible location. You should restrict access to sensitive data wherever possible. This means that only authorized users should view or modify this data.

If you can’t restrict access, you should at least encrypt the data to unreadable without the appropriate key. Encryption is transforming readable data into an unreadable format and is one of the most effective ways of protecting information from attackers.

Encrypt Sensitive Data

If you must store sensitive data, be sure to encrypt it. Encryption is transforming readable data into an unreadable format and is one of the most effective ways of protecting information from attackers. There are many different encryption algorithms available, so be sure to choose the appropriate one for your needs.

Regularly Audit Systems for Security Vulnerabilities

Even with all the precautions you take, it’s still possible for your business applications to be compromised. That’s why it’s important to audit your systems for security vulnerabilities regularly. This includes scanning your systems for malware, conducting penetration testing, and auditing user privileges.

Third-Party Security Solutions

Many companies offer security solutions to your business applications. The difficult part is finding the right solution for your business. When we look at companies like Pathlock vs. Saviynt, we can see where features can make the difference. When comparing Pathlock vs. Saviynt, we can see that Pathlock offers many of the same features as Saviynt. Still, Pathlock offers more comprehensive user activity monitoring and a greater reduction in manual review time. In the end, you have to understand your business’s needs and go with what works the best for your company.

Final Thoughts

Building a secure application is the most important thing you can do for your business. By following the tips in this article, you can make sure that your applications are as safe as possible from attack. Implementing two-factor authentication, strong passwords, restricted access, and regular audits are some of the best ways to protect your data. With these measures in place, you can rest assured that your business is safe from harm. Thank you for reading!