Over the last few years, the ecosystem of web application security threats and vulnerabilities has become significantly more intricate. There are now cross-sector implications of data breaches due to the linked structure of advanced web applications.
On November 23, 2022, statistics from the Statista Research Department showed that 52,212 firms throughout the globe had suffered data breaches between November 2020 and October 2021. Companies in the banking sector seem to have experienced the highest rate of data breaches among the categories analyzed. When comparing company sizes, smaller businesses were more likely to be affected by data breaches.
The implications of having an application compromised, hacked, or data breached are more significant than ever, which is why web application security is so crucial. Lack of sufficient cybersecurity protocols can result in damages ranging from organizations experiencing delays in operating systems to significant financial losses which might result in the complete shutdown of an organization’s operations. Web application security refers to the practice of making websites work as intended, even while they are under attack. It secures the data of the end user and protects the financial stability of organizations. This is why ensuring adequate levels cybersecurity are created when developing new web applications.
Let’s take a deeper dive into how web application security intervenes.
Web application security involves designing websites to work efficiently even when attacked. A Web application’s security protocols protect it against hostile agents. Web applications inherently have vulnerabilities, just as any software. According to a 2019 Forrester Research survey, 42% of businesses that had witnessed a cyberattack attributed the event to a software security vulnerability, while 35% blamed it on a buggy web application. This survey points out that minor errors in code can be exploited, exposing businesses to significant risk. To prevent these flaws, we need web application security. Secure development approaches and security measures across the software development life cycle (SDLC) address design-level faults and implementation-level issues.
An organization’s vulnerability and the increasing number of methods used to attack web applications increases the levels of threat to organizations.
• Risk factors: Design flaws, open-source code, third-party widgets, API weaknesses, and denial of access control are just a few of the most typical threats to web application security.
• Mode of attack: Various attacks, such as brute force, SQL injection, Man-in-the-middle, cookie poisoning, cross-site scripting, credential stuffing, session hijacking, vulnerable deserialization, and so many others, are used to leverage the power of these web application glitches.
To reduce risks, what methods work best?
Professionals must be apprised, and capable of resolving current security vulnerabilities, considering cutting-edge technologies are still in their infancy and are rapidly evolving. Based on an analysis of 7 million websites, SiteLock estimates that websites presently witness an average of 94 cyberattacks per day and receive 2,608 bot visits per week.
These numbers can be limited by using modern encryption, mandating adequate authentication, regularly patching identified vulnerabilities, and implementing appropriate software development practices. These are all crucial elements in preventing the exploitation of web applications. Systems which have your most basic levels of security are still subject to having experienced hackers may identify flaws, so it’s best to take a holistic approach to security. Organizations require cybersecurity experts who are familiar with most forms of web application intrusions and can devise effective countermeasures to keep sensitive data and critical systems secure.
Testing web applications: Some organizations pay hackers to break into their systems and look for vulnerabilities. By doing this, the developers are notified of any potential threats to their web applications. They devise strategies and employ techniques to prepare for these and other types of attacks and implement countermeasures as deemed appropriate.
A successful attempt in hacking an organization’s system is helpful in evaluating the overall intensity of the vulnerability, understanding the implications of an attack, and in controlling the risk factors. Assigning a severity rating to problems discovered during security testing, allows an organization to prioritize the order in which these issues are addressed.
Why is web application security important?
The three main factors that make web application security so crucial are:
- Preventing the loss of sensitive data,
- Realizing that security goes beyond testing
- Protecting an organization’s reputation and limit losses.
Implications for a business being hacked can go beyond the financial threshold!
Web applications are exposed to far too many vulnerabilities, although some establishments are always at greater risk of cyberattacks than others. One high-profile industry is blockchain and cryptocurrencies. The safety of web applications is crucial for the success of any firm operating online. The foundational component of the digital economy is data, and the prospects for innovation and malice around them are unquantifiable.
Web applications are vulnerable to attacks from a variety of geographic locations, scales, and degrees of sophistication due to the Internet’s worldwide reach. The security of websites, online applications, and web services like APIs is the main goal of web application security.
How can a degree or certification in cybersecurity from EC-Council University prepare you and your organization in this area?
By earning a cyber security degree online or certification from one of ECCU’s comprehensive and career-focused cybersecurity programs you will position yourself for success in the highly sought-after field of cybersecurity. Take the first step by filling out the online application form for admission. You will work with one of ECCU’s highly qualified enrollment advisors who will help you prepare your application file for review, evaluation, and acceptance.
A master of cyber Security from EC Council University can provide you with the education and qualification needed from an accredited and globally recognized institution to enter or advance your career in cybersecurity.
Enroll in the Online Cyber Security Degree program by clicking here.
