How Secure is Your Software Development

Of course, you might already know that security is not a one-time fix for applications. It is woven intricately throughout the entire development lifecycle because as hackers become smart and sophisticated, you have to be prepared to meet it and beat it. Here are a few things that developers utilize during their software development projects. 

Have a look at them:

• Well-established coding practices

Software developers will use updated techniques in writing codes and programs and implement measures like encryption, authentication, input validation, and authorisation to protect against hacks and security breaches. They will use the latest techniques incorporated in the programming guidelines and coding standards to write the codes for their software. This way they can easily prevent common vulnerabilities in cross-site scripting, SQL injection, buffer overflows, etc. 

• Making use of the threat modeling process

As the name sounds, threat modeling is all about understanding the risks that can affect the integrity of an application and its functioning. Through this, the developers will then make plans on how to address the vulnerabilities. When you have a wide range of applications, especially things like the Internet of Things, distributed systems, and complicated and intrinsic networks this is a very important step. 

During threat modeling, it would also be wise to consider what the consumer might be doing with the application. Do they leave their mobile devices unattended or what if they don’t close the application completely after using it, and then leave it on the table and go for a tea break? It is for this purpose that developers utilize the threat modeling process. There are some methodologies like STRIDE, TRIKE, Attack Tree, etc. to understand risk management in various scenarios. There will be a mnemonic for analyzing the risks in different scenarios, and how they can be mitigated. 

• Vulnerability Management

As the name suggests once more, vulnerability management is all about identifying the loopholes, flaws, and security weaknesses in the software. This could be technical, configuration, hardware, or maybe in the policies and procedures. Every software development team must be able to use the latest diagnostic tools in the market for identifying, assessing, remediating, and responding to situations that are likely to cause a threat. Through Vulnerability management, it would be easy to help organizations follow compliance with security standards and regulations. 

Software development companies can do to leverage the potential viable AI technologies to enhance security during and after the software development process. AI-powered systems can catch performance bottlenecks right at the onset, monitor the health of the code, and aid in optimizing the deployment process. With each AI-powered system release, the level of automation has been stronger and faster, facilitating faster and fool-proof software releases. Have a look at some of how this can be done. 

Through this developers can easily detect the following, and more of course

• Threat detection
• Anomaly detection
• Cynet Security
• Vulnerability management
• Fraud detection
• Behavioral analysis
• Malware detection
• User authentication, and more

Developers who are knowledgeable in AI will be a great advantage. According to a 2023 Developer Survey, it has been revealed that about 70% of developers have started looking at using AI tools or plan to use AI in their development process. About 44% of them are already using the tools, while 26% have intention of adopting AI in the future. 

This would be a good thing because of the huge popularity in the adoption of app usage. A study by TechReport claims that the average smartphone user will have more than 80 apps installed on their phones, no matter whether they use them or not. This is also one reason why it is so important to develop apps that will protect their privacy at all costs. They don’t have to be worried when they type in their username and password and worry about any stealth apps stealing their information on the sly. 

So if you are planning to create new mobile apps or are planning to update an existing one, leverage the power of AI to enhance security. Check out some ways in which your software development team can contribute heavily to mobile security. 

• Threat detection based on behavior

Some tools measure your user’s app usage, and how much time they spend on the app doing what. This would be like a pattern, and once this changes and there is a spike or any other anomalies, it would indicate a security threat. In such cases, and whenever usual behavior is detected, it would take further steps to avoid further usage. Using predictive analysis, AI will be able to predict future threats and take countermeasures to stay one step ahead of the hackers. Another way in which AI would be able to analyze uneven patterns is by detecting potentially fraudulent activities. Users are always encouraged to use complex passwords to keep their accounts safe, and with AI now they can generate strong passwords and store them safely. 

• AI with Static Application Security Testing (SAST)

SAST is a way in which developers can find security vulnerabilities in a highly precise and accurate manner. Also known as white box testing, this technology would successfully scan applications before the codes are compiled. With this in motion, your app can prevent all kinds of hacks and security vulnerabilities in the future. 

• Simulation through DAST or Dynamic Application Security Testing

Through DAST, AI tools will examine applications based on the user’s perspective. It is an intelligent and very effective scanning method that can highlight the errors or security gas of the app while it is running. This is much more effective than Static Application testing because it can identify runtime flaws. AI lets developers create multiple scenarios to see how the app performs under different scenarios. 

• Automated Code Review and Analysis

AI plays a very crucial and unparalleled role in reviewing and analyzing code for any kind of vulnerability. AI tools act as code generators to identify patterns that might indicate future security. AI helps in tracing the evolution of threats over time and can even suggest new and updated encryption protocols, especially if the app’s encryption protocols are outdated. AI would help analyze the app’s security features against industry standards and suggest new benchmarks.

• Suggestions for best ways to write secure codes

AI is brilliant enough to suggest the best practices for writing highly sophisticated secure codes. As it constantly monitors the latest threats and vulnerabilities, it can provide recommendations on how the developers should code to cover the latest hacking techniques. 

• Creating software patches for unpredictable threats

Since hackers are also evolving along with AI, the technology must be prepared for unpredictable threats, and that’s just what it will do. AI can generate software patches to help counter these unpredictable threats.

• Code commits for anomaly detection

The success of software development and the pace at which it is done is high when you have the right AI tools to analyze code commits. The AI system can flag a piece of code if it has deviated from the established coding style. There are AI tools that will detect and alert the developers when they new libraries and packages without vetting them correctly. Code commits performed in real-time will detect these unusual patterns so developers can correct them instantly.

While integrating AI into software development seems like magic and a dream come true, the developers must have the resources and specialist skills to do this. Sometimes they might have to integrate AI into existing development tools and environments and this calls for extensive planning. Because AI systems might need specialized infrastructure or correct hardware to function optimally. The team of developers must also be equipped with knowledge of the latest AI tools and technologies because the hackers are also advancing at a rapid rate, and the developers must be equipped with the knowledge to create simulations that can test the latest scenario of testing to counter new forms of attacks. Hiring software developers with knowledge of AI, and how to use them effectively is the only way in which you can counter attacks and make sure your app is safe.