App development and maintenance is a lengthy process that, while rewarding in its way, is fraught with challenges. One of the biggest challenges is the ever-looming threats of cybersecurity breaches: malicious attacks intending to access data, destroy information and wreak digital havoc.
According to a report by McKinsey & Company, damage from cyber-attacks will rise to about USD$10.5 trillion by 2025. The report adds that more threats target small and midsized companies due to their unsophisticated security systems. Insights firm Gartner said that in 2023, 75% of system security failures would result from inadequate access, privileges, and identity management. These reports paint a picture that should make you consider threat hunting services to audit your app.
App Development 101
Before talking about integration, it’s best to discuss about the app development process first. This process falls into four distinct phases:
- Pre-launch where the core concepts, goals, and aims of the app are identified;
- Front-end development where developers review the designs and interfaces of the app;
- Back-end development process where the systems that’ll support the app, like databases, servers, and so on are built; and
- Post-launch which is where the app is tracked and constantly maintained to ensure smooth functionality.
On the other hand, app maintenance is the testing, monitoring, updating, and fixing of issues that may arise from the app when it’s in use.
Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Include Cybersecurity In App Development And Maintenance
You should integrate cybersecurity with app development and maintenance for many reasons. Here are five:
- To Improve App Security
- To Improve User Trust
- To Help Detect and Patch Vulnerabilities
- To Comply With The Law
- To Save Costs And Improve Performance
Some of the most common security threats your app users may face include malware attacks, social engineering attacks like phishing and baiting, man-in-the-middle attacks, and more.
Integrating cybersecurity into the app development and maintenance process will give you access to information on potential threats, both when the app is in development and when it’s already in active use, and how to combat them.
During development, you and your team should conduct threat modeling, enabling you to map critical areas likely to host sensitive information. Cybersecurity teams should then work alongside the developers to develop mitigation strategies, making your app secure early in the development cycle.
Once the app is undergoing maintenance, it’ll be easier for you to know what threats to watch out for and how to mitigate them. If you’re in Canada, a Toronto based IT support company can provide you with more information and insights on integrating cybersecurity with app development and maintenance.
When users establish that you take their data security seriously, they’ll likely find it comfortable to use your app. Integrating cybersecurity with app development and maintenance means that user data receives protection from threats like hackers, data breaches, and malware.
Cybersecurity incidents like data breaches affect your business’s bottom line and threaten your company’s reputation. Getting users back on board will become increasingly difficult after a failure on your part caused their sensitive information to leak. Consider integrating cybersecurity with app development and maintenance to enable trust in your app.
Of course this has to be included in app development without compromising usability, which is where authentication strategies like single sign-on (SSO) come into play. By implementing SSO in application development, it’s possible to foster user trust and protect their data, while also giving them a streamlined experience that can even be unified across several other software solutions as well.
Some of the most common vulnerabilities that you can expect in app development and maintenance include insufficient encryption, which will leave sensitive data exposed, poor access controls, which may give unauthorized users access to sensitive data, and broken authentications.
Working alongside a cybersecurity team throughout the development process will help you pinpoint and patch these likelihoods as the app grows. When the app is undergoing maintenance, your cybersecurity team will be responsible for fixing bugs, conducting regular backups, optimizing the app for better performance, and conducting security updates. To make your app invulnerable to attacks, integrate cybersecurity with app development and maintenance.
Governments across the world take data protection more seriously. When developing and maintaining your app, you must ensure that your app’s security is at par to safeguard your users’ data is protected.
Most countries have legal requirements for cybersecurity protocols that should be in place before handling their citizen’s data. When you integrate cybersecurity with app development, you’ll ensure that your app is on the proper threshold and complies with the cybersecurity laws of your area of interest.
Data breaches and cybersecurity incidents are expensive to control. Apart from the social damage it causes to your brand, financial and legal repercussions include the loss of business and lawsuits from individuals and governments.
According to Canadian law, companies must report, notify, and record obligations after a breach. Failure to do this results in steep penalties that include fines and indictments.
Consider integrating cybersecurity with app development and maintenance to save you such costs and liabilities. A vibrant cybersecurity system will help you detect threats before they become a reality. You can mitigate its effects by preparing effectively to tackle it.
Parting Shot
If an app is to function optimally, cybersecurity measures should be in place from the first stage of the development process to the last. It’s more convenient to map and correct security threats or potential vulnerabilities early than to be pushed as an update when the app is already in use. Even when the app is live, it’s advisable to constantly monitor and apply any needed updates to keep it secure and optimal.
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