Eliminate The Blind Spot On Your Web Application
There is no need to develop a web or mobile application if it’s going to be offline most of the time. In addition to inconveniencing your customers, the web application won’t generate anything of value for your business!
Yes, you can select a web application support vendor who will oversee security objectives of your business, but what should you look for in such a professional?
Features, brand, and price are some common selection criteria. However, you must also explore several specific capabilities that will bring positive impact on the end-solution.
Following are 5 critical factors that should be kept in mind when choosing a managed service provider for you web application.
False Positive Removal
Most managed services use automated vulnerability scanners to test applications (for vulnerabilities). While automated scanners do work, it’s the same as casting a large net into the ocean. These automated scanners help identify relevant, ‘real’ vulnerabilities; however, some false positives will show up as well.
It’s up to your IT and security department to sift through all vulnerabilities and find the real ones! The chosen managed service vendor therefore should be equipped to removal false positives as well.
Continuous Assessment
New zero day vulnerabilities pop up every week. If not tested regularly, the vulnerabilities can take root in your web applications and possibly wreak havoc. Continuous assessment and testing therefore is absolutely necessary, especially if you are thinking of integrating security into the software development lifecycle.
Remediation Guidance
What feature separates an excellent application security testing provider from the rest? It’s the remediation guidance.
A good remediation guidance feature will let you know the best ways to clean up your application to ensure a seamless operation. Choose your vendor based on how much remediation guidance they provide and their responsiveness towards your queries.
Risk Management Capabilities
You won’t have the important resources at your disposal to fix all vulnerabilities that crop up, especially if you operate a small scale organisation. This is one reason why choosing a professional managed service provider based on their risk monitoring and management capability is a good idea. You’ll also be able to address critical vulnerabilities in a timely fashion, before they can do much damage.
Vulnerability Risk Ratings
An important role is played by vulnerability risk ratings especially when it comes to the prioritisation and remediation process. It doesn’t matter how your organisation manages risks as your chosen vendor will be keeping a close eye on how vulnerabilities evolve in the first place. This will;
Ø Accurately reflect potential impact
Ø Associated damage risk
Ø Likelihood of exploitation
Why are you wasting time and money if your current managed security service vendor doesn’t offer all of the above? Take a look at how Lean Security can help!
Avoid A Costly Security Breach With These Essential Tips
Human error is the single reason why 52% of security breaches occur in the world.
This is why Lean Security is the biggest advocate of employee training when it comes to web applications and implementation of proper security protocols.
We’ve established the importance of educating employees on security breaches.
Here, we discuss how costly security breaches can be avoided altogether!
Emphasize the Importance of Security to Employees
Employees, both new and old, should realize risks associated with poor security practices, i.e. what will happen if they were applied in the website’s framework. Cyber criminals head straight to identity or financial theft, which holds dire consequences for everyone involved.
Always Protect Sensitive Information
Cyber criminals and hackers are constantly on the lookout for confidential user data, in the form of email addresses, payment card numbers, and social security numbers.
They can easily gain access to this financial information, without much effort on their part. Why? The data and information is right there for access!
Most of the time it’s the user who shares such information via email. To make sure this doesn’t happen, install a secure file transfer system which encrypts data and information first before sending.
Enforce Strong Passwords on All Web Applications
This is the obvious way to protect information from getting into the wrong hands. Web applications and platforms ask users to utilize strong passwords when signing up for a site or service. We really don’t pay attention and create passwords that are easy and simple to crack.
Characteristics of a strong password are;
Ø At least 8 characters long
Ø Containing numbers, symbols, and capital letters
Ø Password not created with help of a dictionary
Help Identify Phishing and Other Scams
Do your employees understand that clicking on phishing emails can cause the system to become infected with vulnerabilities? Did you know the only way to make sure vulnerabilities and viruses don’t affect web applications and an internet system is by spotting them?
Cybercriminals make use of well crafted emails by which users can be tricked. The emails contain links and attachments which can either collect data or introduce malware to the system, when clicked.
Update All Systems to the Newest System Software
Thousands of websites are scanned by hackers by the hour, in search of vulnerabilities. Upon discovery of security holes and bugs, hackers are quick to attack that software. This is why users must make sure their plugin themes and platform installations are updated and only the latest versions are installed.
Professional help can also be found in the form of Lean Security’s advanced web security testing and assessment services. Get in touch with us today and know more about the service that’s going to help make your web application more secure.
Your Website’s Security Is Important –Find the Best Vulnerability Scanner for It
Even though computerized application security scanning and testing has been part of organisations’ operations for more than a decade, it still is a complicated and daunting process.
However, the good news is that you will find a number of methods that guarantee a highly automated scan with reduced time and improved accuracy of results.
Creating an effective test environment can be difficult, but it surely is indispensable in today’s day and age.
For website security and vulnerability scanner for your e-commerce, follow these 3 guidelines:
Permit Sufficient Time
When you have a limited time frame to work in, testing a web security and vulnerability scanner can be overwhelming. It is important to know that sufficient time is required to settle and be comfortable when working with varying configuration methods and compare their outcomes.
Furthermore, checking reports of each technique again and again for accurateness and precision requires time.
Utilize a Real App, Not a Public Test App
Testing a web scanner on real application makes sense. As a business owner, you clearly know which applications have more vulnerabilities than the rest. So, the best practice is to test web security on those real applications, instead of public applications.
