Web applications are holding charge of the online presence of your business. In today’s digital world, they act as a load-bearing wall of your business infrastructure. Additionally, more and more companies these days are operating only online. In such cases, these applications are the whole and soul of the day-to-day operations.

However, it has become easier and more convenient to operate with the help of websites and other such digital tools. But security always remains a concern due to the presence of widespread online threats. You can counter these threats with the help of web application security testing.

Going further in this blog, we will explore how continuous testing can ensure the security and integrity of your online business…

Web Application Security: An Overview

The terminology itself tells a lot about itself. It is the set of processes, tools, techniques, and tricks to ensure the security of web applications against online and internal security threats. It is recommended to include security testing practices during the design and development of the apps to avoid issues later.

The concept of web application security is built around the idea of creating websites architecturally strong. It involves testing it against potential security threats before it is deployed in service. Just like all other software products, web applications are also susceptible to flaws. Some of these flaws lead to functionality issues, while some result in security issues.

There are several alternative ways to ensure that your web applications stay protected against prevailing cyber threats. One is to deploy security controls to fortify your security posture. It will fight against malicious activities to keep them at bay.

Additionally, security testing is another way to protect your online business infrastructure from malicious threat actors.

Let us through a bit of light on the importance of security testing for web applications…

Importance of Web Application Security Testing

Web applications are among the prime targets for cybercriminals these days. Hackers are always looking for vulnerabilities and security loopholes to exploit within your website. This is why security testing for web applications on a regular basis is important.

Security testing involves assessing the architecture and code of the web application. Plus, the process also includes examining the deployment environment. The following are the major attack vectors hackers often target online businesses with:

· SQL Injection

· XSS (Cross-Site Scripting)

· Remote Command Execution

· Path Traversal

· Buffer Overflow

· Malicious File Execution

These attacks might result in:

· Exposure of restricted and confidential information

· Compromising client’s/ user accounts

· Planting malicious code within the target systems

· Business downtime

There are many other things that might go wrong if you fail to secure your web applications. An attack not only imparts damage to the application’s infrastructure. It also leads to a loss of reputation for your business in the market. Customers lose their trust in your organization and refrain from doing business with you in the future.

Security testing can be the only way to avoid cyber-attacks and eventually irrecoverable damage. Let us now dig a bit deeper and have a look at the concept associated with security testing for web applications.

6 Concepts of Web Application Security Testing

The following are the concepts you need to know about before you execute security testing for websites:

1. Confidentiality: The users must have complete control over the privacy of their confidential and crucial information.

2. Integrity: Make sure that the information received on your website from users is correct.

3. Authentication: User identity must be correct.

4. Authorization: Every action on your website, done by anyone must have proper permission for execution.

5. Availability: Data on your web app must be accessible to users any time they need it.

6. Non-Repudiation: Prevention of the later denial of action already happened on the website.

Types of Security Testing for Web Apps

The following are the major types of security testing for web apps:

· Dynamic Application Security Test (DAST)

It is an automated security testing method that is suitable for internally facing applications. DAST is often deployed to test low-risk applications. When the risk level goes up, the process is supplemented with some other specific security tests.

· Static Application Security Test (SAST)

It is an integrated security testing approach that combines both automated and manual testing techniques. This helps to uncover vulnerabilities and flaws without putting the application in the production environment.

· Penetration Test

It is the offensive cyber security testing methodology to determine the impacts of vulnerabilities present in web applications. Executing web application pentesting frequently is certainly rendered the best way to protect web apps against prevailing cyber threats.

By and large, we can conclude that security testing is necessary and somewhat the only way to ensure that the security and integrity of your online business is intact.