6 Application Security Best Practices to Protect Your Digital Assets

With cyberattacks and illegal access attempts on the rise, organizations must take proactive steps to safeguard their digital assets and protect sensitive data. A core aspect of cybersecurity is application security, which plays an important role in preventing illegal access to systems and information. From security testing to continuous monitoring, the right application security practices can help prevent costly breaches and ensure compliance with evolving regulations. In this blog, we’ll explore six proven strategies to strengthen your defenses.

Understanding Illegal Access

Illegal access refers to unauthorized attempts to enter applications, networks, or systems. It often results in data breaches and financial losses. The rise of cloud applications, remote work, and interconnected digital platforms has further widened the attack surface. This means businesses can no longer rely solely on perimeter defenses. Protecting against illegal access now requires a multi-layered application security strategy, covering everything from identity management and access control to encryption and real-time monitoring. Cybercriminals use various techniques to gain unauthorized access; the most common ones are listed below.

Common Methods used by Cybercriminals to Gain Illegal Access

• Phishing Attacks: Fraud emails or messages are used to trick users into disclosing login credentials or clicking harmful links.
• Brute Force Attacks: Repeatedly guessing login credentials until the correct one is found.
• Malware: Attackers install malicious software such as trojans or ransomware, to penetrate and control systems.
• Zero-Day Exploits: Attacks that exploit unknown or unpatched vulnerabilities in software.
• Man-in-the-Middle Attacks: Secretly capturing and manipulating communication between users without their knowledge.
• Weak Authentication and Passwords: Using weak or default passwords and lack of multi-factor authentication (MFA) makes it easier for attackers to exploit credentials.
• SQL Injection: Injecting malicious SQL code into a web form or URL to manipulate backend databases.
• Social Engineering: Exploiting human behavior to gain access to restricted information or systems.
• Cross-Site Scripting: Injecting malicious scripts into trusted websites to hijack user sessions or steal data.

6 Best Practices to Strengthen Application Security

1. Implement Strong Authentication Mechanisms

• Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security.
• Implement role-based access control to limit access to sensitive information.
• Regularly review and update access permissions.

2. Regular Security Patching and Updates

• Apply security patches as soon as they are released.
• Regularly update systems and components to protect against known threats.

3. Encryption and Data Protection

• Encrypt sensitive data at rest and in transit.
• Identify and label data based on sensitivity and regulatory requirements.
• Protect backup data with encryption and perform frequent recovery tests.

4. Monitor and Identify Unusual Activity

• Deploy intrusion detection and prevention systems to detect suspicious activity.
• Establish a Security Information and Event Management solution for centralized monitoring.
• Set up system logs and real-time alerts for potential security incidents.

5. Conduct Regular Security Testing

• Perform penetration testing and vulnerability assessments.
• Use automated tools to scan applications for security issues.
• Conduct regular security code reviews to identify vulnerabilities.

6. Protect Against Social Engineering

• Conduct security awareness training to educate employees on phishing and social engineering attacks.
• Use email filtering solutions to block suspicious emails.
• Implement anti-phishing tools to detect fraudulent websites.

Conclusion

Understanding how illegal access occurs is the first step toward prevention. As attackers grow more sophisticated, organizations must embrace the above mentioned best practices to stay ahead. To dive deeper into the overall cybersecurity landscape, we invite you to watch our webinar: Cyber Program Operations: What Might Be Missing From Your Cyber Strategy. It offers valuable insights that can help you build a stronger, future-ready cybersecurity posture.

At Systems Plus, we specialize in helping organizations optimize their security frameworks and reduce risk. Connect with our experts today to refine your application security strategy and protect what matters most- your digital assets.