Find a Trustworthy Vendor
Regrettably, under certain circumstances, you may be compelled to depend on the conclusions of the scanning vendor. This is because the process can be complex. As a result, the only way to find a reliable website security scanner that’s tailored to your needs is by spending some time over the phone or person-to-person with multiple vendors to find out what can be achieved and what will remain untouched.
More often than not, this means coming up with a technically sound person and spending some time with them to learn how the website scanner works, its strengths and the kind of applications it has problems with.
When you pursue these 3 basic strategies, you perk up your chances of accessing one of the most programmed, precise and trouble-free application security testing solution.
We have just that for you at Lean Security. Offering a range of website security testing solutions, we have dedicated web vulnerability scanner to perform managed web vulnerability scanning and security audit. Just give us a call at +61 (0) 2 8231 6635.
Web Security Practices The Financial Sector Must Implement ASAP
The financial services segment is the most important target for cyber criminals, making it one of the many sectors that need to take a substantial stand for the security of their web applications.
The cyber criminals have numerous opportunities at hand to violate and breach your website and thus, your customers. Despite the fact, a good number of financial firms put themselves at risk by not investing in the security of their web applications and its top practices.
As per the Security Spending Benchmarks Project Report, web application security accounts for less than 10% of the total security expenditure in nearly 36% firms. On the other hand, 33% aren’t even aware of what portion of their security expenditure is allocated to web applications.
Stated below are some of the best practices that the financial sector must follow for ultimate web security:
Improve Risk Assessment
Financial firms must analyse their web transactions, and determine the extent of risk based on types of transaction conducted. They must jointly develop risk alleviation strategies. Make certain to evaluate detailed attributes such as:
· Type of customers,
· Capacity and capability of transactions,
· Sensitivity of information and current level of security,
· User-friendliness and customer experience, and
· How mobile devices are connecting with the environment.
Beyond considering the monetary losses, also think of liabilities, risks and reputation. Make it a practice and perform this assessment every year to determine probable impact and required levels of security.
Establish Rigorous Authentication Standards
The threats are increasing and growing stronger. Hence, the need for stronger authentication is greater than ever. Growing above usernames and passwords for wire transfers, financial firms took over alternate solutions such as OTP (One Time Passcodes) tokens. However, even these methods aren’t effective anymore, particularly against man-in-the-browser hits.
There are a range of advanced techniques that offer desired level of protection in two ways:
· Using an individual communication channel under a user or
· By depending upon the superior behaviour-based deception discovery engines that can instantly sense the anomalies in transactions or website navigation.
Undertaking a Layered Approach
It is astounding to learn that there is no solitary corroboration or conventional fraud discovery solution to bring progressive malicious attacks on banks and other financial institutions to a standstill. What financial firms need is an additional layering of diverse, corresponding safety measures and technologies. Some examples include:
· Well-built authentication,
· Observable fraud discovery,
· Out-of-band substantiation of transactions,
· Mobile verification and extensive confirmation digital SSL certificates — these offer the most reliable means of defending customer information and dealings in a financial surrounding.
At Lean Security, we offer comprehensive protection of applications within the financial sector against unauthorized access and introduction of malicious codes.
Our services include, but are not limited to, application security testing, web security scanning, manual web penetration testing and more.
For more information, email us at info@leansecurity.com.au or call +61 (0) 2 8231 6635 for further information.
Web Security Concerns In 2016- Healthcare Under Attack!
2016 started with a BANG for the worldwide hospital and healthcare industry. Several security-related incidents took place, from a ransom-ware attack on a LA hospital to an attack on a hospital in Melbourne, and so on. Three other incidents took place in the span of just 2 months into the new year!
While concerning for the security industry, it’s actually not a surprise. The healthcare industry was so far excluded in security breach concerns of the past, but with the Internet of Things on the rise, this industry has become as vulnerable as every other.
Modern Medical Devices More At Risk of Being Hacked
The medical devices and equipment used today in healthcare makes use of fully-functional computers that have complex operating systems and applications installed. Since most of these devices also make use of the Internet, external networks and various types of cloud based servers, cyber-criminals and hackers don’t need to put in too much effort to steal important data or make entire systems corrupt.
Web Application and Cloud Security Not a Concern for Health Departments
This has become a huge concern. Why? Unsecured authorization, program design vulnerabilities, unencrypted communication channels and critical buys and anomalies in software can and do lead to attacks. Security experts at Lean Security reckon there’re 3 main reasons why hackers and cyber-criminals are able to gain access to hospital systems so easily:
Ø Usage of Internet with no or weak authorization
Ø External devices not being protected (from being accessed) by local networks
Ø Vulnerabilities in software design and architecture
Lean Security’s Recommendations to Improve Security Infrastructure in the Healthcare System
Following these recommendations will not only improve security of your systems but will also educate employees on what should be done in case of an attack or breach.
Ø Implement IT security policies and make sure they’re being adhered to.
Ø Develop timely patch management and vulnerability assessment policies as well.
Ø Take steps to protect your systems from malware and hacker attacks.
Ø Keep a close eye on your own local network.
Ø Test all your web and mobile applications for anomalies and performance bugs.
Having a sound security infrastructure is quite possible with the right help. In addition to implementing IT policies and making sure employees know what to do in case of a security breach, you’ll need the help of expert security testing services. Get in touch with us to learn more.