Ways to Improve Web Application Security: Complete Guide for Businesses

Let’s say your company launches a sleek new web application, such as a data dashboard, eCommerce site or a customer portal. But it gets hacked within a few weeks. It can cause consumers’ private data leakage, which can hamper your reputation and even cause legal penalties.

According to the Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), web applications and APIs are common attack vectors. Web apps were used in 80% of security incidents and 60% of data breaches.

As attackers are becoming more sophisticated, improving web app security is no longer an option. Here, we walk you through some web security best practices to strengthen your app and protect user data.

Understanding the Risks: Web Application Vulnerabilities

Web apps are prime targets of cyberattackers. As per IBM and Cloudflare, about 17% of all cyberattacks target web apps. These attacks usually occur right after new vulnerabilities are revealed. In almost 84% of reported breaches, phishing is the most common entry point after ransomware and credential theft.

Despite these growing risks, many businesses still prioritize speed, features and user experience over proper security measures. This often leads to system exposure to flaws like SQL injection, XSS, and misconfigurations.

The impact of a web application breach can go beyond just downtime. It can cause financial losses, legal penalties and long-term damage to business reputation. To stay resilient and maintain customer trust, businesses must approach app security best practices throughout the development process.

Top 7 Web Application Security Best Practices

As stated above, a web-based application is at a high risk of cyberattack, so it becomes crucial to implement the right security measures to safeguard sensitive data and maintain customer trust. Let’s discuss the top 7 web application security best practices every business should focus on:

#1. Conduct Testing and Input Validation

Regular testing serves as a security health check for your web application. A mix of both automated vulnerability scans and manual penetration testing is used to identify common and complex risks before attackers do.

Similarly, input validation is equally crucial. It protects against data modification, SQL injection, and cross-site scripting (XSS). With this, businesses can stop harmful payloads by verifying and cleaning up every user input.

Testing and validation together form the foundation of every secure web application.

#2. Security Patch Management

One of the biggest security gaps is unpatched software. It involves finding, testing, and implementing patches in a systematic manner to fix vulnerabilities before they are exploited.

However, timely patching can prevent up to 85% of targeted attacks. Automating patch workflows and maintaining a centralized inventory of assets ensures consistent, safe and compliant systems.

#3. Session Management

Another common security threat in web applications is improper session handling. Having secure session management ensures the safety of payment details and user credentials.

Businesses can use session timeouts, encrypted cookies, and token-based authentication to prevent hijacking and fixation. With regular audits of session handling processes, businesses can ensure that no running sessions turn into weak links.

#4. Access Control

Access control makes sure users engage only with the data and features that are meant for them. With its strong password policies, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and role-based access control (RBAC) guards against insider threats and unauthorized access. Besides improving security, access control assures the right people have the right level of access.

#5. Data Encryption

One of the best web application security solutions is data encryption. Even if the data is intercepted, it remains unreadable with the use of  TLS/HTTPS, AES-256 encryption, and secure key management.

Moreover, about 99% of cloud-related breaches result from mismanagement. Data encryption practice with secure setups is crucial to protect critical business and customer data.

#6. Error Handling

Poor error handling can lead to exposure of sensitive system details. By implementing custom and user-friendly error messages, businesses can avoid revealing configuration or database information. 

Plus, pairing it with real-time error logging and alerting can help spot potential attack patterns. This not only enhances user experience but also reduces the amount of information available to hackers.

#7. API Security

Inadequate API security is the most common target of cyberattackers. By using OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, and mutual TLS authentication, businesses can secure APIs. They can also use rate limiting, input validation, and data encryption to block abuse and protect sensitive information.

With the increase in API-related attacks, it is now crucial to use continuous API monitoring and gateway protection to keep systems secure and reliable.

Let Clarion Secure Your Web Apps!

Improving web application security is not a best practice in the digital world of today, where privacy is lauded to be a myth. While the above-mentioned best practices can fortify businesses against cyber threats, and protect sensitive data, it is imperative to stay in tandem with the changes and hire reliable web developers to ensure consistent updation to assure the trust and confidence of their users. 

In a world where the digital realm plays a central role, improving web application security in the changing times and technology is crucial. When it comes to implementing these strategies and practices, you can lean on the best talented developers at Clarion Technologies. We work along with you to safeguard your digital assets, user trust, and your future in a dynamic, connected world.