Importance of DevSecOps in Mobile Apps

Some of the biggest and most successful businesses around the globe adopt a security-first strategy right from day one to ensure sustainability in growth. Regarding scalability, faster time to market, or competitive advantages, security must sit right at the top of business strategy. Security ensures that regular business operations and innovations remain uninterrupted pre- or post-production. It is common for many businesses to address security on a case-by-case basis, which means they address security issues only after they have been breached or compromised.

This post introduces why DevSecOps in mobile apps is widely adopted by some of the biggest brands to run business with minimum glitches. 

When scaling, growth and profits are your business’s primary objectives, security cannot take a back seat or be gambled upon. In fact, security should be implemented from ‘Day One’. While this might seem like a lot of work, time or resource intensive, it doesn’t necessarily have to be the case.

Automated DevSecOps in mobile apps

DevSecOps, in simple terms (in this context), is about building mobile apps with security built in from the get-go. Traditionally, development and security teams worked apart without a real exchange of insights for critical information that held their app’s security together. DevSecOps is now changing tradition to ensure that both teams work together right from conceptualizing, even during production.

As technology advances, many businesses have been able to reduce efforts and manpower by adopting automated DevSecOps in mobile apps to ensure that security checks run during every step of development. This contributes to a much stronger and more secure app build before it is released in the app stores.

Continuous integration and delivery technology makes the automation of DevSecOps possible. Through this process, mobile apps are put through different security tests right from the start of development to the finish. Continuous integration (CI), on the other hand, is a development practice where developers integrate code into a shared repository frequently, usually several times a day. An automated build and automated tests can then verify each integration.  

One of the key benefits of integrating regularly is that you can detect errors instantaneously and locate them more easily. Which is why it makes even more sense that DevSecOps be implemented from the start of your development process.

Why DevSecOps in mobile apps?

1. Approach security holistically

We've said multiple times before that security isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. You need a security framework and structure that addresses every component, from web apps to mobile apps to network security.

DevSecOps can help your developers work better in a more secure environment. Collateral damage is much higher when security is addressed post-production instead of pre-production. It could cost as little as nothing or a fraction of a post-data breach fix.

2. Get compliant with industry security standards

The magnitude of damage in a data breach could go beyond what hackers may have caused to the business. The safety and privacy of consumers may have been heavily compromised. To top it off, certain governments levy heavy penalties if they find that your business isn't industry-compliant.

Compliance checks like PCI-DSS, HIPAA, OWASP, and GDPR, to name a few, can be very useful in reporting to government authorities, management, and investors if adopted and implemented correctly. DevSecOps is a great way to ensure that all industry compliances are met right from the early stages of development. It also allows and ensures that your app is built.

3. No mounting up of threats

Just like when you leave your chores for days and do not address them immediately, they pile up and leave a lot more for you to do over time. This makes it so much harder to do at one go and may even cause complexities because you may be rushing and not doing them correctly. Security checks are just about the same.

DevSecOps, on the other hand, lets you address security issues right from the get-go with little to no effort, addressing every security issue that causes potential risks. This could also be your business's potential competitive advantage for faster time to market and uninterrupted business activities.

How Appknox takes it up a notch

Appknox is a mobile app security testing solution that protects mobile apps from the biggest threats present in the cybersecurity ecosystem. Appknox provides a dashboard for a comprehensive view of all threats present in your mobile app. Businesses usually upload their mobile apps and test them to ensure that all security parameters are in place to protect against threats. 

When you use Appknox during development, you are basically running DevSecOps at its optimal. Your app's build is automatically submitted to the dashboard at regular intervals, and continuous integration enables it to be tested against updated, evolving threats. Test results are then submitted to developers for necessary changes or enhancements.

Most DevSecOps solutions rely solely on static code analysis to perform this function. However, Appknox adds additional security barriers with automated Dynamic and API testing to fortify the app before release.

While DevSecOps is essential for businesses that are powered by mobile apps, it is only half the battle won. Yes, you can scale faster, push your app to the market faster, and worry less because your app is fortified with great security, but what happens after your app is pushed to the app stores?

Someone needs to keep track of your app after it is released. Sounds like more work, right? But not quite. Appknox can pull apps from the app store and ensure they run through vigorous testing to keep you secure from threats plaguing modern-day app stores. It also checks on apps that hackers may have replicated to trick users into downloading fake apps designed to steal data from genuine users.

Conclusion 

Given the many benefits of DevSecOps in mobile apps, more and more businesses today are adopting security practices throughout their development processes to ensure hack-proof apps. While DevSecOps ensures security during development, one must also ensure security post-development. Appknox can ensure mobile apps are secured in both pre- and post-production.

Use a holistic security approach to ensure you've only sent the best version of your app to market, one that continues to sustain and secure itself, so you can concentrate on your core business competencies and achieve phenomenal business growth.