Keeping your web applications secure1 min read

As we continue to note the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on cybersecurity, it is important to note another major player that has been increasingly vulnerable: web applications.

Recent studies have found that the majority of content on websites is now provided by third-parties, as businesses look for cost-effective options to provide increased functionalities. Therefore, it is now common for hackers to target third-party JavaScript running on websites – especially as cracking one can allow easy access to many websites if the third-party has many clients.

The knee-jerk reaction to this may be to scale back the number of widgets or third-party JavaScript usage, but this is a hasty overreaction. While there may be risks inherent in using outsourced code, the benefits can be far greater, delivering useful metrics, enabling marketing mechanisms, and providing heightened value to the customer. Instead, these risks should – and can be – managed.

As widgets and code are updated periodically, point-in-time security check-ups won’t cut it. Instead, utilising a solution that automatically and regularly scans for vulnerabilities in your web application will go a long way to identifying and fixing any weak points. CyCheck, for example, offers accurate and timely penetration testing, automating the detection and management of security flaws. Security teams can then stay one step ahead of would-be cyberattacks, with consistent updates on a web application’s security status for risk management and automated responses to common or simple defects.

Cyberattackers will always attempt to find the easiest vulnerabilities to prey upon – but luckily, there are simple solutions that can keep your web applications secure and your business running as usual.